Uploading the directory isn't the problem. Selecting all the files in the directory is. I'm using a RichFaces
JSF control to do multi-file uploads, but the user has to select each file individually.
Manual file selection is mandated because making it too automatic would permit people to design malware that bulk-uploaded files with sensitive information in them. The only way I can think of to get around this would be to initiate the uploaded from JavaScript, but JavaScript's sandbox may not permit selection without user interaction for the reason I just gave.
Actually, there's one way that definitely would work, and that's to run a true client-side application such as a
Java applet. But in order to make the applet capable of uploading, you'd have to digitally sign it, since unsigned applets aren't allowed to access the user's local filesystem. And getting signed applets accepted by the user's browser is more pain than casual Internet users are generally willing to put up with.