Title: PHP Errors: [function.is-writable]  – Help!
Last modified: August 19, 2016

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# PHP Errors: [function.is-writable] – Help!

 *  Resolved [laksy001](https://wordpress.org/support/users/laksy001/)
 * (@laksy001)
 * [17 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-errors-functionis-writable-help/)
 * Hello guys,
 * I am having a problem that’s irritating me for days.
 * First of all I am using the latest WordPress (2.6.3)
 * The problem is that on my admin panel , either on the footer or on some boxes
   I see this kind of PHP Errors:
 * Warning: is_writable() [function.is-writable]: open_basedir restriction in effect.
   File(error_log) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/:/usr/lib/php:/tmp)
   in /home/axxxxxx/public_html/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 500
 * PHP Error Message
 * Warning: is_writable() [function.is-writable]: open_basedir restriction in effect.
   File(error_log) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/:/usr/lib/php:/tmp)
   in /home/axxxxxx/public_html/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 500
 * I ‘ve chmodded the whole wp-includes directory – including subfolders and files–
   to 777 but still no solution.
 * The 500 line on wp-db.php is the following:
 * 499: _$log\_file = @ini\_get(‘error\_log’)_
    500: **if ( !empty($log_file) &&(‘
   syslog’ != $log_file) && !is_writable($log_file) )** 501:_ $log\_error = false;_
 * Any help is really appreciated.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [wpbct7](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wpbct7/)
 * (@wpbct7)
 * [17 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-errors-functionis-writable-help/#post-903699)
 * Set the error_log option to some file in your home folder.
    Something like:
 * `@ini_set('error_log', '/home/axxxx/error_log');`
 * in index.php
 *  Thread Starter [laksy001](https://wordpress.org/support/users/laksy001/)
 * (@laksy001)
 * [17 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-errors-functionis-writable-help/#post-903713)
 * Thanks my friend but the problem still exists, I guess my host has an error_log
   directory that cannot be accesed .
 * I managed to remove those three lines and the problem has gone;
 * **But is that safe?**
 *  [wpbct7](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wpbct7/)
 * (@wpbct7)
 * [17 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-errors-functionis-writable-help/#post-903729)
 * This code is related to database error logging, but such errors should not be
   raised when application works properly. Anyway, error logging will not work because
   error_log is outside of your home folder.
 * Another option is to add error shield operator before is_writable as follows:
 * `if ( !empty($log_file) && ('syslog' != $log_file) && !@is_writable($log_file))`
 * This also should eliminate warning.
 *  Thread Starter [laksy001](https://wordpress.org/support/users/laksy001/)
 * (@laksy001)
 * [17 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-errors-functionis-writable-help/#post-903911)
 * Thanks my friend.
 * **Case Closed**

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘PHP Errors: [function.is-writable] – Help!’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [open_basedir](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/open_basedir/)
 * [PHPError](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/phperror/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [laksy001](https://wordpress.org/support/users/laksy001/)
 * Last activity: [17 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-errors-functionis-writable-help/#post-903911)
 * Status: resolved

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