Problems Opening File In Java Using Default Program

Question

Hi Im trying to open word file using java program. The program gives me the following error"

Cannot make a static reference to the non-static method open(File) from the type Desktop

I dont know how to fix this. Can you please help me. Thanks. Below is snippet of code.

@Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
    List<File> files;
    File startingDirectory = new File("C:/Hello/");
    try {
        files = getFileListing(startingDirectory);
        for (File file : files){
            Desktop.open(file);
        }

    } catch (FileNotFoundException ex) {
        System.out.println("File Not Found");
}

MadProgrammer · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-12 23:42:29Z

1

Try

Desktop.getDesktop().open(file);

instead

You should also be making a check for Desktop.isDekstopSupported to make sure the functionality you are attempting to execute exists

answered Aug 12, 2012 at 23:42

MadProgrammer

348k22 gold badges243 silver badges379 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

MadProgrammer Over a year ago

Nice to have an easy question for a change ;) Glad to be of assist

Óscar López · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-12 23:42:59Z

1

You need to instantiate a Desktop object first, like this:

Desktop d = Desktop.getDesktop();

After that you can invoke instance methods on the desktop object, like this:

d.open(file);

In your code, you were trying to invoke the instance method open() on the class Desktop, and that won't work. The only methods that can be invoked on a class are static methods, all the other methods need to be invoked on an instance of the corresponding class.

answered Aug 12, 2012 at 23:42

Óscar López

237k38 gold badges321 silver badges391 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Problems Opening File In Java Using Default Program

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related