Title: File Up Error Message
Last modified: May 1, 2019

---

# File Up Error Message

 *  Resolved [mhbrown](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mhbrown/)
 * (@mhbrown)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/)
 * Since the latest update, after being prompted in my Dashboard, files will not
   upload. I’m getting the following error message:
    “Sorry about that, but <name
   of file> could not be uploaded.” where <name of file> is the actual name of the
   file. Any ideas? (My page is behind a paywall, for use by members.)

Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

 *  Plugin Author [thomstark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thomstark/)
 * (@thomstark)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11486965)
 * There are new security measures in place. I need details about your setup in 
   order to tell you why you’re getting the error. What is your shortcode? What 
   is the Base setting? Etc.
 *  Thread Starter [mhbrown](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mhbrown/)
 * (@mhbrown)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11487207)
 * Thanks for your assistance.
 * Here’s the shortcode:
 * [fileaway drawerid=”1″ type=”table” search=”no” mod=”no” fadein=”opacity” fadetime
   =”500″ manager=”on” dirman_access=”administrator” hcolor=”blue” color=”blue” 
   iconcolor=”black” prettify=”off”]
 * I’m using three base directories, each of which is a separate directory in wp-
   content/uploads
 * I’m not sure what else could be helpful, but just let me know.
 * Thanks again.
 *  Plugin Author [thomstark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thomstark/)
 * (@thomstark)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11487235)
 * Thanks. What type of file are you trying to upload? Are there any special characters
   in the filename?
 * Are your site URL and wordpress URL the same or different?
 * Also, what does your fileup shortcode look like? You only shared the fileaway
   shortcode.
 *  Thread Starter [mhbrown](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mhbrown/)
 * (@mhbrown)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11487329)
 * I’ve tried several types of files. Mostly .docx, .pdf, and .txt. None of the 
   file names have strange characters.
 * Site URL and WordPress URL are the same – it’s an entirely WordPress site.
 * Here’s the fileup shortcode corresponding to the fileaway shortcode I posted 
   earlier.
 * [fileup matchdrawer=”1″ filegroups=”adobe, compression, image, msdoc, msexcel,
   openoffice, powerpoint, text”]
 *  Plugin Author [thomstark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thomstark/)
 * (@thomstark)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11487342)
 * OK. Hang on one minute while I type up some troubleshooting stuff.
 *  Plugin Author [thomstark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thomstark/)
 * (@thomstark)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11487345)
 * First:
 * Open up your wp-config.php file which is in your main install folder.
 * Make sure your debug settings are defined as follows:
 *     ```
       define('WP_DEBUG', true);
       define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
       define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
       ```
   
 * More instructions to follow.
 *  Plugin Author [thomstark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thomstark/)
 * (@thomstark)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11487353)
 * Open up `wp-content/plugins/file-away/lib/cls/class.fileaway_management.php`
 * Go to line 1165 and replace:
 * `if(!fileaway_utility::verify_location_nonce($_POST['loc_nonce'],$file_path.'/'.
   $new_name,array($rootpath,$chosenpath))) die($dm);`
 * with:
 * `//if(!fileaway_utility::verify_location_nonce($_POST['loc_nonce'],$file_path.'/'.
   $new_name,array($rootpath,$chosenpath))) die($dm);`
 * Try the upload again. If the upload works, we will try to figure out why your
   location nonce isn’t validating. If the upload doesn’t work, we will look in 
   a couple other spots.
 *  Plugin Author [thomstark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thomstark/)
 * (@thomstark)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11487355)
 * Make sure you hard refresh your page after you change the file and before you
   try again, fyi.
 *  Plugin Author [thomstark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thomstark/)
 * (@thomstark)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11487423)
 * If you still can’t upload, replace all of this:
 *     ```
       			// upload action
       			elseif($action == 'upload')
       			{
   
       				if(isset($_POST) && $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == "POST")
       				{
       					if(!wp_verify_nonce($_POST['upload_nonce'], 'fileaway-fileup-nonce'))
       					{
       						echo 'system_error';
       						exit;	
       					}
       					$file_name = str_replace('..','',strip_tags(fileaway_utility::stripslashes($_FILES['upload_file']['name'])));
       					$new_name = str_replace('..','',strip_tags(fileaway_utility::stripslashes($_POST['new_name'])));
       					$extension = sanitize_html_class($_POST['extension']);
       					$check_ext = str_replace('/', '', $extension);
       					$check_name = str_replace('/', '', $new_name);
       					if(empty($check_ext) || empty($check_name))
       					{
       						echo 'system_error';
       						exit;	
       					}
       					$uploader = (int)fileaway_utility::stripslashes($_POST['uploader']);
       					$file_id = strip_tags($_POST['upload_file_id']); 
       					$file_size = (float)$_FILES['upload_file']['size'];
       					$max_file_size = (int)$_POST['max_file_size'];
       					$file_path = str_replace('..','',trim($_POST['upload_path'], '/'));
       					if($uploader)
       					{
       						$user = new WP_User($uploader);
       						if($user)
       						{
       							$uploadedby = $_POST['identby'] == 'id' ? $user->ID : $user->display_name;
       							if(preg_match('/\[([^\]]+)\]/', $new_name)) $new_name =	fileaway_utility::replacelast($new_name, ']', ','.$uploadedby.']');
       							else $new_name = fileaway_utility::replacelast($new_name, '.'.$extension, ' ['.$uploadedby.'].'.$extension);
       						}
       					}
       					$location = str_replace('//','/',$chosenpath.$file_path.'/'.$new_name);
       					if(!fileaway_utility::verify_location_nonce($_POST['loc_nonce'],$file_path.'/'.$new_name,array($rootpath,$chosenpath))) die($dm);
       					$location = fileaway_utility::stripslashes($location);
       					$dir = fileaway_utility::dirname($location);
       					if($file_size > $max_file_size) echo 'system_error';
       					elseif(stripos($location, 'wp-admin') !== false) echo 'system_error';
       					elseif(stripos($location, 'wp-config') !== false) echo 'system_error';
       					elseif(is_file(fileaway_utility::dirname($location).'/wp-config.php')) echo 'sytem_error';
       					elseif(stripos($location, '.php') !== false) echo 'system_error'; 
       					elseif(stripos($extension, 'php') !== false) echo 'system_error';
       					elseif(strpos($dir, '..') !== false) echo 'system_error';
       					else
       					{
       						if(!is_dir($dir)) mkdir($dir, 0755, true);
       						$p = fileaway_utility::pathinfo($location);
       						$filename = $p['filename'];
       						$i = 1;
       						$overwrite = $li && stripslashes($_POST['overwrite']) == 'true' ? true : false;
       						if(!$overwrite)
       						{
       							while(is_file($location))
       							{
       								if($i == 1) $filename = $filename." ($i)"; 
       								else
       								{ 
       									$j = ($i - 1); 
       									$filename = rtrim($filename, " ($j)");
       									$filename = $filename." ($i)"; 
       								}
       								$i++;
       								$name = $filename.'.'.$p['extension'];
       								$location = $p['dirname'].'/'.$name;		
       							}
       						}
       						$name = fileaway_utility::sanitize_filename($filename.'.'.$p['extension']);
       						$location = $p['dirname'].'/'.$name;		
       						if(move_uploaded_file(strip_tags($_FILES['upload_file']['tmp_name']), $location)) echo $file_id;
       						else echo 'system_error';
       					}
       					exit;
       				}
       				else
       				{ 
       					echo 'system_error'; 
       					exit;
       				}
       			}
       ```
   
 * with all of this:
 *     ```
       // upload action
       			elseif($action == 'upload')
       			{
   
       				if(isset($_POST) && $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == "POST")
       				{
       					if(!wp_verify_nonce($_POST['upload_nonce'], 'fileaway-fileup-nonce'))
       					{
       						error_log('fileup-nonce-error');
       						echo 'system_error';
       						exit;	
       					}
       					$file_name = str_replace('..','',strip_tags(fileaway_utility::stripslashes($_FILES['upload_file']['name'])));
       					$new_name = str_replace('..','',strip_tags(fileaway_utility::stripslashes($_POST['new_name'])));
       					$extension = sanitize_html_class($_POST['extension']);
       					$check_ext = str_replace('/', '', $extension);
       					$check_name = str_replace('/', '', $new_name);
       					if(empty($check_ext) || empty($check_name))
       					{
       						error_log('fileup name and extension check error');
       						echo 'system_error';
       						exit;	
       					}
       					$uploader = (int)fileaway_utility::stripslashes($_POST['uploader']);
       					$file_id = strip_tags($_POST['upload_file_id']); 
       					$file_size = (float)$_FILES['upload_file']['size'];
       					$max_file_size = (int)$_POST['max_file_size'];
       					$file_path = str_replace('..','',trim($_POST['upload_path'], '/'));
       					if($uploader)
       					{
       						$user = new WP_User($uploader);
       						if($user)
       						{
       							$uploadedby = $_POST['identby'] == 'id' ? $user->ID : $user->display_name;
       							if(preg_match('/\[([^\]]+)\]/', $new_name)) $new_name =	fileaway_utility::replacelast($new_name, ']', ','.$uploadedby.']');
       							else $new_name = fileaway_utility::replacelast($new_name, '.'.$extension, ' ['.$uploadedby.'].'.$extension);
       						}
       					}
       					$location = str_replace('//','/',$chosenpath.$file_path.'/'.$new_name);
       					if(!fileaway_utility::verify_location_nonce($_POST['loc_nonce'],$file_path.'/'.$new_name,array($rootpath,$chosenpath)))
       					{
       						error_log('fileup location nonce error');
       						echo 'system_error';
       						exit;
       					}
       					$location = fileaway_utility::stripslashes($location);
       					$dir = fileaway_utility::dirname($location);
       					if($file_size > $max_file_size) 
       					{
       						error_log('fileup maxsize error');
       						echo 'system_error';
       					}
       					elseif(stripos($location, 'wp-admin') !== false) 
       					{
       						error_log('fileup wp-admin error');
       						echo 'system_error';
       					}
       					elseif(stripos($location, 'wp-config') !== false) 
       					{
       						error_log('fileup wp-config error');
       						echo 'system_error';
       					}
       					elseif(is_file(fileaway_utility::dirname($location).'/wp-config.php')) 
       					{
       						error_log('fileup install directory error');
       						echo 'system_error';
       					}
       					elseif(stripos($location, '.php') !== false) 
       					{
       						error_log('fileup php in filename error');
       						echo 'system_error'; 
       					}
       					elseif(stripos($extension, 'php') !== false) 
       					{
       						error_log('fileup php extension error');
       						echo 'system_error';
       					}
       					elseif(strpos($dir, '..') !== false) 
       					{
       						error_log('fileup directory traversal error');
       						echo 'system_error';
       					}
       					else
       					{
       						if(!is_dir($dir)) mkdir($dir, 0755, true);
       						$p = fileaway_utility::pathinfo($location);
       						$filename = $p['filename'];
       						$i = 1;
       						$overwrite = $li && stripslashes($_POST['overwrite']) == 'true' ? true : false;
       						if(!$overwrite)
       						{
       							while(is_file($location))
       							{
       								if($i == 1) $filename = $filename." ($i)"; 
       								else
       								{ 
       									$j = ($i - 1); 
       									$filename = rtrim($filename, " ($j)");
       									$filename = $filename." ($i)"; 
       								}
       								$i++;
       								$name = $filename.'.'.$p['extension'];
       								$location = $p['dirname'].'/'.$name;		
       							}
       						}
       						$name = fileaway_utility::sanitize_filename($filename.'.'.$p['extension']);
       						$location = $p['dirname'].'/'.$name;		
       						if(move_uploaded_file(strip_tags($_FILES['upload_file']['tmp_name']), $location)) echo $file_id;
       						else 
       						{
       							error_log('fileup move uploaded file error');
       							echo 'system_error';
       						}
       					}
       					exit;
       				}
       				else
       				{
       					error_log('fileup unknown error'); 
       					echo 'system_error'; 
       					exit;
       				}
       			}
       ```
   
 * Then reload your page and try again. Then go to your wp-content folder and open
   up the file named debug.log and look for a fileup error in the log. Tell me what
   the error says if it’s there.
 *  Plugin Author [thomstark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thomstark/)
 * (@thomstark)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11490533)
 * Instead of doing all that, update to 3.9.8.3 and try the upload again. It should
   now give you a more specific error message and then I can tell you what’s wrong
 *  Thread Starter [mhbrown](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mhbrown/)
 * (@mhbrown)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11490702)
 * Thank you. My day job got in the way since your last messages.
 * Here’s the current error message:
 * “Sorry about that, but FileName.pdf could not be uploaded.
    Location nonce failed”
 *  Plugin Author [thomstark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thomstark/)
 * (@thomstark)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11490775)
 * We will have to modify a few files to figure this one out. The new location nonce
   feature has worked for me under every testing environment and is being used live
   by many of my clients as we speak, so there’s something unique to your situation
   that we have to pin down.
 * Probably easiest to do this over email. Email me at [fileaway.plugin@gmail.com](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/fileaway.plugin@gmail.com?output_format=md)
 *  Plugin Author [thomstark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thomstark/)
 * (@thomstark)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11494117)
 * Resolved in 3.9.8.7

Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

The topic ‘File Up Error Message’ is closed to new replies.

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 * 13 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [thomstark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thomstark/)
 * Last activity: [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/file-up-error-message/#post-11494117)
 * Status: resolved