$ FILES not showing up with empty()

[quasi]

I have some issues with some form data. Ive used this same code on other machines but I can't extract the data on the machine I'm currently working on. Here's some code and results.

The following snippet:
=================================================
<?
function processImage()
{
?>
<pre>
<?
print_r($_POST);
print_r($_FILES);
print_r($HTTP_POST_FILES);
print_r($_COOKIE);
?>
</pre>
<?

$imageName = empty($_FILES['picture']['name'])? die ("$user, You must enter a file! <BR> <a href='javascript:history.back()'>BACK</a>") : mysql_real_escape_string($_FILES['picture']['name']);

echo "IMAGENAME: $imageName";
...
========================================
Results with:
========================================

Array
(
[description] => pp
[type] => 1
[submitButtonName] => Submit Image
)
Array
(
[picture] => Array
(
[name] => cinder.jpg
[type] => image/jpeg
[tmp_name] => /tmp/phpyOBVJF
[error] => 0
[size] => 151172
)

)
Array
(
[ausUID] => 7
)

IMAGENAME:

===========================================
The $imageName variable is not getting filled but you can see it in the array.

file_uploads is on in php.ini

Any suggestions?

[coopster]

Yeah, dump it instead of printing it. I'm guessing mysql_real_escape_string [php.net] is returning boolean

FALSE

otherwise you would likely see your image name being printed out there.

var_dump [php.net]($imageName);

[quasi]

Okay I changed:
...
$imageName = empty($_FILES['picture']['name'])? die ("$user, You must enter a file! <BR> <a href='javascript:history.back()'>BACK</a>") : mysql_real_escape_string($_FILES['picture']['name']);
========
To:
...
$imageName = empty($_FILES['picture']['name']);
var_dump ($imageName);
echo "IMAGENAME: $imageName";

And now I get:
======================

Array
(
[description] => y
[type] => 1
[submitButtonName] => Submit Image
)
Array
(
[picture] => Array
(
[name] => cinder.jpg
[type] => image/jpeg
[tmp_name] => /tmp/phpuhKieg
[error] => 0
[size] => 151172
)

)
Array
(
[ausUID] => 7
)

bool(false) IMAGENAME:

[coopster]

Yeah, but that is what you would expect to see! empty [php.net] returns

FALSE

if the variable has a non-empty and non-zero value. And your variable has a non-empty, non-zero value. The logic you have says if the variable is empty then exit the script and dump the message with a back button. However, if it is true, escape the string for further processing. Go back to your original logic and dump the var where you were printing it out earlier.

[quasi]

Okay, I now have:
=====================
var_dump($_FILES['picture']['name']);

$imageName = empty($_FILES['picture']['name'])? die ("$user, You must enter a file! <BR> <a href='javascript:history.back()'>BACK</a>") : mysql_real_escape_string($_FILES['picture']['name']);

?><BR><?

var_dump ($imageName);

=======================
Result is:
=======================

Array
(
[description] => y
[type] => 1
[submitButtonName] => Submit Image
)
Array
(
[picture] => Array
(
[name] => cinder.jpg
[type] => image/jpeg
[tmp_name] => /tmp/phpgcIKz5
[error] => 0
[size] => 151172
)

)
Array
(
[ausUID] => 7
)

string(10) "cinder.jpg"
bool(false)

=================
Wasn't sure I understood you correctly so I put it in two places.

[cameraman]

To use mysql_real_escape_string() you need an open connection to mysql - do you have a connection open?

[quasi]

Ahh, that looks like it was the problem. Apparently I had opened a connection previously in other sites and never performed a close so this problem never showed up until now.

Thanks

[coopster]

That's why I was encouraging you to dump your variables ;)

I would also encourage you to turn up your error_reporting [php.net] during testing (not in your LIVE environment though) so these errors will be more prominent while you develop and test.

Glad you got it sorted!