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Desktop File operations not working

The code below does nothing. No file opened, no exception thrown.
What can I do to discover the problem?
It does execute the desktop.open(file) line.
Using JDK 1.16.0_81
Running Win XP
I'm running this from the Eclipse IDE.

Running the demo here:
http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/J2SE/Desktop/javase6/desktop_api/
the browse and mail functionality works, but not the file functionality, again same result, just nothing.

package desktopdemo;

import java.awt.Desktop;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.IOException;

public class MyDesktopDemo {

	public MyDesktopDemo() {

		// have tried .txt, .rtf, .pptx all with no effect
		String pathAndFileString = "C:\\my.pptx";
		File file = new File(pathAndFileString);
		if (Desktop.isDesktopSupported()) {
			Desktop desktop = Desktop.getDesktop();
			if (desktop.isSupported(Desktop.Action.OPEN )) {
				try {
					System.out.println("desktop.open(" + pathAndFileString + ")"); // gets here
					desktop.open(file); // but nothing happens
				} catch (IOException e1) {
					e1.printStackTrace();
				}
			}
			else {
				System.out.println("Desktop.Action.OPEN not supported");
			}
		}
		else {
			System.out.println("Desktop not supported");
		}

	}

    public static void main(String args[]) {
        java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                new MyDesktopDemo();
            }
        });
    }
    
}

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VanNam

Hi Allelopath,

I've tested it with C:\\my.txt file, it opened file my.txt properly without any error. Have you got the right file that you want to open on your computer?

BR,
VanNam

allelopath

ASKER

The file is definitely there. If I change the name to a non-existent file, eg. "myZZZ.pptx", then it throws an exception. I've also tried files with various extensions, like txt, pdf, rtf, with no difference.

SOLUTION

CEHJ

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CEHJ

If the answer to that is yes, you might like to try jdic: it does much the same thing, and i'd guess (i have to guess since there's probably no native source for what you're currently using.

Looking at it and running it could give you some clues

https://jdic.dev.java.net

Mick Barry

does the file open ok if you double click on it?

allelopath

ASKER

>>does the file open ok if you double click on it?
yes

Mick Barry

> String pathAndFileString = "C:\\my.pptx";

does it still fail if you change that to:

String pathAndFileString = "/my.pptx";

CEHJ

Can you run your code from the command line (i.e. not in Eclipse) and tell us what you get?

VanNam

Hi Allelopath,

When I change the file extension to 'abc', and got the error on the console windows:

Failed to open file:/C:/my.abc. Error message: No application is associated with the specified file for this operation.

And change the file to 'my.txt'. It's open ok, with the msg on the console windows:

desktop.open(C:\my.txt)

Maybe there's no application that is associated to your file?

CEHJ

>>Maybe there's no application that is associated to your file?

There is, or it wouldn't open on double-click

Mick Barry

May well be a bug, there are a few Desktop on XP bugs in the db

allelopath

ASKER

objects:
/my.pptx makes no differences. good idea though.

Mick Barry

what service pack?

SOLUTION

CEHJ

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Mick Barry

eclipse (or not) won't make a difference

CEHJ

It could well make a difference to perceived errors

Mick Barry

so please enlighten us with why?

allelopath

ASKER

Microsoft Windows
Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr100427-1636: Service Pack 3)

allelopath

ASKER

CEHJ:
To assure there were no exceptions being missing, I added code to catch any exception:

package desktopdemo;

import java.awt.Desktop;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.IOException;

public class MyDesktopDemo {

	public MyDesktopDemo() {

		// have tried .txt, .rtf, .pptx all with no effect
		String pathAndFileString = "/my.txt";
		File file = new File(pathAndFileString);
		if (Desktop.isDesktopSupported()) {
			Desktop desktop = Desktop.getDesktop();
			if (desktop.isSupported(Desktop.Action.OPEN )) {
				try {
					System.out.println("desktop.open(" + pathAndFileString + ")"); // gets here
					desktop.open(file); // but nothing happens
				} catch (IOException e1) {
					e1.printStackTrace();
				} catch (Exception e1) {
					e1.printStackTrace();
				}			}
			else {
				System.out.println("Desktop.Action.OPEN not supported");
			}
		}
		else {
			System.out.println("Desktop not supported");
		}

	}

	public static void main(String args[]) {
		java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
			public void run() {
				new MyDesktopDemo();
			}
		});
	}

}

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Mick Barry

> To assure there were no exceptions being missing

you're original code wouldn't miss any exceptions
still waiting on him to explain why he thinks it would

allelopath

ASKER

I jar'd the class and ran it, with no difference (from running in Eclipse)

CEHJ

OK - worth a try

CEHJ

If you were on Unix you could use strace. You might try this for Windows

http://www.intellectualheaven.com/default.asp?BH=projects&H=strace.htm

(or some alternative)

CEHJ

Have you tried simply upgrading (or marginally downgrading) the runtime?

allelopath

ASKER

Currently using JRE 1.6.0_18, dont' want to go any further than _20 because of this:
http://it.slashdot.org/story/10/07/28/2121259/Oracles-Java-Company-Change-Breaks-Eclipse
but I could try _20.