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How to Use File Choosers

File choosers provide a GUI for navigating the file system, and then either choosing a file or directory from a list or entering the name of a file or directory. To display a file chooser, you usually use the JFileChooser API to show a modal dialog containing the file chooser. Another way to present a file chooser is to add an instance of JFileChooser to a container.

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Note:  If you intend to distribute your program as an unsigned Java^TM Web Start application, then instead of using the JFileChooser API you should use the file services provided by the JNLP API. These services — FileOpenService and FileSaveService — not only provide support for choosing files in a restricted environment, but also take care of actually opening and saving them. An example of using these services is in JWSFileChooserDemo. Documentation for using the JNLP API is in the Java Web Start Developer's Guide.

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The rest of this section discusses how to use the JFileChooser API. A JFileChooser object only presents the GUI for choosing files. Your program is responsible for doing something with the chosen file, such as opening or saving it. Refer to I/O for information on how to read and write files.

The JFileChooser API makes it easy to bring up open and save dialogs. The look and feel determines what these standard dialogs look like and how they differ. In the Java look and feel, the save dialog looks the same as the open dialog, except for the title on the dialog's window and the text on the button that approves the operation. Here is a picture of the Java look and feel's standard open dialog:

Here's a snapshot of an application that brings up an open dialog and a save dialog.

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Try this: 

1. Compile and run FileChooserDemo. See the examples index for links to all the files required by this example.
2. Click the Open a File... button. Navigate around the file chooser, choose a file, and click the dialog's Open button.
3. Use the Save a File... button to bring up a save dialog. Try to use all of the controls on the file chooser.
4. In the source file FileChooserDemo.java, change the file selection mode to directories-only mode. (Search for DIRECTORIES_ONLY and uncomment the line that contains it.) Then compile and run the example again. You'll only be able to see and select directories, not ordinary files.

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Bringing up a standard open dialog requires only two lines of code:

//Create a file chooser
final JFileChooser fc = new JFileChooser();
...
//In response to a button click:
int returnVal = fc.showOpenDialog(aComponent);

The argument to the showOpenDialog method specifies the parent component for the dialog. The parent component affects the position of the dialog and the frame that the dialog depends on. For example, the Java look and feel places the dialog directly over the parent component. If the parent component is in a frame, then the dialog is dependent on that frame, disappearing when the frame is iconified and reappearing when the frame is deiconified.

By default, a file chooser that hasn't been shown before displays all files in the user's home directory. You can specify the file chooser's initial directory using one of JFileChooser's other constructors, or you can set the directory with the setCurrentDirectory method.

The call to showOpenDialog appears in the actionPerformed method of the Open a File... button's action listener:

public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
    //Handle open button action.
    if (e.getSource() == openButton) {
        int returnVal = fc.showOpenDialog(FileChooserDemo.this);

        if (returnVal == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION) {
            File file = fc.getSelectedFile();
            //This is where a real application would open the file.
            log.append("Opening: " + file.getName() + "." + newline);
        } else {
            log.append("Open command cancelled by user." + newline);
        }
   } ...
}

The showXxxDialog methods return an integer that indicates whether the user selected a file. Depending on how you use a file chooser, it's often sufficient to check whether the return value is APPROVE_OPTION and to do nothing for any other value. To get the chosen file (or directory, if you set up the file chooser to allow directory selections), call getSelectedFile on the file chooser. This method returns an instance of File.

The example gets the name of the file and uses it in the log message. You can call other methods on the File object, such as getPath, isDirectory, or exists to get information about the file. You can also call other methods such as delete and rename to change the file in some way. Of course, you might also want to open or save the file using one of the reader or writer classes provided by the Java platform. See I/O for information about using readers and writers to read and write data to the file system.

The example program uses the same instance of JFileChooser to display a standard save dialog. This time the program calls showSaveDialog:

int returnVal = fc.showSaveDialog(FileChooserDemo.this);

By using the same file chooser instance to display its open and save dialogs, the program reaps these benefits:

• The chooser remembers the current directory between uses so the open and save versions automatically share the same current directory.
• You have to customize only one file chooser, and the customizations apply to both the open and save versions of it.

Finally, the example program has commented-out lines of code that let you change the file selection mode. For example, the following line of code makes the file chooser able to select only directories, and not files:

fc.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.DIRECTORIES_ONLY);

Another possible selection mode is FILES_AND_DIRECTORIES. The default is FILES_ONLY. The following picture shows an open dialog with the file selection mode set to DIRECTORIES_ONLY. Note that, in the Java look and feel at least, only directories are visible — not files.

If you want to create a file chooser for a task other than opening or saving, or if you want to customize the file chooser, keep reading. We'll discuss the following topics:

• Another Example: FileChooserDemo2
• Using a File Chooser for a Custom Task
• Filtering the List of Files
• Customizing the File View
• Providing an Accessory Component
• The File Chooser API
• Examples that Use File Choosers

Let's look at FileChooserDemo2, a modified version of the previous demo program that uses more of the JFileChooser API. This example uses a file chooser that has been customized in several ways. Like the original example, the user invokes a file chooser with the push of a button. Here's a picture of the file chooser:

As the figure shows, this file chooser has been customized for a special task (Attach), provides a user-choosable file filter (Just Images), uses a special file view for image files, and has an accessory component that displays a thumbnail sketch of the currently selected image file.

The remainder of this section shows you the code that creates and customizes this file chooser. See the examples index for links to all the files required by this example.

As you've seen, JFileChooser provides showOpenDialog for displaying an open dialog and showSaveDialog for displaying a save dialog.

The class has another method, showDialog, for displaying a file chooser for a custom task in a dialog. In the Java look and feel, the only difference between this dialog and the other file chooser dialogs is the title on the dialog window and the label on the approve button. Here's the code from FileChooserDemo2 that brings up the file chooser dialog for the Attach task:

JFileChooser fc = new JFileChooser();
int returnVal = fc.showDialog(FileChooserDemo2.this, "Attach");

The first argument to the showDialog method is the parent component for the dialog. The second argument is a String that provides both the title for the dialog window and the label for the approve button.

Once again, the file chooser doesn't do anything with the selected file. The program is responsible for implementing the custom task for which the file chooser was created.

By default, a file chooser displays all of the files and directories that it detects, except hidden files. A program can apply one or more file filters to a file chooser so that the chooser shows only some files. The file chooser calls the filter's accept method for each file to determine whether it should be displayed. A file filter accepts or rejects a file based on some criteria such as file type, size, ownership, and so on. Filters affect the list of files displayed by the file chooser. The user can enter the name of any file even if it's not displayed.

JFileChooser supports three different kinds of filtering. The filters are checked in the order listed here. For example, an application-controlled filter sees only those files accepted by the built-in filtering.

Built-in filtering

Filtering is set up through specific method calls on a file chooser. Currently the only built-in filter available is for hidden files, such as those that begin with period (.) on UNIX systems. By default, hidden files are not shown. Call setFileHidingEnabled(false) to show hidden files.

Application-controlled filtering

The application determines which files are shown. Create a custom subclass of FileFilter, instantiate it, and use the instance as an argument to setFileFilter. The file chooser shows only those files that the filter accepts.

User-choosable filtering

The file chooser GUI provides a list of filters that the user can choose from. When the user chooses a filter, the file chooser shows only those file accepted by that filter. FileChooserDemo2 adds a custom file filter to the list of user-choosable filters:

fc.addChoosableFileFilter(new ImageFilter());

By default, the list of user-choosable filters includes the Accept All filter, which lets the user see all non-hidden files. This example uses the following code to disable the Accept All filter:

fc.setAcceptAllFileFilterUsed(false);

Our custom file filter is implemented in ImageFilter.java and is a subclass of FileFilter. The ImageFilter class implements the getDescription method to return "Just Images" — a string to put in the list of user-choosable filters. ImageFilter also implements the accept method so that it accepts all directories and any file that has a .png, .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .tif, or .tiff filename extension.

public boolean accept(File f) {
    if (f.isDirectory()) {
	return true;
    }

    String extension = Utils.getExtension(f);
    if (extension != null) {
	if (extension.equals(Utils.tiff) ||
	    extension.equals(Utils.tif) ||
	    extension.equals(Utils.gif) ||
	    extension.equals(Utils.jpeg) ||
	    extension.equals(Utils.jpg) ||
	    extension.equals(Utils.png)) {
	        return true;
	} else {
	    return false;
	}
    }

    return false;
}

By accepting all directories, this filter allows the user to navigate around the file system. If the bold lines were omitted from this method, the user would be limited to the directory with which the chooser was initialized.

The preceding code sample uses the getExtension method and several string constants from Utils.java, shown here:

public class Utils {

    public final static String jpeg = "jpeg";
    public final static String jpg = "jpg";
    public final static String gif = "gif";
    public final static String tiff = "tiff";
    public final static String tif = "tif";
    public final static String png = "png";

    /*
     * Get the extension of a file.
     */  
    public static String getExtension(File f) {
        String ext = null;
        String s = f.getName();
        int i = s.lastIndexOf('.');

        if (i > 0 &&  i < s.length() - 1) {
            ext = s.substring(i+1).toLowerCase();
        }
        return ext;
    }
}

In the Java look and feel, the chooser's list shows each file's name and displays a small icon that represents whether the file is a true file or a directory. You can customize this file view by creating a custom subclass of FileView and using an instance of the class as an argument to setFileView. The example uses an instance of a custom class, implemented in ImageFileView.java, as the file chooser's file view.

fc.setFileView(new ImageFileView());

ImageFileView shows a different icon for each type of image accepted by the image filter described previously.

The ImageFileView class overrides the five abstract methods defined in FileView as follows.

String getTypeDescription(File f)

Returns a description of the file type. This is not yet used by any look and feel. Here is ImageFileView's implementation of this method:

public String getTypeDescription(File f) {
    String extension = Utils.getExtension(f);
    String type = null;

    if (extension != null) {
        if (extension.equals(Utils.jpeg) ||
            extension.equals(Utils.jpg)) {
            type = "JPEG Image";
        } else if (extension.equals(Utils.gif)){
            type = "GIF Image";
        } else if (extension.equals(Utils.tiff) ||
                   extension.equals(Utils.tif)) {
            type = "TIFF Image";
        } else if (extension.equals(Utils.png)){
            type = "PNG Image";
        }
    }
    return type;
}

Icon getIcon(File f)

Returns an icon representing the file or its type. Here is ImageFileView's implementation of this method:

public Icon getIcon(File f) {
    String extension = Utils.getExtension(f);
    Icon icon = null;

    if (extension != null) {
        if (extension.equals(Utils.jpeg) ||
            extension.equals(Utils.jpg)) {
            icon = jpgIcon;
        } else if (extension.equals(Utils.gif)) {
            icon = gifIcon;
        } else if (extension.equals(Utils.tiff) ||
                   extension.equals(Utils.tif)) {
            icon = tiffIcon;
        } else if (extension.equals(Utils.png)) {
            icon = pngIcon;
        }
    }
    return icon;
}

String getName(File f)

Returns the name of the file. Most implementations of this method should return null to indicate that the look and feel should figure it out. Another common implementation returns f.getName().

String getDescription(File f)

Returns a description of the file. This is not yet used by any look and feel. The intent is to describe individual files more specifically. A common implementation of this method returns null to indicate that the look and feel should figure it out.

Boolean isTraversable(File f)

Returns whether a directory is traversable. Most implementations of this method should return null to indicate that the look and feel should figure it out. Some applications might want to prevent users from descending into a certain type of directory because it represents a compound document. The isTraversable method should never return true for a non-directory.

The customized file chooser in FileChooserDemo2 has an accessory component. If the currently selected item is a PNG, JPEG, TIFF, or GIF image, the accessory component displays a thumbnail sketch of the image. Otherwise, the accessory component is empty. Aside from a previewer, probably the most common use for the accessory component is a panel with more controls on it — say, checkboxes that toggle some features.

The example calls the setAccessory method to establish an instance of the ImagePreview class, implemented in ImagePreview.java, as the chooser's accessory component:

fc.setAccessory(new ImagePreview(fc));

Any object that inherits from JComponent can be an accessory component. The component should have a preferred size that looks good in the file chooser.

The file chooser fires a property change event when the user selects an item in the list. A program with an accessory component must register to receive these events to update the accessory component whenever the selection changes. In the example, the ImagePreview object itself registers for these events. This keeps all the code related to the accessory component together in one class.

Here is the example's implementation of the propertyChange method, which is the method called when a property change event is fired:

//where member variables are declared
File file = null;
...
public void propertyChange(PropertyChangeEvent e) {
    boolean update = false;
    String prop = e.getPropertyName();

    //If the directory changed, don't show an image.
    if (JFileChooser.DIRECTORY_CHANGED_PROPERTY.equals(prop)) {
        file = null;
        update = true;

    //If a file became selected, find out which one.
    } else if (JFileChooser.SELECTED_FILE_CHANGED_PROPERTY.equals(prop)) {
        file = (File) e.getNewValue();
        update = true;
    }

    //Update the preview accordingly.
    if (update) {
        thumbnail = null;
        if (isShowing()) {
            loadImage();
            repaint();
        }
    }
}

If SELECTED_FILE_CHANGED_PROPERTY is the property that changed, this method gets a File object from the file chooser. The loadImage and repaint methods use the File to load the image and repaint the accessory component.

The File Chooser API

The API for using file choosers falls into these categories:

• Creating and Showing the File Chooser
• Selecting Files and Directories
• Navigating the File Chooser's List
• Customizing the File Chooser

Creating and Showing the File Chooser

Method or Constructor	Purpose
JFileChooser() JFileChooser(File) JFileChooser(String)	Create a file chooser instance. The File and String arguments, when present, provide the initial directory.
int showOpenDialog(Component) int showSaveDialog(Component) int showDialog(Component, String)	Show a modal dialog containing the file chooser. These methods return APPROVE_OPTION if the user approved the operation and CANCEL_OPTION if the user cancelled it. Another possible return value is ERROR_OPTION, which means an unanticipated error occurred.

Selecting Files and Directories

Method	Purpose
void setSelectedFile(File) File getSelectedFile()	Set or get the currently selected file or (if directory selection has been enabled) directory.
void setSelectedFiles(File[]) File[] getSelectedFiles()	Set or get the currently selected files.
void setFileSelectionMode(int) void getFileSelectionMode() boolean isDirectorySelectionEnabled() boolean isFileSelectionEnabled()	Set the file selection mode. Acceptable values are FILES_ONLY (the default), DIRECTORIES_ONLY, and FILES_AND_DIRECTORIES.
void setMultiSelectionEnabled(boolean) void isMultiSelectionEnabled()	Set or get whether multiple files can be selected at once. By default, a user can choose only one file.
void setAcceptAllFileFilterUsed(boolean) boolean isAcceptAllFileFilterUsed()	Set or get whether the AcceptAll file filter is used as an allowable choice in the choosable filter list; the default value is true. Introduced in 1.3.
Dialog createDialog(Component)	Given a parent component, create and return a new dialog that contains this file chooser, is dependent on the parent's frame, and is centered over the parent. Introduced in 1.4.

Navigating the File Chooser's List

Method	Purpose
void ensureFileIsVisible(File)	Scroll the file chooser's list such that the indicated file is visible.
void setCurrentDirectory(File) File getCurrentDirectory()	Set or get the directory whose files are displayed in the file chooser's list.
void changeToParentDirectory()	Change the list to display the current directory's parent.
void rescanCurrentDirectory()	Check the file system and update the chooser's list.
void setDragEnabled(boolean) boolean getDragEnabled()	Set or get the property that determines whether automatic drag handling is enabled. See Drag and Drop for more details. Introduced in 1.4.

Customizing the File Chooser

Method	Purpose
void setAccessory(javax.swing.JComponent) JComponent getAccessory()	Set or get the file chooser's accessory component.
void setFileFilter(FileFilter) FileFilter getFileFilter()	Set or get the file chooser's primary file filter.
void setFileView(FileView) FileView getFileView()	Set or get the chooser's file view.
FileFilter[] getChoosableFileFilters() void addChoosableFileFilter(FileFilter) boolean removeChoosableFileFilter(FileFilter) void resetChoosableFileFilters() FileFilter getAcceptAllFileFilter()	Set, get, or modify the list of user-choosable file filters.
void setFileHidingEnabled(boolean) boolean isFileHidingEnabled()	Set or get whether hidden files are displayed.
void setControlButtonsAreShown(boolean) boolean getControlButtonsAreShown()	Set or get the property that indicates whether the Approve and Cancel buttons are shown in the file chooser. This property is true by default. Introduced in 1.3.

Examples that Use File Choosers

This table shows the examples that use JFileChooser and where those examples are described.

Example	Where Described	Notes
FileChooserDemo	This section	Displays an open dialog and a save dialog.
FileChooserDemo2	This section	Uses a file chooser with custom filtering, a custom file view, and an accessory component.
DragFileDemo	How to Use Drag and Drop and Data Transfer	Uses a file chooser directly, without a dialog, and demonstrates dragging files.
JWSFileChooserDemo	This section	Uses the JNLP API to open and save files.

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