File Rename on Windows Server

php rename() file or equivalent on Windows Server?

[andy_broom]

Hi, has anyone else had problems trying to rename a file on a windows server?

I am simply trying to change the name of an existing file using the rename() function but it just doesn't seem to work, does anyone have any suggestions that might help?

here is what I am using:

$flgRename = rename("pages/gps.php", "pages/new.php")
if($flgRename)
{
echo "success!";
}
else
{
echo "failed";
}

I just get 'failed' and no name change.

Cheers,

Andy

[coopster]

Have you checked the error logs to see if any errors were generated? I'm guessing perhaps it is a permissions issue.

[andy_broom]

I tried changing all the permissions but still got nothing.

The file I am trying to rename was created with fopen("name", "w+"); which worked fine.

There were no error logs. I have a feeling it has something to do with it being on a Windows server, but not sure.

[coopster]

I have never attempted to rename without the full file path. Have you tried that?

[andy_broom]

Funny you should suggest that, I just thought the same and tried it but still no joy.

Just found this on php.net, "rename() fails with PHP4 and PHP5 under Windows if the destination file exists, regardless of file permission settings."
-http://us.php.net/manual/en/function.rename.php#60341

Tried out some other suggestions on there too but still getting nothing.

[coopster]

Yes, that is true because you cannot rename a file to an existing file name. You need to check for it's existence first and if you truly don't want the existing one, you will need to unlink it first.

if (file_exists("pages/new.php")) { 
  unlink("pages/new.php"); 
} 
rename("pages/gps.php", "pages/new.php");

I just tested this on a Windows install and it worked just fine as is running PHP 5.2.9-2

[andy_broom]

Thanks, I'll give it a go. If I unlink the file first and then do rename() what happens to the content of the original file? I need the newly named file to have the exact same content as the old file.

[coopster]

Then you should be using copy(), not rename.

[andy_broom]

Brilliant... I'm not absolutly sure yet but it looks like that is going to work! Obviously I will then have to unlink the old file.

I'm going to give it a go over the weekend and fingers crossed it will all work.

Thanks very much for your help and have a good weekend.