- - -

File Helper

- -

The File Helper file contains functions that assist in working with files.

- - -

Loading this Helper

- -

This helper is loaded using the following code:

-$this->load->helper('file'); - -

The following functions are available:

- -

read_file('`path`')

- -

Returns the data contained in the file specified in the path. Example:

- -$string = read_file('./path/to/file.php'); - -

The path can be a relative or full server path. Returns FALSE (boolean) on failure.

- -

Note: The path is relative to your main site index.php file, NOT your controller or view files. -CodeIgniter uses a front controller so paths are always relative to the main site index.

- -

If your server is running an open_basedir restriction this function -might not work if you are trying to access a file above the calling script.

- -

write_file('`path`', `$data`)

- -

Writes data to the file specified in the path. If the file does not exist the function will create it. Example:

- -


-$data = 'Some file data';

-

-if ( ! write_file('./path/to/file.php', $data))

-{

-     echo 'Unable to write the file';

-}

-else

-{

-     echo 'File written!';

-}

- -

You can optionally set the write mode via the third parameter:

- -write_file('./path/to/file.php', $data, 'r+'); - -

The default mode is wb. Please see the PHP user guide for mode options.

- -

Note: In order for this function to write data to a file its file permissions must be set such that it is writable (666, 777, etc.). -If the file does not already exist, the directory containing it must be writable.

- -

Note: The path is relative to your main site index.php file, NOT your controller or view files. -CodeIgniter uses a front controller so paths are always relative to the main site index.

- -

delete_files('`path`')

- -

Deletes ALL files contained in the supplied path. Example:

-delete_files('./path/to/directory/'); - -

If the second parameter is set to true, any directories contained within the supplied root path will be deleted as well. Example:

- -delete_files('./path/to/directory/', TRUE); - -

Note: The files must be writable or owned by the system in order to be deleted.

- -

get_filenames('`path/to/directory/`')

- -

Takes a server path as input and returns an array containing the names of all files contained within it. The file path -can optionally be added to the file names by setting the second parameter to TRUE.

- -

get_dir_file_info('`path/to/directory/`', `$top_level_only` = TRUE)

- -

Reads the specified directory and builds an array containing the filenames, filesize, dates, and permissions. Sub-folders contained within the specified path are only read if forced - by sending the second parameter, $top_level_only to FALSE, as this can be an intensive operation.

- -

get_file_info('`path/to/file`', `$file_information`)

- -

Given a file and path, returns the name, path, size, date modified. Second parameter allows you to explicitly declare what information you want returned; options are: name, server_path, size, date, readable, writable, executable, fileperms. Returns FALSE if the file cannot be found.

- -

Note: The "writable" uses the PHP function is_writable() which is known to have issues on the IIS webserver. Consider using fileperms instead, which returns information from PHP's fileperms() function.

get_mime_by_extension('`file`')

- -

Translates a file extension into a mime type based on config/mimes.php. Returns FALSE if it can't determine the type, or open the mime config file.

-$file = "somefile.png"; -echo $file . ' is has a mime type of ' . get_mime_by_extension($file); -

Note: This is not an accurate way of determining file mime types, and is here strictly as a convenience. It should not be used for security.

- -

symbolic_permissions(`$perms`)

- -

Takes numeric permissions (such as is returned by fileperms() and returns standard symbolic notation of file permissions.

- -

echo symbolic_permissions(fileperms('./index.php'));

-

-// -rw-r--r--

- -

octal_permissions(`$perms`)

- -

Takes numeric permissions (such as is returned by fileperms() and returns a three character octal notation of file permissions.

- -

echo octal_permissions(fileperms('./index.php'));

-

-// 644

- -

CodeIgniter User Guide Version 2.0.3

File Helper

Loading this Helper

read_file('path')

write_file('path', $data)

delete_files('path')

get_filenames('path/to/directory/')

get_dir_file_info('path/to/directory/', $top_level_only = TRUE)

get_file_info('path/to/file', $file_information)

get_mime_by_extension('file')

symbolic_permissions($perms)

octal_permissions($perms)