How do I set a suggested file name using JFileChooser.showSaveDialog(...)?

Question

The JFileChooser seems to be missing a feature: a way to suggest the file name when saving a file (the thing that usually gets selected so that it would get replaced when the user starts typing).

Is there a way around this?

Murdocca

Answer 1

If I understand you correctly, you need to use the setSelectedFile method.

JFileChooser jFileChooser = new JFileChooser();
jFileChooser.setSelectedFile(new File("fileToSave.txt"));
jFileChooser.showSaveDialog(parent);

The file doesn't need to exist.

If you pass a File with an absolute path, JFileChooser will try to position itself in that directory (if it exists).

Preceding

However, if you're in DIRECTORIES_ONLY mode, then this doesn't work. I don't see a way to set the default name of a new directory. – Grozny

Answer 2

setSelectedFile doesn't work with directories as mentioned above, a solution is

try {
    FileChooserUI fcUi = fileChooser.getUI();
    fcUi.setSelectedFile(defaultDir);
    Class<? extends FileChooserUI> fcClass = fcUi.getClass();
    Method setFileName = fcClass.getMethod("setFileName", String.class);
    setFileName.invoke(fcUi, defaultDir.getName());
} catch (Exception e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
}

Unfortunately, setFileName is not included in the UI interface, thus the need to call it dynamically. Only tested on Mac.

Dactyl

Answer 3

If that doesn't work, here is a workaround:

dialog.getUI().setFileName( name )

But you should check whether the selection mode is FILES_ONLY or FILES_AND_DIRECTORIES. If it's DIRECTORIES_ONLY, then setSelectedFile() will strip the file name.

Bernice

How would you access the dialog though? It's private, created on the spot in showSaveDialog(), and disposed immediately after it was shown, still inside that function. – Numismatology