How to upload a file using a model Yii

The Model ¶

First declare an attribute to store the file name in the model class (either a form model or an active record model). Also declare a file validation rule for this attribute to ensure a file is uploaded with specific extension name.

class Item extends CActiveRecord
{
    public $image;
    // ... other attributes
 
    public function rules()
    {
        return array(
            array('image', 'file', 'types'=>'jpg, gif, png'),
        );
    }
}

The Controller ¶

Then, in the controller class define an action method to render the form and collect user-submitted data.

class ItemController extends CController
{
    public function actionCreate()
    {
        $model=new Item;
        if(isset($_POST['Item']))
        {
            $model->attributes=$_POST['Item'];
            $model->image=CUploadedFile::getInstance($model,'image');
            if($model->save())
            {
                $model->image->saveAs('path/to/localFile');
                // redirect to success page
            }
        }
        $this->render('create', array('model'=>$model));
    }
}

The View 

Finally, create the action view and generate a file upload field.

$form = $this->beginWidget(
    'CActiveForm',
    array(
        'id' => 'upload-form',
        'enableAjaxValidation' => false,
        'htmlOptions' => array('enctype' => 'multipart/form-data'),
    )
);
// ...
echo $form->labelEx($model, 'image');
echo $form->fileField($model, 'image');
echo $form->error($model, 'image');
// ...
$this->endWidget();