unlink() not deleting the file from the server.

Are you sure that the directory has the permissions set up to allow read/write privileges?

To test that, you can use:

if(is_writeable($fpath) {
echo "File is writeable";
} else {
echo "File is not writeable";
}

Assisted Solution

03.28.2008 at 06:59AM PDT, ID: 21230415

Rank: Master

Forgot a closing parentheses, correction:

if(is_writeable($fpath)) {
echo "File is writeable";
} else {
echo "File is not writeable";
}

03.28.2008 at 07:18AM PDT, ID: 21230583

It can also depend on the server you are using. I have encountered similar problems where the native unlink command just doesn't work on certain servers.

exec() and system() are ways to directly execute OS commands. You have to know which operating system you are on. If it's a windows server, you can try something like

exec("del " . $fpath);

If it's unix, try:

exec("rm " . $fpath);

Hope this helps.

Tom

03.28.2008 at 07:19AM PDT, ID: 21230596

Thanks for the reply.

it says, "File is not writeable"

03.28.2008 at 07:21AM PDT, ID: 21230620

Do you have access to the server? Can you get to that directory using your FTP software?

If so, use your FTP software and navigate to that folder. Right-click on the folder and choose "Settings..." or "Permissions..." or "Access..." (depending on your FTP software). You should see the read/write permissions for that folder. Make sure "write" is turned on for all three groups.

If you need a command-line solution, let us know.

03.28.2008 at 07:24AM PDT, ID: 21230650

I'm using unix server.
I tried exec("rm " . $fpath); but didn't work.

I checked the Ftp folder, the write permission is given only for 'owner'.

03.28.2008 at 07:25AM PDT, ID: 21230661

What should i do to change the permissions?

03.28.2008 at 07:35AM PDT, ID: 21230777

Okay, what FTP software are you using? Or do you use Telnet to access your server?

03.28.2008 at 07:51AM PDT, ID: 21230925

Rank: Master

You need to either chmod your file to 777 (which is kind of insecure) or give apache read/write permissions. I think tomaugerdotcom is trying to get your specific info to help you along those lines. If you have a managed server, you could have the admins set apache up to give you read/write permissions and then php has permissions to access files (read, write, execute, etc.).

03.28.2008 at 07:53AM PDT, ID: 21230941

Rank: Master

If that's your setup, Apache is sometimes user: nobody. My server had this problem and I simply had to modify the setup to give read/write/execute permissions to user: nobody and then all the file functions in php worked wonderfully.

03.28.2008 at 07:54AM PDT, ID: 21230958

I was thinking just enable read/write for that specific folder only. That minimized the security risk somewhat.

03.28.2008 at 08:12AM PDT, ID: 21231113

chrisdpucci:

It definitely sounds like a permissions issue.

Before you run unlink on the file, first run chmod() and give it permissions of 777. You may also need to chown() it as well to give your script ownership.

03.28.2008 at 08:14AM PDT, ID: 21231141

I don't have any direct access to the server.
I'm working on my client' website and he has given me the ftp details to upload/download the files from his shared hosting server.

I am not using any FTP software, i am using IE browser right now. I have smartFTP installed in my computer, but not using it now.

what will be the risks involved if i chmod that image folder ?
thanks for the help so far.

03.28.2008 at 08:42AM PDT, ID: 21231385

Here's a quick tut on SmartFTP chmod:
http://www.siteground.com/tutorials/ftp/ftp_chmod.htm

I personally think the risks are quite minimal, especially if you make the directory (teasers/uploaded_pics) name a little more obscure (teasers/ulpic) for example. The likelihood of that one folder being exposed to any kind of malicious attack is minimal IMO, but rowejd may have more to say on that matter specifically.

03.28.2008 at 09:02AM PDT, ID: 21231584

chrisdpucci:

Well you shouldn't need to chmod the whole folder. Just have your script chmod the specific file before deleting it with unlink. Here is an example:

[code]
$file = "/images/some_image.jpg";

chmod($file, 777);

$delete = unlink($file);

if(!$delete)
{
echo "File not deleted";
}
else
{
echo "File deleted";
}
[/code]

Assisted Solution

03.28.2008 at 09:12AM PDT, ID: 21231695

I am getting "File not deleted" if i use chmod($fpath, 777)

03.28.2008 at 09:14AM PDT, ID: 21231708

chrisdpucci:

Echo out the file path to make sure it is correct.

You may need to change it to the absolute path.

03.28.2008 at 09:17AM PDT, ID: 21231744

The file path shows the absolute path...but not the physical path. This is the path it shows:
http://mywebsite/adminpanel/teasers/uploaded_pics/fl-6b.jpg

03.28.2008 at 09:18AM PDT, ID: 21231747

Now, i will try to CHMOD using command prompt.

03.28.2008 at 09:21AM PDT, ID: 21231782

CHMOD was successful, but still the file not getting deleted.

03.28.2008 at 09:32AM PDT, ID: 21231867

Are you sure your webserver is Apache on a Unix box? Otherwise, the whole chmod thing won't do the trick...

03.28.2008 at 09:38AM PDT, ID: 21231923

Hey, have we determined that the path is correct? I mean, you should perhaps just test it to be sure that we're not barking up the wrong tree here. Try:

if (file_exists($fpath)) {
unlink($fpath);
} else {
echo "File does not exist at this location";
}

Assisted Solution

03.28.2008 at 09:54AM PDT, ID: 21232069

I have also read that the folder you are deleting the file FROM also needs to have its permissions set to x7x

T

03.28.2008 at 03:05PM PDT, ID: 21234442

amigura:

you need to keep folder to 755 minimum or you will be in trouble from hackers.

i'm guessing this your problem, need to be phy

"The file path shows the absolute path...but not the physical path. This is the path it shows:
http://mywebsite/adminpanel/teasers/uploaded_pics/fl-6b.jpg "

echo dirname($_SERVER['SCRIPT_FILENAME']); // to get physical path

e.g. /home/mysite/public_html/adminpanel/teasers/uploaded_pics/fl-6b.jpg

Accepted Solution

03.28.2008 at 08:15PM PDT, ID: 21235395

sorry i forgot to mention, the file is not in the main domain, it is in the subdomain.

when i echo i get this:
fpath=http://xyz.mywebsite.com/adminpanel/teasers/uploaded_pics/fl-6b.jpg
File is not writeable
File does not exist at this location
Couldn't delete file

I checked the folder name, everything is correct, the file is located in this path, but it says, 'File does not exist at this location'.

I will try the physical path now and update you with the results.

03.28.2008 at 09:00PM PDT, ID: 21235478