Zipping checkboxed files PHP - php

Question

<?PHP
function zipFilesAndDownload($file_names,$archive_file_name,$file_path){
$zip = new ZipArchive();
//create the file and throw the error if unsuccessful
if ($zip->open($archive_file_name, ZIPARCHIVE::CREATE )!==TRUE) {
exit("cannot open <$archive_file_name>\n");
}
//add each files of $file_name array to archive
foreach($file_names as $files) {
$zip->addFile($file_path.$files,$files);
}
$zip->close();
$zipped_size = filesize($archive_file_name);
header("Content-Description: File Transfer");
header("Content-type: application/zip");
header("Content-Type: application/force-download");// some browsers need this
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=$archive_file_name");
header('Expires: 0');
header('Cache-Control: must-revalidate, post-check=0, pre-check=0');
header('Pragma: public');
header("Content-Length:". " $zipped_size");
ob_clean();
flush();
readfile("$archive_file_name");
unlink("$archive_file_name"); // Now delete the temp file (some servers need this option)
exit;
}
if(($_POST['formSubmit'])) {
//$file_names=$_POST['items'];// Always sanitize your submitted data!!!!!!
//$file_names = filter_var_array($_POST['items']);//works but it's the wrong method
$filter = filter_input_array(INPUT_POST, FILTER_SANITIZE_SPECIAL_CHARS) ;
$file_names = $filter['items'] ;
//Archive name
$archive_file_name= "zip.zip";
//Download Files path
$file_path= $leadon;
//cal the function
zipFilesAndDownload($file_names,$archive_file_name,$leadon);
}
?>
I have a working code here.
The main problem is
//Download Files path
$file_path= $leadon;
//cal the function
zipFilesAndDownload($file_names,$archive_file_name,$leadon);
This code
echo $leadon;
returns string images2/User/
And it doesn't create me the zip file ( well it creates a blank ) but if I manually type in the path
"images2/User/"
into
$file_path= and then I just change
zipFilesAndDownload($file_names,$archive_file_name,$file_path);
everything works fine can you tell me why is it so? And how can I change it:s