Currently I use this code to read a txt file with words and perform some operations. However, this particular code requires the html to be deployed on a server. Is there any workaround where I can replace this code with something else to read the file without the need of a server?

var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); 
xhr.open( "GET", "dictionary.txt", false );
xhr.send( null );
var words= xhr.responseText.split(",");

Currently I use this code to read a txt file with words and perform some operations. However, this particular code requires the html to be deployed on a server. Is there any workaround where I can replace this code with something else to read the file without the need of a server?

var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); 
xhr.open( "GET", "dictionary.txt", false );
xhr.send( null );
var words= xhr.responseText.split(",");

• javascript
• ajax
• html
• xmlhttprequest
• offline-browsing

Share Improve this question Follow asked Feb 10, 2012 at 17:33 KerryKerry 1,11311 gold badge1010 silver badges1111 bronze badges 1

• Why do you need to read the file? Why not just include the data in the page? – robertc Commented Feb 11, 2012 at 1:23

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3 Answers 3

Sorted by: Reset to default 3

It is NOT possible to call Ajax outside your server domain (except you use scriptagproxy, that too requires you to have some server side configuration). So, in short, you CANNOT read files on your local puter using Ajax calls.

You might like this article.

The file selection can be made either by input or drag-and-drop (not otherwise). Please see: this

You cannot read files from the clients' puter, so the text file you are reading must be on the same server as your javascript.

However, if you are loading the HTML file from your puter (e.g. file://c:/../test.html), you might be able to read files located on ONLY your puter by using relative paths.

You can hide an iframe on the page, with its src='dictionary.txt',

and read or manipulate the iframe's local content when it's onload event fires.