Launch file from Java

Question

I want to launch a file(a document) from a Java program and phase the following requirements:

• Method must be applicabale on Mac, Win and Linux systems
• I am not allowed to use "Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cmd.exe /C +"filename");
• The file I am launching needs to be either of .doc / .docx / .rtf

The file is created runtime, a result from a report being created. Any good practices?

Answer 1

Use Java Desktop API.

Desktop.getDesktop().open(new File(yourfilename));

Answer 2

If you're running 1.6, use the Desktop API per mad-j's advice. If you're using an older VM (1.5 or earlier) you'll need to write your own platform-specific code to do this.

On the mac,

Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[] {"open", pathToFile});

On windows,

Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[] {"cmd.exe", "/C", pathToFile});

You may need to escape the path on windows.