PHP: get content from first file in folder and then delete it

Question

Using PHP, I want to get the content from the first file in a folder and when the content is loaded, delete the file. Here is what I have:

$a = opendir('./');
while (false !== ($entry = readdir($a))) {
    if($entry != '.' && $entry != '..') {
        echo $entry = file_get_contents('./'.$entry.'', FILE_USE_INCLUDE_PATH);
        break; // only need the first file
        }
    }

The code above loads the first file in the folder and I can delete it successfully using something like

unlink("temp.txt");

So there are no permission denied errors. BUT what I need to do is delete the file by its variable name (because every filename is different). Surprisingly for me, unlink("$entry"); or something similar does not let me delete it, instead showing a warning along with the first few lines of the content of that file. If I echo $entry It shows temp.txt correctly. Can someone enlighten me? What am I missing here?

(Optional (un)related question: If I have numeric files like 1.txt, 2.txt, 3.txt, 10.txt... . Is there a way I could modify the code above in a way, that it does not load files like 1,10,2,3 ..., instead load it like 1,2,3,10...?)

UPDATE: The updated code that works (for future reference):

$a = opendir('./');
while (false !== ($entry = readdir($a))) {
    if($entry != '.' && $entry != '..') {
        echo $b = file_get_contents('./'.$entry.'', FILE_USE_INCLUDE_PATH);
        break; // only need the first file
        }
    } 
unlink("./$entry");

You're overwriting $entry with file contents. So in cycle, after assignment, your $entry no longer points to a valid file location. — Alma Do
– Alma Do, Commented Aug 28, 2013 at 11:43
You try to delete $entry using a relative path, it should be unlink("./$entry"); — MisterBla
– MisterBla, Commented Aug 28, 2013 at 11:43

Niels Keurentjes · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-28 11:43:50Z

2

The first problem is that you're overwriting $entry with the file contents, as such the filename is no longer valid when trying to delete it (explaining the error with the file contents).

Secondly, because you're using FILE_USE_INCLUDE_PATH you don't know exactly where the file is located, and unlink resolves related to the current working directory, which is most probably not $a.

Use unlink($a.'/'.$entry) and you'll be fine.

As for the unrelated question - use scandir to get all the files in the folder, then apply natsort to the resulting array to sort by a 'natural sorting algorithm'. Keep in mind that a directory listing always also lists the folders . and .. which you'll have to detect and skip or remove manually.

answered Aug 28, 2013 at 11:43

Niels Keurentjes

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1 Comment

Tina Martinesz Over a year ago

Perfectly explained both of my mistakes, so I could adjust it accordingly. Thank you so much!

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