How do I specify a local file for fopen()?

Hi all: I've been beating my head against a brick wall trying to figure this out and I'm still no closer than I was two weeks ago. How do I specify a local file on my computer to use with fopen() on the server? I've checked and the allow_url_fopen setting is set to On. I use the html <input type="file"> to let me browse to the file. This, however, forces me to also POST the entire file to the server, which I DO NOT WANT it to do. I just wanted to be able to use the <Browse> button to get to the file name. But, even when I do this, the file name returned in the $_FILES array doesn't give me a file name that fopen() will actually open. Do I somehow have to get the server to recognize my computer as an http-based address? If so, how do I do this? The computer that has the file to be opened is a Windows-based computer (running WinXP or Vista), and it obviously has an Internet connection. Do I need to retrieve, from the server, my computer's IP address and use that, in whole or in part, to reference the file to be opened? If so, how? While I'm asking questions, does anyone know how to keep the file referenced in the <input type="file"> setup from actually being sent? All I think I really need is the NAME of the file, not its actual contents, since I'm hoping to use fopen() to open the file and then to use fgetcsv() to retrieve the contents. ANY help you all can send my way will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance, Jon