[Resolved] Getting 'Could not create directory' error

[Christopher]

Running into a problem when updating GP Premium from version 1.2.2 to 1.2.3.

Downloading update from http://generatepress.com/?edd_action=package_download&license=…

Unpacking the update…

Could not create directory. gp-premium/addons/generate-page-header/inc/cmb2/css/sass/partials

When I install 1.2.2 (recent purchase), the directory is defined. Clicking the “update now” link gives me the above error and the update does not complete.

Running current versions of Apache/PHP/MariaDB on a Windows box. Suggestions?

[Tom]

Windows and WordPress don’t play very nice together unfortunately (it was built for Linux).

Are you running your own server, or do you have a hosting company you can contact? If so, give them a call and make sure WordPress has the right permissions to delete and add files to your server.

[Christopher]

Found the problem. Not sure of the solution.

When upgrading, you’re using a very long QUERY_STRING as part of the download request…

Downloading update from http://generatepress.com/?edd_action=package_download&license=c126b66….&id=254..&key=93d521…&expires=MTQ…..

When unpacking the update, it is using the entire QUERY_STRING (all 134 characters) as a directory name.

No problem until you get to generate-page-header where the longest directory sequence creates a path that is longer than the maximum allow under Windows (7 & Server 2008). The culprit is

C:/CW-Web/WpTest/website/html/wp-content/upgrade/edd_actionpackage_downloadlicensec126b668xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxid25441key9xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx8b09679aexpiresMTQyxxxxxxxxOA%3D%3D/gp-premium/addons/generate-page-header/inc/cmb2/css/sass/partials

(some characters replaced with x’s). C:/CW-Web/WpTest/website/html/ is the root directory for the WordPress site. Windows appears to have the maximum directory path length of 247 bytes, and this one is 249 characters long.

Any chance of making the QUERY_STRING smaller(!) or providing an alternate way of getting GP Premium updates. Really like GeneratePress, but need to be able to update GP Premium as needed.

[Tom]

Thanks for the info! Our update system is through Easy Digital Downloads, so I’ll have to ask the developer if there’s a way to fix this problem.

I’ll post a support thread on their forum once back at computer (on mobile right now).

For now you can download the new zip, delete the current plugin and then upload the new zip.

Thanks again for the info! Hopefully we can get this fixed 🙂

[Christopher]

Thanks Tom for the prompt responses.

Need a new key URL or ??? to download the GP Premium .zip file. The one in my e-mail has expired.

[Tom]

You can download it in your account: https://generatepress.com/account

[Christopher]

That worked. 🙂

[Tom]

This Windows hosting issue should be fixed 🙂

[Chris Daley]

Tried it on a couple of my sites and no problems.

Thanks for following up on this!

[Tom]

Good to hear! 🙂

[Christopher]

Hi Tom,

Sorry to bother you, but the install update fails issue is back.

Getting errors like…

Downloading update from https://generatepress.com…
Unpacking the update…

An error occurred while updating GP Premium: Could not create directory. gp-premium/addons/generate-disable-elements/functions

and

Downloading update from https://generatepress.com…
Unpacking the update…

An error occurred while updating GP Premium: Could not create directory. gp-premium/addons/generate-backgrounds

Windows apparently does not like insanely long sub-directory names.

— Chris

• This reply was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by Tom.

[Tom]

Yea you’re right, Windows definitely doesn’t like the long folder strings.

I’m working on cutting it down a folder or two.

For now, you’ll need to manually update or find the setting on your server to allow longer strings: https://generatepress.com/knowledgebase/updating-add-ons/#manual-update

[Author]

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