Wordpress - Can't upload images
 

Thought I was getting the hang of wordpress but ran into a snag. I found out I can't upload images. I get the following error:

Unable to create directory
/path/to/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/02.
Is its parent directory writable by the server?

I noticed there is no uploads directory. I am guessing wordpress was suppose to create that directory when I installed wordpress? Of course I can create the uploads directory by hand, but then I have to chmod to 777 for image upload to work. Sure don't want to run that way. I talked to a friend and their content dir is 755, my MT blogs are the same way. 755 won't work, keep getting the error.

Even the wordpress site says to have permissions set to 777 for the content directory. Not real safe to me.

Any thoughts or reasons? I am stuck on this one.

Thanks in advance.

Since I originally grew up with an antiquated system, bBlog, I got used to hand coding everything before hand and FTPing my images to my server. When I moved to WP, that was the one thing I pretty much kept.

So I am of absolutely no help!!!!

I suppose you could FTP your images to the proper folder and then access them from WP when you post.

Wow, I am shocked! lol

Ya that is an option, but guess for me defeats the purpose, blogging software making it easier and quicker, almost point and click. I'm thinking it would add more time to the process.

I will keep searching, might even hit up the host, seems like it "might" be something on the hosting end. Ownership and all that.

Hey Ronnie I've had the same problem in the past and ended up making the directory and CHMODing it to 777|huh

Seems that is my only solution. I just wonder how safe it is? Any sever experts? I even tried a couple of plug-ins and still same thing.

Thanks for the input, and VERY good to see you back and posting..:)

I just want to get posting on the new blogs!! lol

Wordpress is rather solidly written and does have a few security issues from time to time, but, you're pretty safe chmodding the uploads directory to allow web uploads.

Wordpress does NOT create that directory for you, mainly because everyone uses different directories for their upload bin (you can set what you want in the admin)

easiest thing to do is just create directory yourself and chmod to 777

Thank you. Good to hear from some one that knows server, feel a little safer.

Ya, thats what I am learning. I am new to wordpress, used another brand and never had this issue. Although wordpress seems much better than my other blog software. I just assumed WP did it all at set-up, or at least would give you a message to let you know. For free, sure can't complain.

Thank you every one for the input and replies, greatly appreciated!

Um, I'm like Walrus, I upload my images to a separate file with ftp and just point the image code at them. Mainly because I didn't know wordpress could do stuff with pics. Because I didn't really read the instructions that carefully.

So... uh... can someone point me towards the info for this easy uploady way to include images?

I have always used the blog to upload and insert my pictures, though I use movable type in the past. But with Wordpress, just create a direcory called "uploads" in the content directory and chmod it 777(something I just learned). Under the post area, there is an area to upload pictures and insert the image into your post. I believe it will make thumbs, but I just use smaller images anyways.

I just find the picture I want, save it to my hard drive, go into wordpress insert image and write post. Think it's less time that doing it by hand. Course thats just my opinion.

Is this area to upload images in the wysiwyg post format? I can't see anything but then I use the simplified post format. Maybe I should switch back and see. They might have improved the wysiwyg thing since I last tried it.

Ya as far as I know it's in the WYSIWYG area, right below the post box. I am still learning WP so I never used simplified post format, least that I know of. I like the WYSIWYG myself, faster, least seems like it.

hey ronnie,

could you explain how to do this new directory and do the cmod? i'm having a similar problem. thanks!

All you need is an ftp program. I can't give you exact steps, as I don't know if you use the same ftp program. Log-in to your site with your ftp program. Go to your wp-content folder, then create a new directory/folder called "uploads" within that folder. I use cute ftp and I just need to right click, create new folder/directory. After the uploads folder is created, I just right click on that folder and go to permissions, set the folder to 777. And thats it. Does that help?

Thanks ronnie, that helps greatly! Your last post filled in some of the missing steps, and I got it done without a problem! I appreciate your help, it works great now :)

Might be a bit safer if you pick your own upload category and not the default one, you can change the directory in your admin under Options> Misc

In theory you should be safe with 777 because there are no 'vulnerable' files/script in those directories... Also Wordpress says the whole wp-content directory ought to be 777

Good idea..:) I can see the uploads folder being 777, but I cant' see having your theme's open. Some theme's have all the inportant files, to accessable for me.

Btw, what's the downside of chmod777?
I have a weak knowledge of server-stuff, and I cannot think of all the things/exploits/hacks that I could experience in case of setting the dir to 777..

The downside is that the public got the same acces as the administrator so they can do whatever they want with your files without having to log in with admin, provided they have a exploitable script on your server, downside is that the script only has to have public access...

But the uploads directory should only have images, so not really anything to "run" or abuse. That is the only directory I made 777. If my thinking is correct. Maybe cd34 can verify.

It probably shouldn't be able to harm you no, thats why Wordpress admin's confirmed that the upload directory ought to be 777, but 777 is always a bit more dangerous, you can't go around that...