FTP/PHP

Im attempting to read from a file, then make the file empty (0 bytes). Im using the following code: # Initialize File/Contents $fp = fopen('ftp://$ftp_username:$ftp_password@$ftp_url/$mail_dir/$mail_username', 'r'); $contents = fread($fp, 80000); fclose ($fp); ############## Clear Mail File $fp = fopen('ftp://$ftp_username:$ftp_password@$ftp_url/$mail_dir/$mail_username', 'a'); ftruncate($fp, 0); fclose ($fp); ################ Assuming the variables are set correctly, the read from file works fine. But when I added the truncate portion of code, I got: Warning: File already exists in /home/morning/morningstarstudios-www/secure/email/support/index.php on line 23 Warning: fopen('ftp://...@ftp.morningstarstudios.net/morningstarstudios-mail/support','a') - File exists in ****(filename)**** on line 23 I know the file exists, but how do I get around this error, and rewrite the file with 0 length? Thanks, Matthew Walkup webmaster@morningstarstudios.net