Develop Reference

How to read / write in a file embedded in a jar [duplicate]

So i am getting back into writing Java after 4 years so please forgive any "rookie" mistakes.
I need to have a properties file where i can store some simple data for my application. The app data itself won't reside here but i will be storing info such as the file path to the last used data store, other settings, etc.
I managed to connect to the properties file which exists inside the same package as the class file attempting to connect to it and i can read the file but i am having trouble writing back to the file. I am pretty sure that my code works (at least it's not throwing any errors) but the change isn't reflected in the file itself after the app is run in Netbeans.
In the above image you can see the mainProperties.properties file in question and the class attempting to call it (prefManagement.java). So with that in mind here is my code to load the file:
Properties mainFile = new Properties();
try {
mainFile.load(prefManagement.class.getClass().getResourceAsStream("/numberAdditionUI/mainProperties.properties"));
} catch (IOException a) {
System.out.println("Couldn't find/load file!");
}
This works and i can check and confirm the one existing key (defaultXMLPath).
My code to add to this file is:
String confirmKey = "defaultXMLPath2";
String propKey = mainFile.getProperty(confirmKey);
if (propKey == null) {
// Key is not present so enter the key into the properties file
mainFile.setProperty(confirmKey, "testtest");
try{
FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream("mainProperties.properties");
mainFile.store(fos, "testtest3");
fos.flush();
}catch(FileNotFoundException e ){
System.out.println("Couldn't find/load file3!");
}catch(IOException b){
System.out.println("Couldn't find/load file4!");
}
} else {
// Throw error saying key already exists
System.out.println("Key " + confirmKey + " already exists.");
}
As i mentioned above, everything runs without any errors and i can play around with trying to add the existing key and it throws the expected error. But when trying to add a new key/value pair it doesn't show up in the properties file afterwords. Why?

You should not be trying to write to "files" that exist inside of the jar file. Actually, technically, jar files don't hold files but rather they hold "resources", and for practical purposes, they are read-only. If you need to read and write to a properties file, it should be outside of the jar.

Your code writes to a local file mainProperties.properties the properties.
After you run your part of code, there you will find that a file mainProperties.properties has been created locally.
FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream("mainProperties.properties");
Could order not to confuse the two files you specify the local file to another name. e.g. mainAppProp.properties .
Read the complete contents of the resource mainProperties.properties.
Write all the necessary properties to the local file mainAppProp.properties.
FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream("mainAppProp.properties");
switch if file exists to your local file , if not create the file mainAppProp.properties and write all properties to it.
Test if file mainAppProp.properties exists locally.
Read the properties into a new "probs" variable.
Use only this file from now on.
Under no circumstances you can write the properties back into the .jar file.
Test it like
[...]
if (propKey == null) {
// Key is not present so enter the key into the properties file
mainFile.setProperty(confirmKey, "testtest");
[...]
Reader reader = null;
try
{
reader = new FileReader( "mainAppProp.properties" );
Properties prop2 = new Properties();
prop2.load( reader );
prop2.list( System.out );
}
catch ( IOException e )
{
e.printStackTrace();
}
finally
{
if (reader != null) {
reader.close();
}
}
}
[...]
}
output : with prop2.list( System.out );
-- listing properties --
defaultXMLPath2=testtest
content of the file mainAppProp.properties
#testtest3
#Mon Jul 14 14:33:20 BRT 2014
defaultXMLPath2=testtest

Challenge:
Read the Property file location in jar file
Read the Property file
Write the variable as system variables
public static void loadJarCongFile(Class Utilclass )
{
try{
String path= Utilclass.getResource("").getPath();
path=path.substring(6,path.length()-1);
path=path.split("!")[0];
System.out.println(path);
JarFile jarFile = new JarFile(path);
final Enumeration<JarEntry> entries = jarFile.entries();
while (entries.hasMoreElements()) {
final JarEntry entry = entries.nextElement();
if (entry.getName().contains(".properties")) {
System.out.println("Jar File Property File: " + entry.getName());
JarEntry fileEntry = jarFile.getJarEntry(entry.getName());
InputStream input = jarFile.getInputStream(fileEntry);
setSystemvariable(input);
InputStreamReader isr = new InputStreamReader(input);
BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(isr);
String line;
while ((line = reader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println("Jar file"+line);
}
reader.close();
}
}
}
catch (Exception e)
{
System.out.println("Jar file reading Error");
}
}
public static void setSystemvariable(InputStream input)
{
Properties tmp1 = new Properties();
try {
tmp1.load(input);
for (Object element : tmp1.keySet()) {
System.setProperty(element.toString().trim(),
tmp1.getProperty(element.toString().trim()).trim());
}
} catch (IOException e) {
System.out.println("setSystemvariable method failure");
}
}

Keep getting cast exception error when I'm reading a data file? [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
Why does writeObject throw java.io.NotSerializableException and how do I fix it?
(4 answers)
Closed 7 years ago.
So I'm trying to write and read a data file and declare a new variable of type 'GroceryStore' after I read the data file. I keep getting cast exception errors when I'm running my program. Could someone explain to me why this is happening and how I can fix it? Thanks.
Here's my write data file method:
{
FileOutputStream file = null;
ObjectOutputStream outStream = null;
file = new FileOutputStream(new File(filename));
outStream = new ObjectOutputStream(file);
outStream.writeObject(store1);
System.out.print(filename + " was written\n");
}
Here's my read data file method
{
FileInputStream file = null;
ObjectInputStream inStream = null;
file = new FileInputStream(new File(filename));
inStream = new ObjectInputStream(file);
GroceryStore newStore = (GroceryStore) inStream.readObject();
store1 = newStore;
System.out.print(filename + " was read\n");
}

At first glance at the code for reading it seems to want to put it to fast to the class GroseryStore, probably need some parsing before you can get it in there. Try to System.out.println the input from the reader, then you know what you have, then parse / chop and slice that into what you need / want of it.
So, second make a class for the read / write operations. As an example of how the write might work for simple text output file you could use something like this:
private String file_name = "FileName";
private String file_extention = ".txt";
BufferedWriter writer = null;
public void writeTextToFile(String stuff_to_file) {
// trying to write (and read) is a bit hazardous. So, try, catch and finally
try {
File file = new File(file_name + file_extention);
FileOutputStream mFileOutputStream = new FileOutputStream(file);
OutputStreamWriter mOutputStreamWriter = new OutputStreamWriter(mFileOutputStream);
writer = new BufferedWriter(mOutputStreamWriter);
writer.write(stuff_to_file); // and finally we do write to file
// This will output the full path where the file will be written to.
System.out.println("\nFile made, can be found at: " + file.getCanonicalPath());
} catch (Exception e) { // if something went wrong we like to know it.
e.printStackTrace();
System.out.println("Problem with file writing: " + e);
} finally {
try { // Close the writer regardless of what happens...
writer.close();
} catch (Exception e) { // yes, even this can go wrong
e.printStackTrace();
} // close try / catch
} // close finally
} // close method

Writing to an External File on Android --- File Doesn't Register, But Java Can Read

I'm trying to write to an external txt (or csv) file for Android. I can run an app, close it, and run it again, and readData() will read back to my log what I've stored. However, the dirFile (file directory) appears nowhere within my Android files (even if I connect it to a computer and search).
Something interesting, though: if I clear my log (similar to a list of print statements shown within Eclipse) and disconnect my phone from my computer, then reconnect it, the log reappears with everything I've ever written to my file (even if I later overwrote it)...yet the app isn't even running!
Here is my code. Please help me understand why I cannot find my file!
(Note: I've tried appending a "myFile.txt" extension to the directory, but it just causes an EISDIR exception.)
public void writeData(String dirName){
try
{
File root = new File(getExternalFilesDir(null), dirName);
// Writes to file
//
// The "true" argument allows the file to be appended. Without this argument (just root),
// the file will be overwritten (even though we later call append) rather than appended to.
FileWriter writer = new FileWriter(root, true);
writer.append("Append This Text\n");
writer.flush();
writer.close();
// Checks if we actually wrote to file by reading it back in (appears in Log)
//readData(dirName);
}
catch(Exception e)
{
Log.v("2222", "2222 ERROR: " + e.getMessage());
}
}
If you're interested, here's the function I wrote to read in the data:
public void readData(String dirName){
try
{
File root = new File(getExternalFilesDir(null), dirName);
// Checks to see if we are actually writing to file by reading in the file
BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new FileReader(root));
try {
String s = reader.readLine();
while (s != null) {
Log.v("2222", "2222 READ: " + s);
s = reader.readLine();
}
}
catch(Exception e) {
Log.v("2222", "2222 ERROR: " + e.getMessage());
}
finally {
reader.close();
}
}
catch(Exception e) {
Log.v("2222", "2222 ERROR: " + e.getMessage());
}
}
Thanks!

even if I connect it to a computer and search
if I clear my log (similar to a list of print statements shown within Eclipse) and disconnect my phone from my computer, then reconnect it, the log reappears with everything I've ever written to my file (even if I later overwrote it).
What you are seeing on your computer is what is indexed by MediaStore, and possibly a subset of those, depending upon whether your computer caches information it gets from the device in terms of "directory" contents.
To help ensure that MediaStore indexes your file promptly:
Use a FileOutputStream (optionally wrapped in an OutputStreamWriter), not a FileWriter
Call flush(), getFD().sync(), and close() on the FileOutputStream, instead of calling flush() and close() on the FileWriter (sync() will ensure the bytes are written to disk before continuing)
Use MediaScannerConnection and scanFile() to tell MediaStore to index your file
You can then use whatever sort of "reload" or "refresh" or whatever option is in your desktop OS's file manager, and your file should show up.
This blog post has more on all of this.

public void create(){
folder = new File(Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_MOVIES),"video");
boolean success = true;
if (!folder.exists()) {
success=folder.mkdirs();
}
if (success) {
readfile();
} else {
System.out.println("failed");
}
}
The above code will be used to crete the directory in th emobile at desired path
private void readfile() {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
AssetManager assetManager = getResources().getAssets();
String[] files = null;
try {
files = assetManager.list("clipart");
} catch (Exception e) {
Log.e("read clipart ERROR", e.toString());
e.printStackTrace();
}
for(String filename : files) {
System.out.println("File name => "+filename);
InputStream in = null;
OutputStream out = null;
try {
in = assetManager.open("clipart/" + filename);
out = new FileOutputStream(folder + "/" + filename);
copyFile(in, out);
in.close();
in = null;
out.flush();
out.close();
out = null;
} catch(Exception e) {
Log.e("copy clipart ERROR", e.toString());
e.printStackTrace();
}
}}private void copyFile(InputStream in, OutputStream out) throws IOException {
byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
int read;
while((read = in.read(buffer)) != -1){
out.write(buffer, 0, read);
}}
this is my code used to write file in internal memory from the assets folder in project. This code can read all type(extension) of file from asset folder to mobile.
Don't forget to add permission in manifest file
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
and call the above function by
readfile();//this call the function to read and write the file
I hope this may help you.
Thank you.

Saving file to arraylist and writing back to file; Android

I've been trying to open a text file and and save each line as the contents of an arraylist. Once this has been completed I would like to save it back to a file. I have been running into errors for so long and have tried numerous techniques. I found that for some reason, the files themselves are not being created. It may just be a simple error I'm overlooking but if you could provide any help I will be thankful.
Here's the code:
public void addToFile(){
File root = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath() + "/appName/savedlocations");
root.mkdirs();
File fileName = new File(root, "locationslatitude.txt");
File fileName2 = new File(root, "locationslongitude.txt");
String file = fileName.toString();
String file2 = fileName2.toString();
String theContent = Double.toString(currLatitude);
String theContent2 = Double.toString(currLongitude);
s = new Scanner(file);
while (s.hasNext()){
fileList.add(s.next());
}
s.close();
fileList.add(theContent);
s2 = new Scanner(file2);
while (s2.hasNext()){
fileList2.add(s2.next());
}
s2.close();
fileList2.add(theContent2);
try {//works for latitude file
FileWriter writer = new FileWriter(file);
for(String str: fileList) {
writer.write(str);
writer.write("\r\n");
}
writer.close();
} catch (java.io.IOException error) {
//do something if an IOException occurs.
Toast.makeText(this, "Cannot Save Back To A File", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
}
//save the arraylist back to its appropriate file
try {//works for longitude file
FileWriter writer = new FileWriter(file2);
for(String str2: fileList2) {
writer.write(str2);
writer.write("\r\n");
}
writer.close();
} catch (java.io.IOException error) {
//do something if an IOException occurs.
Toast.makeText(this, "Cannot Save Back To A File", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
}
}
I believe I found the answer to the problem and I wanted to post it back on here so if anyone else faces the same problem this might help them.
The problem was that it wasn't creating the file. The directory was created using "root.mkdirs();". However, the files were not created and I was trying to read from non-existing files. This is what I believe caused the error. So, in order to fix this problem I altered the code to this:
try{
s = new Scanner(fileName);
while (s.hasNext()){
fileList.add(s.next());
}
s.close();
fileList.add(theContent);
}catch (FileNotFoundException ex){
ex.printStackTrace();
try{
fileName.createNewFile();
}catch (IOException e){
e.printStackTrace();
Toast.makeText(this, "Hit IOException for file one", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
}
try{
s2 = new Scanner(fileName2);
while (s2.hasNext()){
fileList2.add(s2.next());
}
s2.close();
fileList2.add(theContent2);
}catch (FileNotFoundException ex){
ex.printStackTrace();
try{
fileName2.createNewFile();
}catch (IOException e){
e.printStackTrace();
Toast.makeText(this, "Hit IOException for file two", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
}
This was the only piece of code I had to alter. The code which saved back to the file worked. I hope this will be of use to someone and thanks everyone for your help.

This code works in my project. You can use it to save ArrayList contents to text file. Make sure that the directory is created beforehand. Just iterate through your list and use println method to write it to txt file.
FileWriter outFile = new FileWriter(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath() + "/appName/savedlocations/nameoftextfile.txt");
PrintWriter out = new PrintWriter(outFile);
out.println("PRINT LINES WITH ME");
out.print("NOT NECCESSARILY A NEW LINE");
out.close(); // at the very end
Do not forget to catch IOException.

Have you added the following permission in the AndroidManifest.xml?
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

Check if the file directory etc exists on the device in the first place that you are using
/appName/savedlocations Good chance these do not exist. Wrong name for appName or savedLocations. Check this using some file explorer program. Tell us if it exists. Print out the full path name of
Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath() + "/appName/savedlocations
and see if it really exists. Just download an app for file viewing or I think you can connect to the device via eclipse as well. If you need more info on how to do it let us know. But you should first check the actual error message and report this back.

don't invent your own serialization format. java already has that.
ArrayList<String> files = ...; // whatever
// write the object to a file
ObjectOutput out = new ObjectOutputStream(new FileOutputStream("filename.ser"));
out.writeObject(files);
out.close();
// read the object back
InputStream is = new FileInputStream("filename.ser");
ObjectInputStream ois = new ObjectInputStream(is);
ArrayList<String> newFiles = = (ArrayList)ois.readObject();
ois.close();

Why AccessDeniedException is raising when using just created folder?

I'm creating simple object serialization, and creation of BufferedOutputStream is raising an exception AccessDeniedException. Here is the code:
Path filePath = Paths.get("c:\\temp\\");
File xmlFile = new File("c:\\temp\\");
boolean success = xmlFile.mkdirs();
if (!success && ! xmlFile.exists() ) {
// Directory creation failed
System.out.println("Failed to create a file: " + filePath);
}
try (
ObjectOutputStream objectOut = new ObjectOutputStream(
new BufferedOutputStream(Files.newOutputStream(filePath, StandardOpenOption.WRITE)))){
// Write three objects to the fi le
objectOut.writeObject(solarSystem); // Write object
System.out.println("Serialized: " + solarSystem);
} catch(IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
But directory is empty and if it doesn't not exist, it's created...

I'll repeat my comment here: you seem to try to write to a directory not to a file. Try changing filePath to a file instead.