Question

I am attempting to create a simple program that will keep a text log of collected data. To set this up, I have the following code run at the start of the program (to set up the log file, and the tools to use it):

File logFile = new File("logs/logFile.txt");
FileWriter fw;
FileReader fr;
BufferedWriter writer;
BufferedReader reader;

public void someMethod(){
    System.out.println(logFile.getAbsolutePath());
    try{
        logFile.createNewFile();
    }catch(Exception e){
        System.err.println("WARNING: CANNOT CREATE FILE");
    }
    try{
        fw = new FileWriter("plugins/Stalker/log.txt");
        fr = new FileReader("plugins/Stalker/log.txt");
        writer = new BufferedWriter(fw);
        reader = new BufferedReader(fr);
    } catch(Exception e){
        System.err.println("ERROR: CANNOT READ OR WRITE TO LOG FILE");
    }
}

When I run this, I hit both exceptions. It does not create either the file, or the folder (logs) at the path given in the first println. The path is as I expect it to be, and I SHOULD have write permissions for that directory (I know for a fact that other programs regularly write logs and such to a parent directory)… I’ve worked with files a little bit before, but it has been a bit, and I am at a complete loss here.

What sort of problem(s) might I be running into? What attempts at fixing this would you suggest?

Answer 1

When you are working with folders, you have to make sure that the folder exists.

For that you have to write a condition before logFile.createNewFile(); to check whether the folder exists because createNewFild will not create folders.

You have to modify the program little bit like this.

File logFileFolder = new File("logs");
File stalkerFolder = new File("plugins/Stalker");
File logFile = new File("logs/logFile.txt");
FileWriter fw;
FileReader fr;
BufferedWriter writer;
BufferedReader reader;

public void someMethod(){
    System.out.println(logFile.getAbsolutePath());
    try{
        if (!logFileFolder.exists()){
             // Create folder if does not exist
             logFileFolder.mkdir();
        }
        logFile.createNewFile();
    }catch(Exception e){
        System.err.println("WARNING: CANNOT CREATE FILE");
    }
    try{
        if (!stalkerFolder.exists()){
             // Create folders if does not exist
             stalkerFolder.mkdirs();
        }
        fw = new FileWriter("plugins/Stalker/log.txt");
        fr = new FileReader("plugins/Stalker/log.txt");
        writer = new BufferedWriter(fw);
        reader = new BufferedReader(fr);
    } catch(Exception e){
        System.err.println("ERROR: CANNOT READ OR WRITE TO LOG FILE");
    }
}