Title: read excel file in plugin Last modified: October 5, 2017 --- # read excel file in plugin * Resolved [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/) * (@whatwhenwhere) * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/read-excel-file-in-plugin/) * I write for my own plugin for read excel file, and place file name is test.xls in upload directory and when I readed it I got message [http://xxxxx/wp-content/uploads/test.xls](http://xxxxx/wp-content/uploads/test.xls) is not readable. * I use PHP spreadsheet reader at [http://coursesweb.net/downloads/phpexcelreader.zip](http://coursesweb.net/downloads/phpexcelreader.zip) my code * `$dir = plugin_dir_path( __DIR__ ); require_once($dir.’/phpExcelReader/Excel/ reader.php’); $ex = new Spreadsheet_Excel_Reader(); $data = $ex->read($filename); * ps:I used wp 4.8.2, window 7, xampp Thk for reading - This topic was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/). - This topic was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/). - This topic was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/). Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) * Moderator [bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/) * (@bcworkz) * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/read-excel-file-in-plugin/#post-9558996) * That error is thrown when either is_readable() returns false or file_get_contents() fails to return anything. Why one of these occurs is anyone’s guess. * My guess: are you sure an URL is called for? Try passing an absolute server path to the file. On Windows machines I believe absolute paths begin with a drive designation. * Thread Starter [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/) * (@whatwhenwhere) * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/read-excel-file-in-plugin/#post-9561112) * [@bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/): I try absoblute $url = ‘[http://xxx/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/test.xls’](http://xxx/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/test.xls’);; but got the same message error * Thread Starter [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/) * (@whatwhenwhere) * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/read-excel-file-in-plugin/#post-9561657) * My plugin is working in backend, and I think problem about permission or secure when read file, if I read file excel on hardisk it’s ok or read file csv is ok. - This reply was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/). - This reply was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/). * Moderator [bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/) * (@bcworkz) * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/read-excel-file-in-plugin/#post-9562912) * If it’s working in backend, I can’t imagine why it would not work front end. By absolute path, I mean something without “http”, as in _C:\wampp\htdocs/wp/ wp-content/uploads/2017/10/test.xls_ or whatever is correct for your installation. Local PHP file functions often require server paths, not URLs. * WP runs as a different user than yourself or your WP login when accessing files. It’s defined in httpd.conf, I believe this file is in your wampp folder under/ apache/conf/. What ever that user is, be sure the target file allows read access for this user. * Thread Starter [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/) * (@whatwhenwhere) * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/read-excel-file-in-plugin/#post-9565718) * [@bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/): sr my english is poor, my meaning is my plugin is operation in backend(admin) and not working properly. * Moderator [bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/) * (@bcworkz) * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/read-excel-file-in-plugin/#post-9567518) * OK, no problem, it does not change my answer, only lessens the mystery. It’s almost certainly either path vs. URL issue or user permissions. file_get_contents() does not need a path, URLs are fine. is_readable() does require a path. It results in an error when passed a valid, accessible URL. Even if it did accept URLs, or you did pass a valid path, it will still cause the error you are seeing if the system user that PHP and WP is running under does not have the proper file permission. * Find out what that user is from the httpd.conf file I mentioned previously, then be sure that user can read the file using the normal Windows file security/permission dialog. Search the file for `User` occurring at the beginning of a line, what ever is after is the user that needs permission. * Thread Starter [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/) * (@whatwhenwhere) * [8 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/read-excel-file-in-plugin/#post-9846172) * I find out that I must read file excel like this code: * ``` $filecontent = file_get_contents($url); file_put_contents($tmpfname, $filecontent); $excelReader = PHPExcel_IOFactory::createReaderForFile($tmpfname); ``` * with $url is address of file to upload and $tmpfname is hold temp data. Tks - This reply was modified 8 years, 4 months ago by [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/). Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) The topic ‘read excel file in plugin’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [Excel](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/excel/) * In: [Developing with WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/wp-advanced/) * 7 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [whatwhenwhere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whatwhenwhere/) * Last activity: [8 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/read-excel-file-in-plugin/#post-9846172) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics