Going insane trying to do file uploads!

By ilmaestro on 29 Oct 2007 at 05:19 UTC

I'm attempting to do file uploads following the fileupload example module. For some reason, when I submit my form, by the time it gets to the form_validate method, the value of my file is wiped out!!! I noticed this only happens when I include the enctype form attribute. If I leave that attribute out, then the file name makes it through just fine, but of course, I can't upload a file without setting the enctype.

What gives?! Any clues as to why my file name is getting wiped out somehow before I even get to the validate method?

Thanks
j

Comments

Insane!!

ilmaestro commented 29 October 2007 at 06:19

Yep, this is driving me insane. When I dump the values of $_POST in the validate method, my file field is empty. I remove the enctype, it works. I leave it in, all file inputs do not get through.

What is going on!!!!?!?!

PHP handles file submissions

Dave Cohen commented 29 October 2007 at 06:22

PHP handles file submissions differently than other post submissions. The details get stored in $_FILES, not $_POST. You have to set the enctype for this to happen.

I recommend you work with the upload api module. If it can't do what you need, contribute to make it better.

Re: dave

ilmaestro commented 29 October 2007 at 07:21

Ahh, I see. Wherever PHP sticks the values for file inputs, they weren't getting through since drupal was complaining that I didn't enter a value for that field.

So after a few hours of wasted time, I FINALLY discovered what was causing my file name to get wiped. Having the file field set to required. That's it. And now I see in the documentation that file fields are NOT allowed to have the required attribute set. This seems ridiculous to me. I can do my own validation to ensure a file is uploaded, but I lose the special visual stuff that all my other required fields get.

This is really lame and really disappointing.

For a different application

gpk commented 29 October 2007 at 09:55

For a different application I had some success with using a custom "#apparently-required" attribute for certain fields. The form API seemed quite happy to let me add my own custom attribute, and then I themed it to look like a required field, but without the corresponding behaviour/validation...

HTH

gpk
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