Save to server side file from PHP via Javascript

Question

I am trying to save a json string from a javascript file to a local file on the server using PHP, however, my json file is not being modified at all. Here is my Javascript:

function saveToFile(data){
  jsonString = JSON.stringify(data);
  $.ajax({
    url: 'php/save.php',
    data : jsonString,
    type: 'POST'
  });
}

Note that jsonString is a valid variable, and i can log it correctly into the console.

Here is my PHP:

<?php
  $data = $_POST['jsonString'];
  $f = fopen("../website-contents.json", "w") or die("fopen failed");
  fwrite($f, $data) or die("fwrite failed");
  fclose($f);
?>

Note that even tests trying to save "Hello World" to "test.txt" don't work, or through errors.

Finally, here is my folder structure: enter image description here

Try var_dumping your $_POST variable, might give you some more insight. The key 'jsonString' is most likely incorrect on the php side. — crowebird
– crowebird, Commented Jul 9, 2015 at 20:22
file_put_contents( $uploadLocation."/filename.json", $fileJsonString ); Make sure you have the correct write permissions on where you are going to save this. — ODelibalta
– ODelibalta, Commented Jul 9, 2015 at 20:22
Add error reporting to the top of your file(s) right after your opening <?php tag error_reporting(E_ALL); ini_set('display_errors', 1); — Jay Blanchard
– Jay Blanchard, Commented Jul 9, 2015 at 20:23
Have you watched the request / response in the browser's console? — Jay Blanchard
– Jay Blanchard, Commented Jul 9, 2015 at 20:23
@crowebird I echoed my $data and its all correct, however, its giving me the "fopen failed" error from my or die. — Alex Shaw
– Alex Shaw, Commented Jul 9, 2015 at 20:46

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

8

Here is your solution.

Js code

function saveToFile(data){
  jsonString = JSON.stringify(data);
  $.ajax({
    url: 'php/save.php',
    data : {'jsonString':jsonString},
    type: 'POST'
  });
}

php code.

$data = $_POST['jsonString'];
//set mode of file to writable.
chmod("../website-contents.json",0777);
$f = fopen("../website-contents.json", "w+") or die("fopen failed");
fwrite($f, $data);
fclose($f);

edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Jul 9, 2015 at 20:28

Pratik Soni

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3 Comments

Alex Shaw Over a year ago

The data is being parsed in correctly now, thank you! However, i am getting the message "fopen failed", even after setting the chmod. Is the path within fopen relative to the PHP/JS or absolute?

Pratik Soni Over a year ago

can you use $f = fopen("../website-contents.json", "w+"); instead of $f = fopen("../website-contents.json", "w+") or die("fopen failed"); and check the error ? So i can better understand what is happening here.

Alex Shaw Over a year ago

It was just a permissions error in the end, setting "sudo chmod 777 website-contents.json" solved it!

davidkonrad · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-09 20:30:19Z

1

I agree with the comments pointing out you must have a permission problem. However, it will not work after you have corrected this problem either. You have

$data = $_POST['jsonString'];

but where do you set a key called jsonString? Use

function saveToFile(data){
  var jsonString = JSON.stringify(data);
  $.post("php/save.php", {
     jsonString: jsonString
  })
}

instead.

answered Jul 9, 2015 at 20:30

davidkonrad

85.7k17 gold badges211 silver badges273 bronze badges

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