Folder & File

The Folder and File utilities are convenience classes to help you read from and write/append to files; list files within a folder and other common directory related tasks.

Basic usage

Ensure the classes are loaded using App::uses():

<?php
App::uses('Folder', 'Utility');
App::uses('File', 'Utility');

Then we can setup a new folder instance:

<?php
$dir = new Folder('/path/to/folder');

and search for all .ctp files within that folder using regex:

<?php
$files = $dir->find('.*\.ctp');

Now we can loop through the files and read from or write/append to the contents or simply delete the file:

<?php
foreach ($files as $file) {
    $file = new File($dir->pwd() . DS . $file);
    $contents = $file->read();
    // $file->write('I am overwriting the contents of this file');
    // $file->append('I am adding to the bottom of this file.');
    // $file->delete(); // I am deleting this file
    $file->close(); // Be sure to close the file when you're done
}

Folder API

class Folder(string $path = false, boolean $create = false, string|boolean $mode = false)

<?php
// Create a new folder with 0755 permissions
$dir = new Folder('/path/to/folder', true, 0755);


Path of the current folder. :php:meth:`Folder::pwd()` will return the same
information.


Whether or not the list results should be sorted by name.


Mode to be used when creating folders. Defaults to ``0755``. Does nothing on
Windows machines.

static Folder::addPathElement(string $path, string $element)

rtype
string

Returns $path with $element added, with correct slash in-between:

$path = Folder::addPathElement('/a/path/for', 'testing');
// $path equals /a/path/for/testing

$element can also be an array:

$path = Folder::addPathElement('/a/path/for', array('testing', 'another'));
// $path equals /a/path/for/testing/another

Added in version 2.5

$element parameter accepts an array as of 2.5

method Folder::cd(string $path)

method Folder::chmod(string $path, integer $mode = false, boolean $recursive = true, array $exceptions = array())

method Folder::copy(array|string $options = array())

static Folder::correctSlashFor(string $path)

rtype
string

Returns a correct set of slashes for given $path ('\ for Windows paths and '/' for other paths).

method Folder::create(string $pathname, integer $mode = false)

method Folder::delete(string $path = null)

method Folder::dirsize()

method Folder::errors()

method Folder::find(string $regexpPattern = '.*', boolean $sort = false)

NOTE

The folder find and findRecursive methods will only find files. If you would like to get folders and files see Folder::read() or Folder::tree()

method Folder::findRecursive(string $pattern = '.*', boolean $sort = false)

method Folder::inCakePath(string $path = '')

method Folder::inPath(string $path = '', boolean $reverse = false)

static Folder::isAbsolute(string $path)

rtype
boolean

Returns true if the given $path is an absolute path.

static Folder::isSlashTerm(string $path)

rtype
boolean

Returns true if given $path ends in a slash (i.e. is slash-terminated):

<?php
$result = Folder::isSlashTerm('/my/test/path');
// $result = false
$result = Folder::isSlashTerm('/my/test/path/');
// $result = true

static Folder::isWindowsPath(string $path)

rtype
boolean

Returns true if the given $path is a Windows path.

method Folder::messages()

method Folder::move(array $options)

static Folder::normalizePath(string $path)

rtype
string

Returns a correct set of slashes for given $path ('\ for Windows paths and '/' for other paths).

method Folder::pwd()

method Folder::read(boolean $sort = true, array|boolean $exceptions = false, boolean $fullPath = false)

method Folder::realpath(string $path)

static Folder::slashTerm(string $path)

rtype
string

Returns $path with added terminating slash (corrected for Windows or other OS).

method Folder::tree(null|string $path = null, array|boolean $exceptions = true, null|string $type = null)

File API

class File(string $path, boolean $create = false, integer $mode = 755)

<?php
// Create a new file with 0644 permissions
$file = new File('/path/to/file.php', true, 0644);


The Folder object of the file.


The name of the file with the extension. Differs from
:php:meth:`File::name()` which returns the name without the extension.


An array of file info. Use :php:meth:`File::info()` instead.


Holds the file handler resource if the file is opened.


Enable locking for file reading and writing.


The current file's absolute path.

method File::append(string $data, boolean $force = false)

method File::close()

method File::copy(string $dest, boolean $overwrite = true)

method File::create()

method File::delete()

method File::executable()

method File::exists()

method File::ext()

method File::Folder()

method File::group()

method File::info()

method File::lastAccess()

method File::lastChange()

method File::md5(integer|boolean $maxsize = 5)

method File::name()

method File::offset(integer|boolean $offset = false, integer $seek = 0)

method File::open(string $mode = 'r', boolean $force = false)

method File::owner()

method File::perms()

<File::prepare(string> $data, boolean $forceWindows = false)

rtype
string

Prepares a ascii string for writing. Converts line endings to the correct terminator for the current platform. For Windows "rn" will be used, "n" for all other platforms.

method File::pwd()

method File::read(string $bytes = false, string $mode = 'rb', boolean $force = false)

method File::readable()

method File::safe(string $name = null, string $ext = null)

method File::size()

method File::writable()

method File::write(string $data, string $mode = 'w', boolean$force = false)

Added in version 2.1

File::mime()

method File::mime()

method File::replaceText( $search, $replace )

Better explain how to use each method with both classes.