Why Does My Java Program Throw a FileNotFoundException for \'word.txt\'?

FileNotFoundException: Resolving the Issue with "word.txt"

This error typically occurs when Java is unable to locate the specified file, "word.txt." In this case, we aim to explore why the file cannot be accessed and provide a solution.

Problem Statement:

The code below attempts to read from a file named "word.txt" located in the same directory as the Java file. However, it encounters a FileNotFoundException:

import java.io.File;
import java.util.*;

public class Hangman1 {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
        Scanner input = new Scanner(new File("word.txt"));          
        String in = "";         
        in = input.nextLine();          
    }
}

Analysis:

The exception indicates that the file could not be found by Java in the specified path. This could be due to several reasons:

1. Incorrect Path: Ensure that the file is indeed located in the same directory as the Java file. If not, update the path accordingly.
2. File Path Relativity: The path specified in the File constructor is always relative to the "working directory." In most cases, this is the directory where the Java program is executed. If it is different, adjust the path to the location where the file is present from the working directory.

Solution:

One common solution is to place the "word.txt" file as a direct child of the project root folder, alongside the "src" folder:

Project_Root
    src
    word.txt

This ensures that the file can be accessed by specifying just its file name as the relative path. Note that the working directory, which is typically the project root for IDEs, can be different when executing the program from the command line.

Disclaimer:

While this solution may work for this specific scenario, it's important to note that the "working directory" can change dynamically. For instance, if the program is run from the command line, the working directory will be the bin directory. Additionally, including the file as an embedded resource in a JAR file may require alternative approaches, such as accessing it via URLs from the classpath.

The above is the detailed content of Why Does My Java Program Throw a FileNotFoundException for \'word.txt\'?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!