System cannot find file specified Java

Question

I understand this a basic problem and I am most likely looking right past the solution, but I do not see where I am going wrong. I've looked at other answers and have not received anything that seems to help.

try {
            FileReader reader = new FileReader("C:\\Users\\ethan\\Desktop\\MyFile.txt");
            int character;

            while ((character = reader.read()) != -1) {
                System.out.print((char) character);
            }
            reader.close();

        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }

What exactly is the problem? I assume you get a stacktrace, right? If so you should post it. Also please read How to Ask while you're at it. — Thomas
– Thomas, Commented Oct 16, 2019 at 14:43
Thought the title was self-explanatory, but I am getting C:\Users\ethan\Desktop\MyFile.txt (The system cannot find the file specified) @Thomas — washing_dishes
– washing_dishes, Commented Oct 16, 2019 at 14:44
Well, are you sure that file exists and that the user you're using to run the application is allowed to access it? — Thomas
– Thomas, Commented Oct 16, 2019 at 14:46
That file being on your desktop doesn't mean that your desktop is still under C:\\Users\\ethan\\Desktop and I wonder if the file name is really MyFile.txt and not MyFile.txt.txt — Tom
– Tom, Commented Oct 16, 2019 at 14:49
Possible duplicate of The system cannot find the file specified in java (specifically this answer) — Ivar
– Ivar, Commented Oct 16, 2019 at 14:55

Joop Eggen · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-16 14:56:09Z

2

Maybe the file actually is MyFile.txt.txt (with hidden extension). The following utility helps finding the actually part wrong: containing directory or file name.

Path path = Paths.get("C:\\Users\\ethan\\Desktop\\MyFile.txt");
checkPath(path);

boolean checkPath(Path path) {
    if (!Files.exist(path) {
        Path parent = path.getParent();
        if (parent != null && checkPath(parent)) {
            String name = path.getFileName().toString();
            System.out.printf(
                "In directory %s the following name is not found: '%s' = %s%n.",
                parent.toString(), name,
                Arrays.toString(name.toCharArray()));
        }
        return false;
    }
    return true;
}

answered Oct 16, 2019 at 14:56

Joop Eggen

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2 Comments

Gene Over a year ago

That's a great guess. First year CS students I taught often ran into this until we had them disable suffix elision in Explorer (and Finder for MacOS).

washing_dishes Over a year ago

This was the problem. I'm going to look into disabling that feature, I did not know you could @Gene

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