Saving files in current directory

Question

I've been searching for this and many answers came out but it just wasn't the solution I was looking for so I came here and try to ask help to you guys...

I want to create a .txt file in the same folder where the JAR file is located (dist folder)...

I tried using System.getProperty("user.dir") it works fine when I run it on windows and using netbeans the file created is always in the same folder where the jar file is but when I run it on LINUX it saves the file in root... but the folder where the jar file is on the desktop

it creates in the same folder when I use the terminal to open the jar file

private static String directory=System.getProperty("user.dir");
private final String sample=directory+File.separator+"sample.txt";


public void createFile()
{
     File file=new File(sample);
    try(FileWriter fw=new FileWriter(file))
    {
        fw.write("INSERT ME WHERE MY JAR IS");
        fw.flush();
        fw.close();
    }catch(IOException ex)
    {
        ex.printStackTrace();
    }
}

already did that but it didn't work... – codename_newbie Oct 08 '14 at 07:19 — codename_newbie, Oct 08 '14 at 07:19

travega · Answer 1 · 2014-10-08T07:37:26.597

10

You can refer to your working directory with

File directory = new File(".")

and you can access a file on it using

System.getProperty(directory.getCanonicalPath() + File.separator + "my.properties")

OR

System.getProperty("." + File.separator + "my.properties")

The "." refers to your current directory. The use of File.separator ensures your get '/' in UNIX-based file systems and "\" in NTFS.

edited Oct 08 '14 at 07:37

answered Oct 08 '14 at 07:20

travega

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ok i'll try it, does this work both on WINDOWS and LINUX? – codename_newbie Oct 08 '14 at 07:21
Yep it's valid for both... – travega Oct 08 '14 at 07:22
1

hmm it returns a blank – codename_newbie Oct 08 '14 at 07:26
Returns a blank what? – travega Oct 08 '14 at 07:34
sorry miscode but I did it and it still creates file in root – codename_newbie Oct 08 '14 at 07:57
+1 for ".". The "." to refer to the working directory is better than System.getProperty("user.dir"); because say we need to save the path of a saved-in-current-working-dir file somewhere, in case the user changes the JAR file place, and later if we try to retrieve it, a FileNotFoundException will be thrown. – Yahya Nov 24 '16 at 09:01

George Rosario · Answer 2 · 2014-10-08T07:37:30.173

0

Had same problem: These will work for LINUX

Current directory's canonical path: directory.getCanonicalPath());

Current directory's absolute path: directory.getAbsolutePath());

If it varies in windows try to check for OS and run code: Like

System.getProperty("os.name");

Or else Use:

String absolutePath = getClass().getProtectionDomain().getCodeSource().getLocation().getPath();
        absolutePath = absolutePath.substring(0, absolutePath.lastIndexOf("/"));

edited Oct 08 '14 at 07:37

answered Oct 08 '14 at 07:26

George Rosario

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directory? what is that is that a variable sir? sorry, still not getting used to all these – codename_newbie Oct 08 '14 at 07:31
File directory = new File ("."); The file which you create – George Rosario Oct 08 '14 at 07:35
see my edit u can find the absolute path in string (both in windows and linux) – George Rosario Oct 08 '14 at 07:38

Saving files in current directory

2 Answers2