Java - Clean file path

Question

I want to clean the path I use in my App. The path can be modified and sometimes I got something like that:

C:/users/Username/Desktop/\..\..\..\Windows\Web\..\..\Program Files\..\Program Files\..\Python27\

But I would like to have something like:

C:\Python27\

That's an example!

How can I clean the path to get only the necessary part?

Thanks.

Here is the code I use (Without the clean path) http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10204722/java-exec-console/10205644#10205644 — Manitoba, Apr 18 '12 at 13:06
So what is the criteria for the cleaned path? Only the part after the last '\'? — Qowaz, Apr 18 '12 at 12:50

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 18 '12 at 12:48

5

If fileName is your filename string, then something like:

String cleanedFilename = new File(fileName).getCanonicalPath();

should do it...

answered Apr 18 '12 at 12:48

Mathias Schwarz

1

Does not work for all. For instance: input = "/Whatever/mette_e1.mastodon/..\dataset_DataStoreAlfeios.xml"; canonical = "/Whatever/mette_e1.mastodon/..\dataset_DataStoreAlfeios.xml"; – Jean-Yves Jun 02 '22 at 07:14

score 3 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:30

3

You could try using the File.getCanonicalPath() method:

File file = new File("my/init/path");
String path = file.getCanonicalPath();

I haven't test though, tell us back!

EDIT: @MathiasSchwarz is right, use getCanonicalPath() instead of getAbsolutePath() (link)

edited May 23 '17 at 12:30

Community

answered Apr 18 '12 at 12:48

sp00m

1

`getAbsolutePath` is not required to remove `..` and `.`. The only guarantee is the that the path returned is not relative. – Mathias Schwarz Apr 18 '12 at 12:53

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 18 '12 at 12:51

3

Here is the code I have just tried.

new File("c:/temp/..").getCanonicalPath();

It returns 'C:\', that is right. The parent of c:/temp is indeed c:\

answered Apr 18 '12 at 12:51

AlexR

3 Answers3