Question

I have a form with text inputs and a file input. What is a proper way validate both input types using Codeigniter’s validation library? I found some solutions but they don’t work properly or seem like an overkill (creating new libraries or modifying CI system files).

In my view I’m using 1 multipart form and displaying both text validation error and upload errors.

Here is what I have so far in my Controller…

function create() //create new post
{           
    $this->form_validation->set_rules('content', 'Entry', 'trim|required|xss_clean');
    $this->form_validation->set_rules('category_id', 'Category', 'trim|required|xss_clean|integer'); 

    //Text input fields
    if ($this->form_validation->run() == FALSE)
    {
        $this->load->view('new_post');
    }       
    else
    {
            $config['upload_path'] = './uploads/posts/';
            $config['allowed_types'] = 'jpg|png';               
            $config['max_size'] = '800'; //in KB

            $this->load->library('upload', $config);

            //File Upload
            if (! $this->upload->do_upload())
            {
                $upload_error['upload_error'] = array('error' => $this->upload->display_errors()); 

                $this->load->view('my_view', $upload_error);

                return FALSE;
            }

             //Add to database 
             $data = array (
               'user_id' => $this->tank_auth->get_user_id(),
               'category_id' => $this->input->post('category_id'),
               'content' => $this->input->post('content')
             );

             $this->Posts_model->create_post($data);

             $this->session->set_flashdata('success', 'Post_added!');
             redirect('posts');
    }       

}

I keep getting You did not select a file to upload. in my view.

Answer 1

What is the name of your file input? do_upload() is expecting it by default to be ‘userfile’, however if you have something like <input type="file" name="image"... you will need to call $this->upload->do_upload('image')

You also need to make sure the form is set to multipart – http://ellislab.com/codeigniter/user-guide/libraries/file_uploading.html