Array to string Error while uploading an Image - cakephp

Question

i was trying to upload image using cakephp , i got the following error :
Notice (8): Array to string conversion [CORE\Cake\Model\Datasource\DboSource.php, line 1009]
<?php echo $this->Form->create('User',array('type'=>'file'));
echo $this->Form->input('profile_pic', array('type'=>'file'));
echo $this->Form->end('submit');
?>
anything wrong with what i've did ?

Answer 1

You study cakephp manual properly HOW form type can be File ?????? :)
Use this
<?php echo $this->Form->create('User',array('enctype'=>'multipart/form-data'));
echo $this->Form->input('profile_pic', array('type'=>'file'));
echo $this->Form->end('submit');
?>

Answer 2

You need to treat the file upload in the controller. If you debug the request you'll see that profile_pic field is an array:
# in controller:
if ($this->request->is('post')) {
debug($this->request->data); die();
}
# result:
array(
'User' => array(
'profile_pic' => array(
'name' => 'wappy500x500.jpg',
'type' => 'image/jpeg',
'tmp_name' => '/tmp/phptk28hE',
'error' => (int) 0,
'size' => (int) 238264
)
)
)
Short answer:
public function upload() {
if ($this->request->is('post')) {
if(isset($this->request->data['User']['profile_pic']['error']) && $this->request->data['User']['profile_pic']['error'] === 0) {
$source = $this->request->data['User']['profile_pic']['tmp_name']; // Source
$dest = ROOT . DS . 'app' . DS . 'webroot' . DS . 'uploads' . DS; // Destination
move_uploaded_file($source, $dest.'your-file-name.jpg'); // Move from source to destination (you need write permissions in that dir)
$this->request->data['User']['profile_pic'] = 'your-file-name.jpg'; // Replace the array with a string in order to save it in the DB
$this->User->create(); // We have a new entry
$this->User->save($this->request->data); // Save the request
$this->Session->setFlash(__('The user has been saved.')); // Send a success flash message
} else {
$this->Session->setFlash(__('The user could not be saved. Please, try again.'));
}
}
}
Of course you need to make extra validations on the uploaded file.
Further reading: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=site:stackoverflow.com+cakephp+upload+file