How to upload a file using a 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'),
        );
    }
}

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));
    }
}

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

 echo CHtml::form('','post',array('enctype'=>'multipart/form-data')); ?>
...
php echo CHtml::activeFileField($model, 'image'); ?>
...
php echo CHtml::endForm(); ?>