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phpwindowssymlinkrmdir

PHP Windows, rmdir of a symlinked folder

I have recently been struggling with removal of symlinked folders with content on windows in PHP.

The process I am doing is: 1. symlink files/folders from location A to location B (all good) 2. unlink all files/folders from location B

Now this is where things get tricky. My code:

  echo("\n unlinking: ".$pre.$folder.'/'.$elem);
  if(file_exists($pre.$folder.'/'.$elem)){
        if(isWindows()){
            if(is_dir($pre.$folder.'/'.$elem)){
                rmdir($pre.$folder.'/'.$elem);
            } else {
                unlink($pre.$folder.'/'.$elem);
            }
        } else {
            unlink($pre.$folder.'/'.$elem);
        }
  } else {
    echo("\n -> Not there. \n");
  }

Everything works properly if the target is a file or an empty folder. When the symlinked folder has contents however, I get a warning that I can't remove a non-empty folder and the folder is not removed.

Warning: rmdir(dirname): Directory not empty

Which means that a symlinked folder with contents on windows is non-removable when using rmdir(the recommended operation).

I can remove that folder manually in windows explorer and that works properly(removes a symlink only).

Would appreciate help, Sivael.

Solution

  • Found out what was going on.

    It turns out that it was not PHP related after all - those folders were under version control in TortoiseSVN and NetBeans, which happened to mess with the symlinks somehow.

    Can't replicate the behaviour now.

    Thanks:)