PHP scripts writes to file on localhost but not on IIS server

Question

I've made a simple website that works fine on localhost. So I've put it on an IIS Windows 2008r2 server and now my PHP scripts don't write to my JSON files anymore. I've checked the server and PHP is installed on it so I don't really know what's wrong or where to look.

I'm still not getting it to work so thought I'd explain the situation in more detail.

So this script works on localhost but not on IIS server.

<?php
$myFile = "../json/countries.json";
$fh = fopen($myFile, 'w') or die("can't open file");
$stringData = json_encode($_POST["data"]);
fwrite($fh, $stringData);
fclose($fh)
?>

I've tried adding:

error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', '1');

and

chmod("../json/countries.json", 0644);

to the php but not seeing any different results or any errors.

Here's the javascript function that starts the process, and outputting the object to the console does show the correct data to be saved.

function saveJson(object, file) {

console.log("Saving JSON data: " + JSON.stringify(object));

$.ajax
({
    type: "POST",
    dataType : 'json',
    async: false,
    url: file,
    data: { data:object },
    success: function () {console.log("Thanks!"); },
    failure: function() {console.log("Error!");}
});

}

Still the json files are not being changed. Anyone good with Windows Server and php that might know why?

Thanks

Answer 1

This kind of problem occurs because of three reason only:

1. Don't have proper Directory owner.Ex:- In Apache default user is www:data.
   • First check the directory owner.
2. You don't have sufficient write permission for directory i.e. 755
   • Check directory permission
3. Path is incorrect to a directory to write or upload file.
   • Check the directory path where you are writing the file.

According to php document Installation on Windows systems default user is IUSER

Hence you have to set the directory owner 'IUSR' is part of the IIS_IUSRS group, If its not works then try to set 'IIS AppPool\{YouApplicationPoolName}' from IIS AppPool\DefaultAppPool Ex. e.g. IIS AppPool\yourdomain.com. This setting is required for IIS8.

1. First try to change the owner to IUSER. It should work according to php document.
2. Set the write permission for the directory.

How to Change a directory permission & user group on windows system.

Rightclick on directory->security->edit

Please check attached screen shot.