java.nio.file.InvalidPathException when the path contains colon (:)

Question

I need to construct a path which contains colon (:). Actually the path is not a folder/directory in windows/linux. It is just a path of JCR repo. Below code gives InvalidPathException when the path contains colon

import java.nio.file.Path;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class TestCLass {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        final Path path = Paths.get("com", "repo:access","resource");
        //final Path path = Paths.get("com", "repoaccess","resource"); //Output - com/repoaccess/resource
        System.out.println(path);
    }
}

Exception

Exception in thread "main" java.nio.file.InvalidPathException: Illegal char <:> at index 8: com\repo:access\resource
    at sun.nio.fs.WindowsPathParser.normalize(WindowsPathParser.java:182)
    at sun.nio.fs.WindowsPathParser.parse(WindowsPathParser.java:153)
    at sun.nio.fs.WindowsPathParser.parse(WindowsPathParser.java:77)
    at sun.nio.fs.WindowsPath.parse(WindowsPath.java:94)
    at sun.nio.fs.WindowsFileSystem.getPath(WindowsFileSystem.java:255)
    at java.nio.file.Paths.get(Paths.java:84)

Is there any API to access colon(:) and any other special character?

I don't understand the question. `:` is not a valid character in a `Path` as `Path` is intended to locate a file *on the filesystem*. What do you need ? — Arnaud Denoyelle, Apr 05 '19 at 09:52
I want to construct the path which contains : Is there any way we manage this? — ezhil, Apr 05 '19 at 09:54
Looks like you need [URL](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/net/URL.html) or [URI](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/net/URI.html) instead. — Arnaud Denoyelle, Apr 05 '19 at 09:55
Both windows & Linux. I want to construct a path like com/repo:access/resource — ezhil, Apr 05 '19 at 09:58
@ezhil: Do have a look here:- https://stackoverflow.com/questions/41900064/opening-a-file-that-has-colons-in-the-filename-with-java-displayed-as-slashes-i — Abhinav, Apr 05 '19 at 10:27

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 05 '19 at 12:42

0

As far as I know, neither Windows nor Linux allow ":" to be put in a file name. That's why Java throws InvalidPathException for such a path/file name. There's no API to work around a restriction imposed by the file system.

answered Apr 05 '19 at 12:42

StackLloyd

409
2
9

actually it is not folder name in windows/linux. It is path JCR repo. I am trying to construct this path for JCR repo – ezhil Apr 05 '19 at 13:44
Well then I'm sorry, but I've never used JCR. However, did you take a look at **javax.jcr**? I don't know where to point you at, but maybe you will find what you need [here](https://docs.adobe.com/docs/en/spec/javax.jcr/javadocs/jcr-2.0/index.html). – StackLloyd Apr 06 '19 at 14:09
Thanks for your input. I will have a look. – ezhil Apr 10 '19 at 03:41

java.nio.file.InvalidPathException when the path contains colon (:)

1 Answers1