CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javawindowsfileexception
cobrabb
cobrabb

Reputation: 141

Java - Unable to find a file path which certainly exists

I am sure this is a relatively simple question, and I actually think it may be more of a problem with Windows than with Java.

I have a method for copying a file to a new directory, which takes two File objects, a File created with the path of the original, and a File created with the desired path of the copy. I am sure that the method works because I have used it to successfully copy a file onto my Desktop.

However, using my actual desired path creates an error:

java.io.FileNotFoundException: PATH (The system cannot find the path specified)

Where the PATH is the path that I am attempting to use.

Here is my guess: I am making this program for use on another machine. As such, the path that I am trying to use is:

C:\Users\XXXXXX\rest_of_path\filename.file

where XXXXXX is the primary user on the machine which I am writing the program for.

This directory exists on my system, but XXXXXX is not a user on my system. So I am guessing that Windows is causing a problem because of that.

I'm now changing my code to use a solution which depends on the machine, and is not hardcoded (System.getProperty).

However, I'd really like to know why this problem is occurring, from an academic standpoint, as a Windows and Java user.

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: accidentally used forward slashes when I meant double backslashes. To ensure that it was not a spelling error, I simply copied the directory using windows, and pasted it into my program (then doubled up on the backslashes).

EDIT: several users have suggested something which is far more clean than what I am trying to do in the first place. I'm leaving this question open because I'm curious why it is not working.

EDIT: I used the solution above and I'm completely happy with it. I still don't know why Windows will not allow me to access the original path, but I guess I really don't care at this point. Thanks, everybody!

Upvotes: 1

Views: 3485

Answers (1)

Radnyx
Radnyx

Reputation: 324

In java, and generally most programming languages, you don't always have to provide the exact directory of your file. Although it would be nice to see the code you're using to get the file, I'll provide how it can be done.

I'm assuming you aren't using new File("file.txt") because that retrieves files from the folder your program is in, and doesn't require an entire address like C:\...\...\.... You certainly don't want to use an entire address because different operating systems use different paths, obviously.

The best you can do is put your files and requested folders somewhere relative to your program is (whether it's class files or a .jar file).

But with Windows you can be sure that with System.getProperty("...") you can retrieve directory URLs as relative paths for your files/folders.

Documentation on System.getProperty here: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/essential/environment/sysprop.html

I may not have helped or answered your question at all. But hopefully you'll find a solution.

Upvotes: 2

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