/**
  * sets the uploads directory path
  * 
  * @return bool true if the directory is located
  */
 function _set_upload_dir()
 {
     $this->upload_directory = PDb_Path::files_location();
     // check for the target directory; attept to create if it doesn't exist
     return is_dir($this->root_path . $this->upload_directory) ? true : PDb_Path::_make_uploads_dir($this->upload_directory);
 }