Is there a cross-platform Java method to remove filename special chars?

Question

I\'m making a cross-platform application that renames files based on data retrieved online. I\'d like to sanitize the Strings I took from a web API for the current platform.

Answer 1

If you want to use more than like [A-Za-z0-9], then check MS Naming Conventions, and dont forget to filter out "...Characters whose integer representations are in the range from 1 through 31,...", like the example of Aaron Digulla does. The code e.g. from David Carboni would not be sufficient for these chars.

Excerpt containing the list of reserved characters:

Use any character in the current code page for a name, including Unicode characters and characters in the extended character set (128–255), except for the following:

The following reserved characters:

• < (less than)
• > (greater than)
• : (colon)
• " (double quote)
• / (forward slash)
• \ (backslash)
• | (vertical bar or pipe)
• ? (question mark)
• * (asterisk)
• Integer value zero, sometimes referred to as the ASCII NUL character.
• Characters whose integer representations are in the range from 1 through 31, except for alternate data streams where these characters are allowed. For more information about file streams, see File Streams.
• Any other character that the target file system does not allow.