Finding out if a folder exists

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christopher_board@yahoo.co.uk - 05 Feb 2007 17:42 GMT

I am currently writing a java application that backs up a directory
and copies it to another location. I want the user to enter the path
of the directory in a JTextField. For example C:\Documents and
Settings. Once the user has entered the path they want to backup they
then click a button which will then check to make sure that, that
directory exists. If it doesn't a message is displayed and if it does
then it performs a certain task. How would I go about checking to make
sure the folder exists.

Thanks very much for your help.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

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Steve W. Jackson - 05 Feb 2007 17:57 GMT

> I am currently writing a java application that backs up a directory
> and copies it to another location. I want the user to enter the path
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

First, I think your text field should be accompanied by a button (we use
one labeled Browse in similar situations) that supports selecting
(presumably via JFileChooser) directories only. But once you've got a
selected item, even if manually entered, you want to make a File object
out of it and then call the isDirectory method on that object. This
method will return true if the item actually exists and it's a directory
rather than a file. You may want to see if your target directory can be
written to, also.

I highly recommend the API Javadocs on java.io.File for your reading
pleasure. :-)

= Steve =

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Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama

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Eric Sosman - 05 Feb 2007 18:07 GMT

christopher_board@yahoo.co.uk wrote On 02/05/07 12:42,:

> I am currently writing a java application that backs up a directory
> and copies it to another location. I want the user to enter the path
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> then it performs a certain task. How would I go about checking to make
> sure the folder exists.

    File theDir = new File(thePath);
    if (theDir.exists()) ...

However, I'd encourage you to use a JFileChooser
instead of making the user type the path. If you were
in the user's position, would you rather click on a
couple of folder icons or type

    C:\Documents and Settings\Christopher\My Documants\Financial
Records\Mortgage Payments

... and then curse at the error message?

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Eric.Sosman@sun.com

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Finding out if a folder exists

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