Creating &amp; writing file error

Creating & writing file error

SilverBack

Hi guys,

Well, this is my first thread. If I mess it up, or am not following rules, please let me know. :p

Im having some trouble with "touch" and "fopen" functions in php. I get the following errors when trying to create a file, the write to it:

Warning: touch() [function.touch]: Unable to create file _private/rawdata.csv because Permission denied in xxxx\form7.php on line 383

Warning: fopen(_private/rawdata.csv) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: Permission denied in xxxx\form7.php on line 386
Can't open file

Firstly, I encountered this before with ASP. It was just a permissions error on the folder, write access was added to fix it. The hosting guys say it has write access (I beg to differ!!). :bemused:

Also, the fopen option in the php configuration is enabled, so it cant be that. 😕

I have also heard the using the "a" option with fopen doesnt always work, and can give that error. Thats possible, but then why does the "touch" function also give the exact same error? It cant be that then, right? 😕

Here is the code for my php file:

// add data to CSV file
// set name of file
$FileName = "rawdata.csv";

// check if it exists, if not, create the file
if (!file_exists($FileName)) {
touch($FileName);

// try to open the file
$Handle1 = fopen($FileName, "a") or die ("Can't open file");

// try to write to open file
fwrite($Handle1, $Headings) or die ("Can't write to file");

// close the file
fclose($Handle1);

}

// try to open the file
$Handle2 = fopen($FileName, "a") or die ("Can't open file");

// try to write to open file
fwrite($Handle2, $Data) or die ("Can't write to file");

// close the file
fclose($Handle2);[/B]

PS, when testing it on my pc, it runs 100%, upload it to the server, and I get the error messages above. 😉

Please help!! Google searches havent helped much!

kubis

it seems that webserver doesnt have permission to open that file.

i suggest you try one of following:

a) upload a 0 byte file to server, name it as you wish (e.g. rawdata.csv) and use CHMOD command through FTP (most clients and servers support it) and make it writable for group.

b) call tech support again and yell at them more 🙂

SilverBack

Thanks!

Will try a) but like b) best!! 😃

Rodney_H_

SilverBack wrote:
Warning: touch() [function.touch]: Unable to create file _private/rawdata.csv because Permission denied in xxxx\form7.php on line 383
// check if it exists, if not, create the file
if (!file_exists($FileName)) {
    touch($FileName);

// try to open the file
$Handle1 = fopen($FileName, "a") or die ("Can't open file");

// try to write to open file
fwrite($Handle1, $Headings) or die ("Can't write to file");

// close the file
fclose($Handle1);
}

I think [MAN]"touch"[/MAN] is not for creating a file if it doesn't exist. And that is causing the fopen error follwing it, too. In other words, if it wasn't existing, and touch can't create it, how can it open?

Maybe replace that part of the code with this:

<?php
// data to add to file
$Headings = 'this is the string data to add to file.';
// file
$FileName = "rawdata.csv";
// if no file exists, create file
if (!file_exists($FileName)) {
// use fopen here
$fh = fopen($FileName, "w") or die ("Can't create file");
// if not writable
if(!is_writable($FileName)) {
	echo 'File (' . $FileName . ') is not writable.';
} else {
fwrite($fh, $Headings);
}
fclose($fh);
}

// else file exists
else {
// open file
$Handle1 = fopen($FileName, "a") or die ("Can't open file");
// write to file
if(fwrite($Handle1, $Headings) or die ("Can't write to file")) {
echo 'The following data was added to file (' . $FileName . ')
<hr />' . $Headings;
} else {
echo 'could not write data to file (' . $FileName . ').';
}
// close file
fclose($Handle1);
}
?>

SilverBack

Thanks Rodney, that makes sense to me, will give it a try.

kubis

Rodney H. wrote:
I think [MAN]"touch"[/MAN] is not for creating a file if it doesn't exist. And that is causing the fopen error follwing it, too. In other words, if it wasn't existing, and touch can't create it, how can it open?

rtfm please first.

http://php.ftp.cvut.cz/manual/en/function.touch.php

 If the file does not exist, it is created. Returns TRUE on success or FALSE on failure.

the unix touch command does the same

Weedpacket

Then again, the description of the 'a' mode of the [man]fopen[/man] commands says:

Open for writing only; place the file pointer at the end of the file. If the file does not exist, attempt to create it.

Rodney_H_

kubis wrote:
rtfm please first.

I thought I had, but that last sentence must have evaded my attention...
Thank you for correcting me.

SilverBack

Damn...you guys are so polite...so unlike most forums! 😉 Thanks again for all the help!