ZipArchive Library Is Not Enabled When Using PHPExcel

Question

I am using CodeIgniter and PHPExcel to read and write to excel files.

Everything worked fine in localhost, but when I uploaded my PHP CodeIgniter application to the server in pagodabox I got the below message when I tried to read data from excel files.

Fatal error: Uncaught exception 'Exception' with message 'ZipArchive library is not enabled' in /var/www/application/libraries/PHPExcel/Reader/Excel2007.php

Answer 1

For writing, PHPExcel does provide PCLZip as an alternative to ZipArchive. You can configure it to use this by calling

PHPExcel_Settings::setZipClass(PHPExcel_Settings::PCLZIP);

But if you want to read any of the zipped spreadsheet file formats (e.g. xlsx, ods) then you do need PHP's zip archive extension enabled

EDIT

With effect from version 1.8.0, the PCLZIP option is now available when reading zipped formats as well as for writing them

Answer 2

ZipArchive is a requirement for PHP Excel. You need to follow the install instructions for it to enable it on your production server.

It is already enabled on your development server, reason why it works there. Contact your host to see if it is already compiled, and if so how to enable it for your account.

Uncommenting the PECL extension from php.ini would enable it. Contact your host to have it enabled if you do not have access to the file.