Creating Directories

BubbaBelly

I want to create a new directory in PHP using mkdir(). The only thing is that I'm confused about the arguments.
Supposedly it is mkdir(<directory name>, <permissions>)
the <directory name> is simple, but the <permissions> is a 4 digit number, and I don't know what permissions correspond to which 4 digit code. Any help is much appreciated. Also is there another method for creating directories. Thanks in advance.

theslinky

here's a simple guide:

a unix permission is similar to this:

TRWXRWXRWX

the first number out of the 4 is the T part. For most files, this is 0.

Then the first RWX is the second number, the second RWX is the 3rd number and the 3rd RWX is the 4th number.

the first RWX corresponds to user permission
the second RWX = group permission
third = other users' permissions

R = read
W = write
X = execute

I think R = 4, W = 2, X = 1 (not sure about this).

so for the numbers, you add up the individual #s. For example, to set user read and write (but no execute), the number is 6.

If you want to:
- allow owner to read/write/execute
- allow group to read/execute
- allow others to read

then the permission will be:

0754

if you want owner to read/write/execute and everyone else has NO permissions, then the numbers are:

0700

Anyway, don't worry about the permissions too much when using mkdir (unless you are obsessed with security) because it will assume default permissions 🙂

-sridhar

gutlass

$path = "/absolute/path/to/folder/newfolder";

if (!file_exists($path)) {
mkdir($path, 0755);
chmod($path,0755);
}

This will make a new folder "newfolder" and chmod it to 755.

0777/0755... make sure you put permissions that you want....

theslinky

I would recommend you not set it to 777 (especially if you're on a shared hosting server). If you do, others on the system can gain access to the folder and even add files to it or change its name, etc.

Use 0755. this is the default and it is safe.

-sridhar

BubbaBelly

Thanks for the help, but I think I forgot to mention I'm using a MSSQL server with Windows OS. Is it still the same?? Thanks

theslinky

well, i think 0755 will set the windows permission properly as well.

actually, don't bother too much with permissions since the default permission after you create a directory is good enough.

so just use:

mkdir("C:\directory");

and i think it'll be fine 🙂

-sridhar

piersk

Take a look at this chmod calculator:

http://wsabstract.com/script/script2/chmodcal.shtml

kula

Depend on your operating system. If you use windows, mkdir("C:\directory"); You do not have to bother about permission.
If unix or linux then you have to set the permission , You could use 0755 or 0744

Raj