JFileChooser select directory but show files

Question

I feel like there should be a simple way to do this but I can't figure it out. I have a JFileChooser that allows the user to select directories. I want to show all the files in the directories to give the user some context, but only directories should be accepted as selections (maybe the Open button would be disabled when a file is selected). Is there an easy way of doing this?

Wiese

Answer 1

Override the approveSelection() method. Something like:

JFileChooser chooser = new JFileChooser( new File(".") )
{
    public void approveSelection()
    {
        if (getSelectedFile().isFile())
        {
            // beep
            return;
        }
        else
            super.approveSelection();
    }
};

Bistoury

Answer 2

My solution is a merge between the answers of camickr and trashgod:

    final JFileChooser chooser = new JFileChooser() {
            public void approveSelection() {
                if (getSelectedFile().isFile()) {
                    return;
                } else
                    super.approveSelection();
            }
    };
    chooser.setFileSelectionMode( JFileChooser.FILES_AND_DIRECTORIES );

Divvy

+1 Looks like I'm in good company! I updated my answer to reflect this combined approach. – Macrospore

Very good! JFileChooser.FILES_AND_DIRECTORIES is important! Without it, (as in camickr's answer) the solution is useless, as I tested. – Analgesic

Answer 3

See setFileSelectionMode() in How to Use File Choosers:

setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.DIRECTORIES_ONLY)

Addendum: The effect can be see by uncommenting line 73 of this FileChooserDemo, but it appears to be platform-dependent.

Addendum: If using FILES_AND_DIRECTORIES, consider changing the button text accordingly:

chooser.setApproveButtonText("Choose directory");

As the effect is L&F dependent, consider using DIRECTORIES_ONLY on platforms that already meet your UI requirements:

if (System.getProperty("os.name").startsWith("Mac OS X")) {
    chooser.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.DIRECTORIES_ONLY);
} else {
    chooser.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.FILES_AND_DIRECTORIES);
}

Macrospore

But that will hide files, which is what he doesn't want. – Transposal

@mmyers: It shows the files in gray in the example cited above. YMMV – Macrospore

From what the tutorial says, it seems it's laf-dependent. – Transposal

@mmyers: Empirically, it's platform-dependent, with files appearing gray in all supported L&Fs on Mac OS X. – Macrospore

Beautiful explanation, thanks! The extra tip about platform UIs is great. – Excursionist

Answer 4

The solution of overriding approveSelection can be annoying for certain users.

Sometimes, a user would just click on a file in a directory for no reason (even though she wants to select the directory and not the file). If that happens, the user would be (kind-a) stuck in the JFileChooser as the approveSelection will fail, even if she deselects the file. To avoid this annoyance, this is what I do:

JFileChooser fileChooser = new JFileChooser();

fileChooser.setFileSelectionMode(
        JFileChooser.FILES_AND_DIRECTORIES);

int option = fileChooser.showDialog(null,
        "Select Directory");

if (option == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION) {
    File f = fileChooser.getSelectedFile();
    // if the user accidently click a file, then select the parent directory.
    if (!f.isDirectory()) {
        f = f.getParentFile();
    }
    System.out.println("Selected directory for import " + f);
}

Selecting the directory, even when the user selected a file results in a better usability in my opinion.

Spain

Answer 5

AFAIK JFileChooser separates file filtering (what can be viewed, very configurable) from selection filtering (what can be chosen).

The configuration of selection filtering is much more limited, but AFAIK you can choose to allow only dirs or only files to be selected with setFileSelectionMode()

Dorettadorette

Answer 6

Keep the fileChooser.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.DIRECTORIES_ONLY) and use:

File[] selectedFiles = fileChooser.getSelectedFile().listFiles();

Flub

Answer 7

The JFileChooser supports three selection modes: files only, directories only, and files and directories. In your case what you need is :

JFileChooser fileChooser = new JFileChooser();
fileChooser.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.FILES_AND_DIRECTORIES);

source : http://www.java2s.com/Tutorial/Java/0240__Swing/TheJFileChoosersupportsthreeselectionmodesfilesonlydirectoriesonlyandfilesanddirectories.htm

Guidon

Answer 8

Select Multiple Folders But Show All Included files

    import javax.swing.*;
    import java.io.File;
    import java.util.ArrayList;
    import java.util.Arrays;
    import java.util.Iterator;
    
    public class MultipleFilesAndDirectoryChooserButDisplayFiles {
        public static void main(String[] args) {
            ArrayList<File> tempFiles = new ArrayList<>();
            ArrayList<File> finalFiles = new ArrayList<>();
            ArrayList<String> relativeFiles = new ArrayList<>();
            JFileChooser fileChooser = new JFileChooser();
            fileChooser.setDialogTitle("Choose File To Transfer");
            fileChooser.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.FILES_AND_DIRECTORIES);
            fileChooser.setMultiSelectionEnabled(true);
            int returnVal = fileChooser.showOpenDialog(null);
            fileChooser.approveSelection();
            if (returnVal == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION) {
                fileChooser.approveSelection();
                var fileAddress = fileChooser.getSelectedFiles();
                for (var arrElement : fileAddress) {
                    tempFiles.add(arrElement);
                    File baseFile;
                    baseFile = arrElement.getParentFile();
                    Iterator<File> iterator = tempFiles.iterator();
                    while (iterator.hasNext()) {
                        File file = iterator.next();
                        if (file.isDirectory()) {
                            var enclosedFiles = file.listFiles();
                            if (enclosedFiles != null) {
                                if (enclosedFiles.length != 0) {
                                    var index = tempFiles.indexOf(file);
                                    tempFiles.remove(file);
                                    tempFiles.addAll(index, Arrays.asList(enclosedFiles));
                                    iterator = tempFiles.iterator();
                                } else {
                                    tempFiles.remove(file);
                                    finalFiles.add(file);
                                    relativeFiles.add(baseFile.toURI().relativize(file.toURI()).getPath());
                                    iterator = tempFiles.iterator();
                                }
                            }
                        } else if (file.isFile()) {
                            tempFiles.remove(file);
                            finalFiles.add(file);
                            relativeFiles.add(baseFile.toURI().relativize(file.toURI()).getPath());
                            iterator = tempFiles.iterator();
                        }
                    }
    
    
                }
                for (var relativeFile : relativeFiles) {
                    System.out.println(relativeFile);
    
                }
                for (var file : finalFiles) {
                    System.out.println(file);
                }
    
            }
        }
    }

Output:

• Folder1/EmptyFolder/

• Folder1/SubFolder1/1.1.txt

• Folder1/SubFolder1/1.2.txt

• Folder1/SubFolder1/1.3.txt

• Folder1/SubFolder1/SubFolder 1.1/1.1.1.txt

• Folder1/SubFolder1/SubFolder 1.1/1.2.1.txt

• Folder1/SubFolder1/SubFolder 1.1/1.3.1.txt

• Folder1/SubFolder2/2.1/2.1.1.txt

• Folder1/SubFolder2/2.1/2.1.2.txt

• Folder1/SubFolder2/2.1/2.1.3.txt

• Folder1/SubFolder3/3.1.txt

• Folder1/SubFolder3/3.2.txt

• Folder1/SubFolder3/3.3.txt

• Folder2/Sub Folder/2.1.txt

• Folder2/Sub Folder/EmptyFolder/

• file1.txt

• file2.txt

• E:\Folder1\EmptyFolder

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder1\1.1.txt

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder1\1.2.txt

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder1\1.3.txt

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder1\SubFolder 1.1\1.1.1.txt

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder1\SubFolder 1.1\1.2.1.txt

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder1\SubFolder 1.1\1.3.1.txt

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder2\2.1\2.1.1.txt

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder2\2.1\2.1.2.txt

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder2\2.1\2.1.3.txt

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder3\3.1.txt

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder3\3.2.txt

• E:\Folder1\SubFolder3\3.3.txt

• E:\Folder2\Sub Folder\2.1.txt

• E:\Folder2\Sub Folder\EmptyFolder

• E:\file1.txt

• E:\file2.txt

Vaules

Answer 9

I think the best solution is just to allow the user to select either a file or a directory. And if the user select a file just use the directory where that file is located.

Indetermination