Java FileOutputStream: path relative to program folder?

Question

What is the best way to find a path relative to the folder where a java application is "installed"?

I have a class with a static method: public static void saveToFile(String fileName)

When I call it with an absolute path, it works, but what I really want is the relative path to where the application is run from, and a folder.

I have not deployed my application, but right now I want to find a path relative to the (Netbeans) project root, and a folder within called data: ProjectName\data\file.dat. Should I use the File class or make it into a URI or something?

Note that I prefer it to be system-independent and will still work if the application is deployed. Eventually the (relative) pathname will be stored in a properties file.

Sorry if this question is a duplicate, any help is appreciated.

Andrew Thompson · Accepted Answer · 2020-05-12T21:09:47.747

What is the best way to find a path relative to the folder where a java application is "installed"?

OS manufacturers have been saying for a long time not to save files in the application directory.

Note that I prefer it to be system-independent and will still work if the application is deployed.

Instead put the File in a sub-directory of user.home. User home is where it should be possible to establish a file object that can be read or written. It is also a place that is reproducible across runs, and platform independent.

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:59

2

If you deploying as a jar, its possible to obtain the jar file name and path the current code is working in like this:

new File(MyClass.class.getProtectionDomain().getCodeSource().getLocation().getPath());

(from How to get the path of a running JAR file?)

edited May 23 '17 at 11:59

Community

1
1

answered Apr 16 '12 at 18:23

j13r

2,576
2
21
28

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited Jan 05 '13 at 03:15

2

Here you go:

String path = System.getProperty("user.dir");

edited Jan 05 '13 at 03:15

tckmn

57,719
27
114
156

answered Jan 05 '13 at 02:56

Craig R

21
1

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 16 '12 at 18:22

1

To find relative path to current working directory say new File(".").

If you want to know absolute path of current working directory you can write new File(".").getAbsolutePath() or File(".").getAbsoluteFile()`.

I hope this answers your question. I am sorry if I did not understand you correctly.

answered Apr 16 '12 at 18:22

AlexR

114,158
16
130
208

You didn't understand correctly. He wants the program path, not the working directory. – j13r Apr 16 '12 at 18:23
I tried by using `"." + File.separator + "data" + File.separator + "file.dat"` And it didn't work... – MarioDS Apr 16 '12 at 18:26
Allright I tried it with a File and I printed the absolute path, its **absolutely correct** and it didn't work... It returns `C:\blah\projectName\data\file.dat`as required... – MarioDS Apr 16 '12 at 18:34
use File("./filename") . It comes to ../workspace/myWorkingProject/filename – Linh Lino Jun 02 '14 at 22:13

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 01 '15 at 14:06

0

To get the absolute path to a file use new File().getCanonicalFile().

new FileOutputStream(new File(".\\target\\dataset.xml").getCanonicalFile())

answered Dec 01 '15 at 14:06

tak3shi

2,305
1
20
33

Java FileOutputStream: path relative to program folder?

5 Answers5

Linked

Related