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[resolved] If this file were writable you could edit it. (17 posts)

  1. fieryairah
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    I wanted to edit a certain theme but it says: "If this file were writable you could edit it."

    And yeah, before I've posted this, I've already search for this one but can't find a real solution for the problem.

    i really don't know what to do. i have a domain hosted on another server, & wordpress customization is fine, i can edit the templates.. but with the new one, it's like i don't know what to do.

    i'm really getting frustrated. seriously. for 2 days, i've been googling like crazy searching for the solution but can't find it. i even downloaded Filezilla but still... aahahhhh...

    please? please? somebody help me?

    my url is: http://www.missmelodrama.com

  2. whooami
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    youve searched? what did the search results tell you to do?

    http://wordpress.org/search/if+this+file+were+writable?documentation=1&forums=1

    this is like the 3rd or 4th link .. it explains the issue and how to resolve it.

    the solution is quite real, btw, its a permission thing, and nearly ALL of the answers to that problem say nearly the same thing.
    http://wordpress.org/support/topic/76253?replies=10

    You need to adjust the permissions. If you need more of an explanation, see this:

    http://codex.wordpress.org/Changing_File_Permissions

    wp-content/themes/ - theme files. If you want to use the built-in theme editor, all files need to be group writable. If you do not want to use the built-in theme editor, all files can be writable only by your user account

  3. fieryairah
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    ahm, i've followed some of the advice on the different posts related to this one.. even changing from the original 755 to different known permissions.. & yet, i can't seem to make it writable.

    any specific help to guide me in the right direction would really be appreciated.

    geez. sorry for the bad english. =P

  4. rudolf45
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    Not the folder/directory.
    If you want to edit online you need to change the file's permission (usually to 666) <-- that's an evil number ;)

  5. fieryairah
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    well, yeah, i've tried it just now & yet, it's not working.

    it still the same.

  6. rudolf45
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    Hmmm...

    for 2 days, i've been googling

    I don't know. During those 2 days you could have edited that damn theme on your computer in a simple text editor and uplaod it about several thousand times.

  7. fieryairah
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    yeah, time wasted i know.

    anyway, here's some info about the files/directories/etc, these are the default permissions btw.. i thought putting it back to the real permission would be good to know if there are any more problems:

    WP-CONTENT - 755

    WP-CONTENT/Plugins - 755
    WP-CONTENT/Themes - 755
    WP-CONTENT/Uploads - 777

    All the folders under "WP-CONTENT/Themes" are in 755.

    And all the files under the 3 Themes folder (default, classic & MK) of the WP-CONTENT/Themes are in 644.

    I don't know what the heck I'm going to change again since I've already change & followed the advices of the other posters when I've searched for this problem.

    I don't know if this is a host/server issue, gah, i really don't have any idea.

    I just wanted to edit the MK theme in the Wordpress Theme Editor. That's all.

  8. fieryairah
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    gosh! i made it! i really really made it!

    somehow, i've stumbled upon an answer. thank god.

  9. rudolf45
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    For the sake of the next poor guy who will struggle with the same issue... it would be nice if you could share what the solution was.

  10. fieryairah
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    actually, i didn't get what you mean at first.

    but then, i remembered a theme i downloaded eons ago & there was some CHMOD thingy in there. so i downloaded it again & wow..

    it says: "CHMOD to 666 all the .php files inside the Theme Folder in order to edit them from the admin panel."

    i did just that & BAM! The Update button appeared.

    I'm so happy. really!! Have a nice day y'all! *hugs*

    cheers,
    aiRah

  11. mreda
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    Great, it worked for me!

  12. Root
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    That would be it. The chmod thingy. :)

  13. moniquebriand
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    It isn't a hosting provider thing.

  14. moniquebriand
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    Read this as well on potential security issues with 777 and the trade-off between security and functionality.

    http://codex.wordpress.org/.htaccess_for_subdirectories

  15. ljmblue
    Member
    Posted 2 years ago #

    Here's how I solved this issue (assumes shell access):
    1. create a new group:
    $ addgroup wp-theme-editor
    2. change the group of the theme files and make them group writable:
    $ cd <theme-directory>
    $ chgrp wp-theme-editor *
    $ chmod g+w *
    3. add apache user into the new group:
    $ usermod -a -G wp-theme-editor www-data
    4. restart apache (otherwise the apache process doesn't knows that it's it in the new group)
    $ /etc/init.d/apache restart

  16. qtorse
    Member
    Posted 1 year ago #

    I am so confused. Where will I change teh permission? How will I do it?

  17. getitfromboydotnet
    Member
    Posted 1 year ago #

    i have exactly the same problem..i cannot ask my webhosting co. a local one because they are even trying to kick me out because my blog according to them overloads their server and i don't want to upgrade to VPS. But i don't think they will try to deliberately block me. they have been really helpful and i am just too ashamed to bother them since its true that their server overloads because of my blog.

    now, back to the problem which i try to troubleshoot myself, to no positive results. The webhost said they moved my database and files to a brandnew server where i am the only one using it, despite my account being shared hosting. So when they move, problems started with the file permissions, and suddenly, i cannot upload images. i tried everything those mentioned procedures, including the links, above, no success. i even tried 777 in all files, i still cannot upload images..pls.help me..tia

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