FTP file creation

[AndyA]

Hi, I have recently started to use php scripts, and so far I have a basic (however working) login and registration system, which adds records to a MySql database. I am now trying to expand on this, and add some php code to my registration page which creates a file on my ftp account when a user submits their details. In other words, I would like a new "profile page" to be created when a valid new member registers to my site.

So far, I have the following, but it does not work. Any suggestions?

<?php

function ftp_copy($source_file, $destination_file)
{
    $ftp_server = $ftpserver;
    $ftp_user = $ftpuser;
    $ftp_password = $ftppass;

    $conn_id = ftp_connect($ftp_server);
    $login_result = ftp_login($conn_id, $ftp_user, $ftp_password);

    if((!$conn_id) || (!$login_result))
    {
            echo "FTP connection has failed!";
            echo "Attempted to connect to $ftp_server for user $ftp_user";
       }

    $fh = fopen("/public_html/profiles/$userUsername","w");

if($fh==false){
ftp_close($conn_id);
    die("unable to create file");
}
    ftp_close($conn_id); ?>

Also on this script are the registration form and an "include" to my variables details, e.g. $ftp_user.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[BabblingIdjit]

Judging from the code, these variables:

$ftpserver;
$ftpuser;
$ftppass;

are defined outside of the function scope. As such, they are not visible to the function. You will need to:

1. Pass the variables to the function (recommended)
2. Declare them as "global" inside the function (not recommended)

[AndyA]

Thanks very much for the early reply. How would I go about passing the variables to the function?

Also, the values of each variable are in another php script which I have "included" in this registration script. Why wouldn't that work?

Thanks again.

[BabblingIdjit]

It's a question of scope (more info). Variables used in functions are local to the function unless they are passed to the function (or declared as "global").

To pass the variables:

function ftp_copy($source_file, $destination_file, $ftp_server, $ftp_user, $ftp_password)
{
   // function code
}

[AndyA]

Thanks again John.

The registration form and content appears fine now (without errors); however the file still isn't created.

I am not sure, but is the specified directory valid? (As is given in my opening code):

("/public_html/profiles/$userUsername","w"); 

Thanks.

[BabblingIdjit]

Probably not. The directory is probably something more like /home/user_name_here/public_html/profiles/

* replace user_name_here with your hosting account username

(Of course, your host could use a different directory structure, but this is common)

Make sure that this folder exists and is writeable.

[AndyA]

Hmm... the destination is writeable, but the file still isn't being created.

I've tried all sorts of directory combinations - I guess I'll keep trying different ones for now.

Thanks for all of your help John - you've got my main problems working great!

[BabblingIdjit]

Assuming your hosting package include CPanel, you can use File Manager to open the folder - File Manager will display the full path to the folder. I'm sure Plesk and other control panels include a similar feature.

If that doesn't help, post the current version of your code.

[AndyA]

You're right. I am using File Manager, and the destination is shown in the form:

<mywebsite.co.uk>/public_html/profiles

So I tried this as the destination for fopen (as well as without the <>), but the file still wasn't created.

I want the file created to be the username of the new member - which is why I put the end of the directory as $userUsername. I just thought that I might need to add the extension (i.e. .html). How would I correctly do this (if this works).

(My current version of php is 5.2.6)

[BabblingIdjit]

Most likely, you'll still need "/home/" before the rest of the path. If you can't figure it out, your host should be able to help.

(My current version of php is 5.2.6)

What I meant was, post the current code that you've written.