I want to be able to upload a file but not resort to the GUI in the control
rich:fileUpload. Is this possible in RichFaces?
1.) you can use tomahawk upload for uploading files without GUI.
2.) you may try hiding the GUI using styles like the below code which hides the buttons in theGUI.
<style>
.rf-fu-btn-clr {
visibility:hidden;
}
</style>