How do I get a file's directory using the File object?

Question

Consider the code:

File file = new File(\"c:\\\\temp\\\\java\\\\testfile\");

testfile is a file, and it may or may not exist.

Answer 1

You can use this

 File dir=new File(TestMain.class.getClassLoader().getResource("filename").getPath());

Answer 2

I found this more useful for getting the absolute file location.

File file = new File("\\TestHello\\test.txt");
System.out.println(file.getAbsoluteFile());

Answer 3

File directory = new File("Enter any 
                directory name or file name");
boolean isDirectory = directory.isDirectory();
if (isDirectory) {
  // It returns true if directory is a directory.
  System.out.println("the name you have entered 
         is a directory  : "  +    directory);  
  //It returns the absolutepath of a directory.
  System.out.println("the path is "  + 
              directory.getAbsolutePath());
} else {
  // It returns false if directory is a file.
  System.out.println("the name you have
   entered is a file  : " +   directory);
  //It returns the absolute path of a file.
  System.out.println("the path is "  +  
            file.getParent());
}

Answer 4

In either case, I'd expect file.getParent() (or file.getParentFile()) to give you what you want.

Additionally, if you want to find out whether the original File does exist and is a directory, then exists() and isDirectory() are what you're after.

Answer 5

File.getParent() from Java Documentation

Answer 6

File API File.getParent or File.getParentFile should return you Directory of file.

Your code should be like :

    File file = new File("c:\\temp\\java\\testfile");
    if(!file.exists()){
        file = file.getParentFile();
    }

You can additionally check your parent file is directory using File.isDirectory API

if(file.isDirectory()){
    System.out.println("file is directory ");
}