How do I upload a file by using `ktor-client` in `multiplatform`? I am aware of the `formData{}` but...

# ktor

[andylamax]

How do I upload a file by using ktor-client in multiplatform?
I am aware of the formData{} but I can't seem to find where I can append a file to the builder.

[edenman]

can’t help you if you’re trying to do a multipart form upload with a file. if you’re just doing a simple upload you can set a ByteStreamContent or ByteArrayContent as the request body

[andylamax]

So I have to read the bytes from the client first?

[edenman]

what does “read the bytes from the client” mean

[edenman]

i thought you said you were using ktor-client?

[andylamax]

Yes, I am using ktor client. You said I can use ByteStreamContent or ByteArrayContent. My app requires a user to pick a file and upload it. How do I convert from a file to ByteArrayContent/ByteStreamContent? Do I read the file's content as ByteArray on the client before sending it to the server?

[edenman]

yes

[edenman]

but it’ll be better on memory usage to go ByteStreamContent so you don’t have to load the whole thing into memory first

[edenman]

context.contentResolver.openInputStream(uri).toByteReadChannel() and then pass that to ByteStreamContent

[edenman]

(but again, if you’ve got a multipart form and you need to upload a file to that, it may be different)

[andylamax]

That would surely do. Thanks again

[andylamax]

I can see that working for android client.

[andylamax]

What a bout a Blob? or File from the browser? there is no openInputStream()

[edenman]

yeah, i only have experience on the android side, sorry

[edenman]

but in general there should be some way to get a ByteReadChannel from whatever you’ve got

[andylamax]

Much thanks. Let me dig through and see how I can get a ByteReadChannel