Directories, CHMOD, and file uploads

[Guardian-Mage]

1) Is the only way that doesn't involve Databases to upload files is to CHMOD a directory to 777?

 

2) What are the risks of CHMODDING a directory to 777?

 

3) What are the risks of CHMODDING a .txt file to 777?

 

4) How can I find the name of every .txt file in a directory?

 

Thanks for your help

[The Little Guy]

4.)

<?php 
foreach(glob('/my/directory/*.txt') as $file){
    echo $file;
}
?>

[Guardian-Mage]

That works fine, but how can I order it so it will list them in descending order. Each file has a name such as 07-05-23, or yy,mm,dd. I want the newest ones first.

[The Little Guy]

<?php 
foreach(array_reverse(glob('/my/directory/*.txt')) as $file){
    echo $file;
}
?>

[Guardian-Mage]

thank you, is there anyway to only select one file, the newest one?

[The Little Guy]

<?php 
foreach(array_reverse(glob('/my/directory/*.txt')) as $file){
    echo $file;
    break;
}
?>