Cannot unlink file in Codeigniter

Question

In my project I have a folder secure in root. The project package looks like:

application 
secure
system 
...........

Inside secure folder I am uploading some images on form submit using

$config1['upload_path'] = './secure/';
$ext = end(explode(".", $_FILES['thumb_image']['name']));
$config1['file_name'] = time().$_FILES['thumb_image']['name'];
$config1['allowed_types'] = 'jpg|png|jpeg|gif|bmp|jpe|tiff|tif';
$this->load->library('upload', $config1);
$this->upload->initialize($config1);
$this->upload->do_upload('thumb_image');

and it is working properly. Now while on editing the details, using another form, if I am uploading a new image instead of the current image file, I want to unlink the current one and then upload new file.

For this I am using the code:

unlink(base_url("secure/".$data['row']->videothumbnail));

I also tried with

unlink('/secure/'.$data['row']->videothumbnail);

where $data['row']->videothumbnail) is the current image file from database. New file is successfully uploaded. But old file is not getting unlinked. I have set the permission of secure folder to 777. But the images are uploaded with read only permission. Is it because of this, it is not getting unlinked?

Can anyone help me to solve this?

Thanks in advance.

Slipover

thanks i missed . before /secure. – Slipover

You could try do a chmod on the file after the upload to change the permissions – Longshore

if dir path wrong then unlink function show warning, can you show warning?? – Limbert

it is now working..the problem was I missed . before the /secure/ path.. – Slipover

You can have a look at this url #12321089 – Weinberger

Answer 1

Try this:

Set the permission dynamically using:

@chmod('./secure/'.$data['row']->videothumbnail, 0777);

then try unlink:

@unlink('./secure/'.$data['row']->videothumbnail);

Polyclitus

Answer 2

Try echoing the path that you are providing to unlink function.

It should be something like this:

base_url()."secure/".$data['row']->videothumbnail;

Evergreen

that still won't help because u cannot unlink from a URL! – Longshore

Um - no it isn't... base_url will provide you HTTP path, the unlink function required directory path... – Limbert

Answer 3

First Load the $this->load->helper("file") and then unlink it

unlink("secure/".$data['row']->videothumbnail);

Empty

Answer 4

I also had this issue even after setting the right permission on the folder. But the following code worked for me.

unlink(realpath(APPPATH . '../uploads').'/'.$ImageName);      

Keyes

Answer 5

Try to use $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] instead of base_url

Percutaneous

Answer 6

$this->load->helper("file") 
unlink(base_url('folder/file.ext'));

location:

\app\controller

\system\libraries

**folder\file.ext**

Edie

Answer 7

$unlinkUrl = "secure/".$data['row']->videothumbnail;
if(file_exists($unlinkUrl)){
    unlink($unlinkUrl);
}
else{
    echo $unlinkUrl." is not available";    
}

Strader

Answer 8

I think you are just making a stupid mistake.

• Firstly, the first param of unlink should be a relative path or absolute path, but base_url function will return you a path contains domain name, HOW CAN YOU DELETE A FILE ON REMOTE SERVER ?

• Secondly, '/secure/'.$data['row']->videothumbnail here is not a relative path but a absolute path

YOU MUST change it into /the/absolute/path/to/secure/ or ./the/relative/path/to/secure/ (DO NOT MISS THE DOT)

Perilune

Answer 9

use this to unlink

$oldthumb = "secure/".$data['row']->videothumbnail;
@unlink($oldthumb);

Incubate

Answer 10

if ($rowAffected > 0) {
                if ($isMediaUpload)
                    if (file_exists('./uploads/' . $this->input->post('img_url')))
                        unlink('./uploads/' . $this->input->post('img_url'));
                            redirect('/admin/configration', 'location');
            }

Fumigant

Answer 11

Though i came in late but someone might need this .

unlink(FCPATH."secure/".$data['row']->videothumbnail)

**FCPATH** - path to front controller, usually index.php
**APPPATH** - path to application folder
**BASEPATH** - path to system folder.

Graybill