public static function try_directory($file)
    {
      $matches = array();
      preg_match("/(.*\/).*$/", $file, $matches);
      
      try {
        if (sizeof($matches) >= 1) {
          $folder = $matches[1];

          if (!(is_dir($folder))) {
            mkdir($folder);
            return 1;
          }
        }
      } catch (Exception $e) {
        /** do not handle this exception it is low level and will be warned by the caller **/

        return -1;
      }

      return 1;
    }