Question

Deleting non-empty directory in Java

Asked by: prashant_n_mhatre

Seems that this is a FAQ...but couldn't find the reasonable solution. Is there anything available in Java that could remove a non-empty directory?

I don't want to use something like:

  Runtime.getRuntime().exec("/bin/rm -rf " + dirname);

I'm looking for a portable solution.

Thanks

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Asked On
2003-07-15 at 11:14:45ID20679375
Tags

directory

,

java

,

empty

,

non

,

delete

Topic

Java Programming Language

Participating Experts
2
Points
125
Comments
2

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Answers

 

by: CEHJPosted on 2003-07-15 at 11:18:12ID: 8927787

>>I'm looking for a portable solution.

You could try Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cmd.exe /C deltree" + dirname);

but it's probably not that portable. I think some versions of Windoze removed it as it was too dangerous!

Only *really* portable is to delete all files first ;-)

 

by: bobbit31Posted on 2003-07-15 at 11:19:02ID: 8927793

     public static void deleteFolder(java.io.File delFolder) throws IOException {

            if (delFolder == null || !delFolder.exists() || !delFolder.isDirectory()) {
                  throw new IOException ("Specified path is not a valid folder.");
            }

            java.io.File[] files = delFolder.listFiles();

            for (int i=0;i<files.length;i++) {
                  if (files[i].isDirectory()) {
                        deleteFolder(files[i]);
                  }
                  files[i].delete();
            }

            delFolder.delete();

      }

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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