Java - how do I write a file to a specified directory

Question

I want to write a file results.txt to a specific directory on my machine (Z:\results to be precise). How do I go about specifying the directory to BufferedWriter/FileWriter?

Currently, it writes the file successfully but to the directory where my source code is located. Thanks

    public void writefile(){

    try{
        Writer output = null;
        File file = new File("results.txt");
        output = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter(file));

        for(int i=0; i<100; i++){
           //CODE TO FETCH RESULTS AND WRITE FILE
        }

        output.close();
        System.out.println("File has been written");

    }catch(Exception e){
        System.out.println("Could not create file");
    }
}

Atherosclerosis

Answer 1

Use:

File file = new File("Z:\\results\\results.txt");

You need to double the backslashes in Windows because the backslash character itself is an escape in Java literal strings.

For POSIX system such as Linux, just use the default file path without doubling the forward slash. this is because forward slash is not a escape character in Java.

File file = new File("/home/userName/Documents/results.txt");

Ragged

Not recommended, program will be bound to OS. Follow the secondary constructor as explained in other answer. – Giselegisella

Answer 2

You should use the secondary constructor for File to specify the directory in which it is to be symbolically created. This is important because the answers that say to create a file by prepending the directory name to original name, are not as system independent as this method.

Sample code:

String dirName = /* something to pull specified dir from input */;

String fileName = "test.txt";
File dir = new File (dirName);
File actualFile = new File (dir, fileName);

/* rest is the same */

Hope it helps.

Orchestral

Either that or use System.getProperty("file.separator") – Skeens

Answer 3

Just put the full directory location in the File object.

File file = new File("z:\\results.txt");

Doelling

Actually you need to escape the backslash: File file = new File("z:\\results.txt"); Or just use a regular slash File file = new File("z:/results.txt"); – Overarm

Answer 4

The best practice is using File.separator in the paths.

Glossolalia