Reading an sql file in WordPress

Question

I'm trying to populate a database table by reading some sql from a file.sql and putting it into a string before calling the query. But I seem to be unable to load the file into a string. What gives?

function db_data() {
    WP_Filesystem();
    global $wp_filesystem;
    global $wpdb;


    $table_name = $wpdb->prefix . "tableName";
    $file = "/sql/my_insert_query.sql";
    $sql_insert = "INSERT INTO $table_name (id, something) ";
    $sql_insert .= $wp_filesystem->get_contents( $file );
    $rows_affected = $wpdb->query( $sql_insert );
}

The $sql_insert turns out as an empty string. What am I doing wrong here?

EDIT:

Found the way to get to the right directory path. This is the finished code:

function db_data() {
    WP_Filesystem();
    global $wp_filesystem;
    global $wpdb;

    $table_name = $wpdb->prefix . "tableName";
    $sql_insert = "INSERT INTO $table_name (id, something) ";
    $dir = plugin_dir_path( __FILE__ );
    $file =  $dir."/sql/my_insert_query.sql";
    $sql_values = $wp_filesystem->get_contents( $file );
    $sql_insert .= $sql_values;
    $rows_affected = $wpdb->query( $sql_insert );
}

For the answer on finding and reading the sql file. Check the answer below.

is /sql/my_insert_query.sql the absolute path? Because if it's relative to your document root then it will come out empty. — ffflabs
– ffflabs, Commented Jun 13, 2014 at 14:21
@amenadiel It's not the absolute path. I used WP_PLUGIN_DIR but it came out without slashes so that didn't help either. So I should use the absolute path but how do I get to it? Because WP_PLUGIN_DIR gives me the path with the slashes missing. — Alternatex
– Alternatex, Commented Jun 13, 2014 at 14:38
how about $file = "./sql/my_insert_query.sql"; that should be relative to your wordpress root. — ffflabs
– ffflabs, Commented Jun 13, 2014 at 14:39
@amenadiel I tried it now but it still returns an empty string. — Alternatex
– Alternatex, Commented Jun 13, 2014 at 14:45
@amenadiel Thank you. I'm at work now and I need to go so I might not reply until Monday.. But I'd really appreciate your help. — Alternatex
– Alternatex, Commented Jun 13, 2014 at 14:47

ffflabs · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-13 14:49:14Z

2

Let's first start debugging the file path issue. There are two things you can use here.

function db_data() {
    WP_Filesystem();
    global $wp_filesystem;
    global $wpdb;
    echo 'Current Path is '. __DIR__;
    $file =  __DIR__."/sql/my_insert_query.sql";
    if(!is_readable($file)) {
        echo 'File not found or not readable '.$file;
    }     
    $table_name = $wpdb->prefix . "tableName";

    $sql_insert = "INSERT INTO $table_name (id, something) ";
    $sql_insert .= $wp_filesystem->get_contents( $file );
    $rows_affected = $wpdb->query( $sql_insert );
}

That will at least provide more insight about the filepath.

answered Jun 13, 2014 at 14:49

ffflabs

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2 Comments

Alternatex Over a year ago

I cannot use echo to see what's going on because it doesn't show up when I activate the plugin in WordPress but I used an insert query to see what happens in my database and I was able to find the right directory. And now my sql file reading and inserting works! Only problem is, DIR didn't work and WP_PLUGIN_DIR gives me the path without slashes.. I can't hardcode the path so how do I do it?

ffflabs Over a year ago

WP_PLUGIN_DIR should give you the path without trailing slash, same as DIR. If the latter didn't work, maybe you're using PHP 5.2. You can also replace it with dirname(__FILE__); but WP_PLUGIN_DIR is OK too.

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