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Rename Uploaded Files For Gravity Forms

Rename uploaded files for Gravity Forms. You can create a static naming template or using merge tags to base names on user input.

Last updated | Written by 255 Comments

  • November 19th, 2016: Fixed typo in method name.

  • October 24, 2016: Fixed issue with Gravity Forms 2.0.7. Major refactor. Requires Gravity Forms 2.0.7.15 or greater.

  • December 5, 2015: Added support for Post Image fields.

  • September 22, 2015: Updated to remove forward and backslashes from new filename.

  • March 26, 2015: Fixed issue when submitting form with no uploaded files

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<?php
/**
* Gravity Wiz // Gravity Forms // Rename Uploaded Files
*
* Rename uploaded files for Gravity Forms. You can create a static naming template or using merge tags to base names on user input.
*
* Features:
* + supports single and multi-file upload fields
* + flexible naming template with support for static and dynamic values via GF merge tags
*
* Uses:
* + add a prefix or suffix to file uploads
* + include identifying submitted data in the file name like the user's first and last name
*
* @version 2.3
* @author David Smith <david@gravitywiz.com>
* @license GPL-2.0+
* @link https://gravitywiz.com/rename-uploaded-files-for-gravity-form/
*/
class GW_Rename_Uploaded_Files {
public function __construct( $args = array() ) {
// set our default arguments, parse against the provided arguments, and store for use throughout the class
$this->_args = wp_parse_args( $args, array(
'form_id' => false,
'field_id' => false,
'template' => ''
) );
// do version check in the init to make sure if GF is going to be loaded, it is already loaded
add_action( 'init', array( $this, 'init' ) );
}
public function init() {
// make sure we're running the required minimum version of Gravity Forms
if( ! is_callable( array( 'GFFormsModel', 'get_physical_file_path' ) ) ) {
return;
}
add_filter( 'gform_entry_post_save', array( $this, 'rename_uploaded_files' ), 9, 2 );
add_filter( 'gform_entry_post_save', array( $this, 'stash_uploaded_files' ), 99, 2 );
add_action( 'gform_after_update_entry', array( $this, 'rename_uploaded_files_after_update' ), 9, 2 );
add_action( 'gform_after_update_entry', array( $this, 'stash_uploaded_files_after_update' ), 99, 2 );
}
function rename_uploaded_files( $entry, $form ) {
if( ! $this->is_applicable_form( $form ) ) {
return $entry;
}
foreach( $form['fields'] as &$field ) {
if( ! $this->is_applicable_field( $field ) ) {
continue;
}
$uploaded_files = rgar( $entry, $field->id );
if( empty( $uploaded_files ) ) {
continue;
}
$uploaded_files = $this->parse_files( $uploaded_files, $field );
$stashed_files = $this->parse_files( gform_get_meta( $entry['id'], 'gprf_stashed_files' ), $field );
$renamed_files = array();
foreach( $uploaded_files as $_file ) {
// Don't rename the same files twice.
if( in_array( $_file, $stashed_files ) ) {
$renamed_files[] = $_file;
continue;
}
$dir = wp_upload_dir();
$dir = $this->get_upload_dir( $form['id'] );
$file = str_replace( $dir['url'], $dir['path'], $_file );
if( ! file_exists( $file ) ) {
continue;
}
$renamed_file = $this->rename_file( $file, $entry );
if ( ! is_dir( dirname( $renamed_file ) ) ) {
wp_mkdir_p( dirname( $renamed_file ) );
}
$result = rename( $file, $renamed_file );
$renamed_files[] = $this->get_url_by_path( $renamed_file, $form['id'] );
}
// In cases where 3rd party add-ons offload the image to a remote location, no images can be renamed.
if( empty( $renamed_files ) ) {
continue;
}
if( $field->get_input_type() == 'post_image' ) {
$value = str_replace( $uploaded_files[0], $renamed_files[0], rgar( $entry, $field->id ) );
} else if( $field->multipleFiles ) {
$value = json_encode( $renamed_files );
} else {
$value = $renamed_files[0];
}
GFAPI::update_entry_field( $entry['id'], $field->id, $value );
$entry[ $field->id ] = $value;
}
return $entry;
}
function get_upload_dir( $form_id ) {
$dir = GFFormsModel::get_file_upload_path( $form_id, 'PLACEHOLDER' );
$dir['path'] = dirname( $dir['path'] );
$dir['url'] = dirname( $dir['url'] );
return $dir;
}
function rename_uploaded_files_after_update( $form, $entry_id ) {
$entry = GFAPI::get_entry( $entry_id );
$this->rename_uploaded_files( $entry, $form );
}
/**
* Stash the "final" version of the files after other add-ons have had a chance to interact with them.
*
* @param $entry
* @param $form
*/
function stash_uploaded_files( $entry, $form ) {
foreach ( $form['fields'] as &$field ) {
if ( ! $this->is_applicable_field( $field ) ) {
continue;
}
$uploaded_files = rgar( $entry, $field->id );
gform_update_meta( $entry['id'], 'gprf_stashed_files', $uploaded_files );
}
return $entry;
}
function stash_uploaded_files_after_update( $form, $entry_id ) {
$entry = GFAPI::get_entry( $entry_id );
$this->stash_uploaded_files( $entry, $form );
}
function rename_file( $file, $entry ) {
$new_file = $this->get_template_value( $this->_args['template'], $file, $entry );
$new_file = $this->increment_file( $new_file );
return $new_file;
}
function increment_file( $file ) {
$file_path = GFFormsModel::get_physical_file_path( $file );
$pathinfo = pathinfo( $file_path );
$counter = 1;
// increment the filename if it already exists (i.e. balloons.jpg, balloons1.jpg, balloons2.jpg)
while ( file_exists( $file_path ) ) {
$file_path = str_replace( ".{$pathinfo['extension']}", "{$counter}.{$pathinfo['extension']}", GFFormsModel::get_physical_file_path( $file ) );
$counter++;
}
$file = str_replace( basename( $file ), basename( $file_path ), $file );
return $file;
}
function is_path( $filename ) {
return strpos( $filename, '/' ) !== false;
}
function get_template_value( $template, $file, $entry ) {
$info = pathinfo( $file );
if( strpos( $template, '/' ) === 0 ) {
$dir = wp_upload_dir();
$template = $dir['basedir'] . $template;
} else {
$template = $info['dirname'] . '/' . $template;
}
// replace our custom "{filename}" psuedo-merge-tag
$value = str_replace( '{filename}', $info['filename'], $template );
// replace merge tags
$form = GFAPI::get_form( $entry['form_id'] );
$value = GFCommon::replace_variables( $value, $form, $entry, false, true, false, 'text' );
// make sure filename is "clean"
$filename = $this->clean( basename( $value ) );
$value = str_replace( basename( $value ), $filename, $value );
// append our file ext
$value .= '.' . $info['extension'];
return $value;
}
function remove_slashes( $value ) {
return stripslashes( str_replace( '/', '', $value ) );
}
function is_applicable_form( $form ) {
$form_id = isset( $form['id'] ) ? $form['id'] : $form;
return $form_id == $this->_args['form_id'];
}
function is_applicable_field( $field ) {
$is_file_upload_field = in_array( GFFormsModel::get_input_type( $field ), array( 'fileupload', 'post_image' ) );
$is_applicable_field_id = $this->_args['field_id'] ? $field['id'] == $this->_args['field_id'] : true;
return $is_file_upload_field && $is_applicable_field_id;
}
function clean( $str ) {
return $this->remove_slashes( sanitize_title_with_dashes( strtr(
utf8_decode( $str ),
utf8_decode( 'ŠŒŽšœžŸ¥µÀÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏÐÑÒÓÔÕÖØÙÚÛÜÝßàáâãäåæçèéêëìíîïðñòóôõöøùúûüýÿ'),
'SOZsozYYuAAAAAAACEEEEIIIIDNOOOOOOUUUUYsaaaaaaaceeeeiiiionoooooouuuuyy'
), 'save' ) );
}
function get_url_by_path( $file, $form_id ) {
$dir = $this->get_upload_dir( $form_id );
$url = str_replace( $dir['path'], $dir['url'], $file );
return $url;
}
function parse_files( $files, $field ) {
if( empty( $files ) ) {
return array();
}
if( $field->get_input_type() == 'post_image' ) {
$file_bits = explode( '|:|', $files );
$files = array( $file_bits[0] );
} else if( $field->multipleFiles ) {
$files = json_decode( $files );
} else {
$files = array( $files );
}
return $files;
}
}
# Configuration
new GW_Rename_Uploaded_Files( array(
'form_id' => 628,
'field_id' => 3,
'template' => '{Name (First):1.3}-{Name (Last):1.6}-{filename}' // most merge tags are supported, original file extension is preserved
) );
view raw gw-gravity-forms-rename-uploaded-files.php hosted with ❤ by GitHub

We wrote a snippet that will allow you to create a dynamic naming template for your uploaded Gravity Form files. This includes the ability to prepend, append or generate from scratch custom file names. You can use merge tags to include user input in your new file names.

Here are a couple use cases where this snippet might be useful:

  1. Include the name of the submitting user either before or after the file name.
  2. Include an event name in the file name to better categorize which files belong to which events.

For example, given an original file name of mountains.png and a template of {Name (First):1.3}-{Name (Last):1.6}-{filename}, the final image name would be Jordan-Smith-mountains.png

Getting Started

  1. Check requirements
  2. Install the snippet
    • Copy and paste the entire snippet into your theme’s functions.php file.
  3. Configure the snippet
    • Once you have installed the snippet, find the snippet configuration section located at the bottom of the snippet code.
    • Replace the form_id with the ID of your form.
    • Replace the field_id with the field ID of your File Upload field.
    • Replace the template with your custom file name template.

Usage Examples

First and Last Name

new GW_Rename_Uploaded_Files( array(
'form_id' => 628,
'field_id' => 3,
'template' => '{Name (First):1.3}-{Name (Last):1.6}-{filename}' // most merge tags are supported, original file extension is preserved
) );

In this example, we are prepending the first and last name from the form to easily identify who submitted the file. Most merge tags are supported using this method and the original file extension is preserved.

Form Title Merge Tag

new GW_Rename_Uploaded_Files( array(
'form_id' => 12,
'field_id' => 18,
'template' => '{form_title}-{filename}' // most merge tags are supported, original file extension is preserved
) );

In this example, we are prepending the title of the form to the filename to quickly identify which form the file was uploaded to.

Static Text

new GW_Rename_Uploaded_Files( array(
'form_id' => 628,
'field_id' => 5,
'template' => 'static-file-name'
) );

You can use any text you’d like, just make sure to add the {filename} merge tag somewhere in there.

Parameters

  • form_id (integer) (required)

    Your Form ID. There is no default value.

  • field_id (integer) (required)

    The Field ID of the file upload field. There is no default value.

  • template (string or merge tag) (required)

    This is the template that controls how the file will be rewritten. The value can be either a static string or a merge-tag(s). There is no default value.

You never need to include the file extension in your template. It will automatically be included.

Was this helpful?

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Comments

  1. I’d like to be able to pull from the ‘admin value’ instead of the ‘label’. We have the label descriptive to show on the front end to the user, but an abbreviated version for renaming and admin purposes is better.

    How to get the ‘value’ instead of the ‘label’?

    Reply

  2. Hi, is it possible to use this code with the “gform_upload_path” filter?

    I want to change the path and rename the file.

    Regards, Michael

    Reply

  3. Hi,

    when creating directories by using “/” on the templates there is a case that is not handled correctly by version 2.5. As our website serves German and international audiences, our field names are like “Company / Firma”. This leads to a mere tag like “{Company / Firma:1}” and the slash within the brackets is also interpreted to crate a directory – but should not.

    Do you see chance to make the script in this regard bullet-proof? It would be great!

    Kind regards in advance, Martin

    Reply

    • If by field_1/field_2 you are referencing the values entered into these fields, yes, just include the merge tag for that field in the “template” parameter.

      'template' => '{My Field:1}/{My Other Field:2}/{filename}'

    • I tried to add a slash to create subfolder but it did not work. Is it because a slash only works between {fields}?

      What I did:

      {Markenname:7} – {entry_id}/Logo/{filename} and {Markenname:7} – {entry_id}/Pictures/{filename}

      Any idea?

    • Hi David, I found out that I had an older version running.. with V 2.5 the directory creation works. Just one prob – I will post another “fresh” comment. Kind regards, Martin

  5. Hello, when I upload images from file upload field, the images are not shown in the media library. what should I do to images being displayed there. I need it and looking forward to an answer. Thank you.

    Reply

  6. Hi, I have so many forms on my site, many of which have file uploads that I would like to customize filenames for. Is there a way to configure this for ALL forms, instead of applying to specific forms?

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply

  7. I don’t understand how this is working, I must missing something.

    Where does {Name (First):1.3}-{Name (Last):1.6 come from, how can I relate this to my form? is this the name of the input field? what does 1.3 and 1.6 relate too?

    Reply

    • Hi Dan, they are merge tags that you will need to manually enter. At a minimum a merge tag must include the field ID (and input ID for multi-input fields). The merge tag for a field of ID 1 could be as simple as {:1}. The merge tag for the first name input of a field with ID 2 would be {:2.3} where 2 is the field ID and 3 is the input ID.

  8. Hi,

    First, thanks for that great snippet. I install it and its works great.

    But, after i added it, there was a strange hitch. The gravity forms can not export records of the forms to the file. Instead it displays them on the browser.

    Do you know this problem? How do I fix it?

    Ravid

    Reply

  9. Great snippet David! This will come very handy for an ongoing project. I’m scratching my head regarding two things 1. the implementation; In the instructions it is mentioned to copy and paste the entire snippet into the theme’s functions.php file. That means even the php opening tag? 2. Would this snippet work with multiple upload files in a form? Exemple adding to the configuration array ‘field_id’ => 5, 22, 35

    Reply

  10. Hi. How can I include the © symbol in the file name? It gets lost once the file is uploaded. Thank you!

    Reply

  13. Is there a way to have the renaming script pull the ‘value’ instead of the ‘label’ for each of the fields reference in the script?

    The front-end option needs to be descriptive so the person uploading the file has clarity, but the back-end label can be abbreviated to keep filenames short to make life easy for the admin.

    Reply

    • Hi Thad, unfortunately, this is not possible without significant customization. You would need to save two versions of the filename but, by default, GF only allows one value for this field.

  14. Hello,

    I’m creating a custom PDF template, but when I export uploaded files, what appears in PDF is the path of the uploaded files. Is it possible just exporte the filename? example.pdf

    Thanks

    Reply

  15. Greetings!

    I want to ask if this snippet can sanitize the NON-English characters in the image title.

    I have made this code as a plugin that works fine, but only in posts (it rename the post link from greek character to latin characters)

    Is it possible to integrate this code to this excellent snipet?

    Thank you!

    Reply

  18. I have this snippet working in a custom plugin on one of my test sites – current hosted on GoDaddy. Works great and able to rename multiple files that are part of my form. Now implementing the same plugin/form on another host – Flywheel – and while the files save as part of the form process, the snippet renaming doesn’t work.

    Is there something I need to check on my Flywheel host that might be keeping this snippet from working?

    Reply

  19. I’m getting an error when trying to insert this snippet into my functions file. I’m using GF 2.2.5, WP 4.9.2, PHP 7.

    Does the snippet need to be edited to work with this setup?

    Reply

    • We have so many snippets we aren’t able to test them all with new versions of Gravity Forms ourselves. If you find there is something not working, please let us know. :)

    • Thanks, only the new version introduces a totally a major change to the database schema so as this snippet is a must-have for us it really needs to work.

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