deleting all files from a folder on Linux server using PHP

Question

My question is almost the same as this one Deleting all files from a folder using PHP?

And I tried to use the answer provided by @Floern https://stackoverflow.com/a/4594262/2167772

But it didn't work for me. I tried to get filenames from a folder on the Linux server. And I have changed the folder and file permission to rwxrwxrwx. And I got the "Unable to get the filename" message all the time. Does anyone know how to solve it? Thanks a lot!

     $files=glob('/data/in/*') or die ("Unable to get the filename");
                foreach ($files as $file) {
                    if(is_file($file)){
                        echo $file;
                        unlink($file) or die ("Uable to delete file!");
                    }       
                }

------Update----

I just figured it out. It is the problem with the server. I cannot write anything to the data folder even I assign the write permission. I will move my in folder to another folder.

Thank you so much for everyone's comments!

So the question really is "why does `glob` fail"? How would we know? — Jon, Jul 17 '14 at 18:16
use scandir() end exclude files that are directories with testing `is_dir($item)` — Bobot, Jul 17 '14 at 18:17
do you actually have `/data` directory in the root of your file system? I doubt it... you probably have `/data` in your site's document root, but that's going to be `/some/other/path/site/docroot/data`, not just `/data` — Marc B, Jul 17 '14 at 18:18
@Jon I don't think you understand my question. glob works for other people. So the question is not "why does glob fail". If I know what the question is, I will not post a question here. — Ivy, Jul 17 '14 at 18:21
@user2167772: If you get "unable to get the filename" then that means `glob` fails. Which means that you want to find out why `glob` fails. There is only a single argument to `glob`. Are you sure it's correct? — Jon, Jul 17 '14 at 18:23
I'm pretty sure its answered [HERE](http://stackoverflow.com/a/24810837/3799829) check answers cmon .. — Bobot, Jul 17 '14 at 18:25

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 17 '14 at 18:21

0

As said @Marc B, you just have to write this :

 $files=glob('data/in/*') or die ("Unable to get the filenames!");
            foreach ($files as $file) {
                if(is_file($file)){
                    echo $file;
                    unlink($file) or die ("Unable to delete file!");
                }       
            }

You write : glob('/data/in/*'), I write glob('data/in/*')

You use absolute path, i use relative path.

answered Jul 17 '14 at 18:21

Bobot

1,118
8
19

1

Hi Bob0t and @Marc B. Thank you for your comments. I tried the relative path. It doesn't work. I do have a /data directory in the root of my file system – Ivy Jul 17 '14 at 18:57
ah then its not this solution :v – Bobot Jul 17 '14 at 22:28
It is the problem with the server. – Ivy Jul 17 '14 at 22:39

ivanfromer · Answer 2 · 2014-07-17T18:32:03.100

0

Use this tutorial: http://de3.php.net/manual/de/function.rmdir.php#107233

And check is your folder permission is enable to write.

Have you trying like this:

$dir = 'your/directory/';
foreach(glob($dir.'*.*') as $v){
    unlink($v);
}

edited Jul 17 '14 at 18:32

answered Jul 17 '14 at 18:22

ivanfromer

329
1
5

Quote `And I have changed the folder and file permission to rwxrwxrwx` he allready checked permissiosn, he just failed glob() func cuz he used absolute path :) – Bobot Jul 17 '14 at 18:23
did you put 777 permission? – ivanfromer Jul 17 '14 at 18:24
he put `rwxrwxrwx` wich is same – Bobot Jul 17 '14 at 18:27

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 17 '14 at 18:33

if file is not at public directory...

change mode of file to 777

  $files=glob('data/in/*') or die ("Unable to get the filename");
            foreach ($files as $file) {
                if(is_file($file)){
                    echo $file;
                       chmod($file,777);
                    unlink($file) or die ("Uable to delete file!");
                }       
            }

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 17 '14 at 19:01

solution with php. don't like the glob function. you can use the RecursiveDirectoryIterator

    $filePath = '/someDir';
    $directoryIterator = new \RecursiveDirectoryIterator(realpath($filePath));
    foreach (new \RecursiveIteratorIterator($directoryIterator) as $object ) {
        if(!$object->isDir())
        {
            unlink($object->getPath());
        }
    }

deleting all files from a folder on Linux server using PHP

4 Answers4