file upload in cakephp - php

Question

How can I upload a file using cakephp? is there any framework support for file uploading or should I write my own code for this ?

Answer 1

Edit (2015): Please see the Awesome CakePHP list for current file plugins (2.x branch here)
Original answer:
CakePHP upload plugins in active development (as of Oct 2010):
David Persson's Media Plugin [slides]
WebTechNick's CakePHP File Upload Handling Plugin [blog post]
Miles Johnson's Uploader Plugin [website]
Meio Código's MeioUpload 2.0 Behavior Plugin [website]
You could also use the File class, but I wouldn't reinvent the wheel on this one.

Answer 2

both is possible
for beginners this is probably the better choice:
http://www.milesj.me/resources/script/uploader-plugin

Answer 3

This component could help you out: http://cakeforge.org/snippet/detail.php?type=snippet&id=36.
Allows uploads to either a database or a directory using FTP. I have some experience with CakePHP, however I have not yet tried this component.

Answer 4

To just get going try this.
I spent two days searching for a simple way to upload files, I tried lots of methods and couldn't get any to work. This works. It is not secure, it is super basic. For me it is now a springboard. I would use this to understand the processes. Then you can build it up in complexity.
For me I struggled with trying to save $this->data - but of cause it is not like the cakePHP blog tutorial. The data you want (all the file info) is buried a couple of levels down in nested arrays so $this->data['Doc']['files'] is what you are after.
SQL
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `docs` (
`id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
`name` varchar(300) NOT NULL,
`type` varchar(300) NOT NULL,
`tmp_name` varchar(300) NOT NULL,
`error` tinyint(1) NOT NULL,
`size` varchar(100) NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8 AUTO_INCREMENT=7 ;
MODEL
<?php
class Doc extends AppModel {
}
?>
VIEW
<h1>Uploads</h1>
<table>
<tr>
<th>ID</th><th>File Name</th><th>Size</th>
</tr>
<?php foreach($files as $file): ?>
<tr>
<td><?php echo $file['Doc']['id'];?></td>
<td><?php echo $this->Html->link($file['Doc']['name'],array('controller' => 'files','action'=>'uploads',$file['Doc']['name']));?></td>
<td><?php echo number_format($file['Doc']['size']/1023,0).' KB';?></td>
</tr>
<?php endforeach;?>
</table>
<h1>Add a File</h1>
<?php
echo $this->Form->create('Doc',array('type'=>'file'));
echo $this->Form->file('File');
echo $this->Form->submit('Upload');
echo $this->Form->end();
?>
CONTROLLER
<?php
class DocsController extends AppController
{
public $helpers = array('Html','Form','Session');
public function index()
{
// -- list the files -- //
$this->set('files',$this->Doc->find('all'));
// -- Check for error -> Upload file to folder -> Add line to database -- //
if($this->request->is('post'))
{
if($this->data['Doc']['File']['error']=='0')
{
if(file_exists('files/uploads/' . $this->data['Doc']['File']['name']))
{
$this->Session->setFlash('A file called ' .$this->data['Doc']['File']['name']. ' already exists');
} else {
move_uploaded_file($this->data['Doc']['File']['tmp_name'], 'files/uploads/' . $this->data['Doc']['File']['name']);
}
$this->Doc->save($this->data['Doc']['File']);
$this->redirect(array('action'=>'index'));
}
}
}
}
?>