What are possible reasons for java.io.IOException: “The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect”

Question

I am trying to copy a file using the following code:

File targetFile = new File(targetPath + File.separator + filename);
...
targetFile.createNewFile();
file         


        

Answer 1

Try to create the file in a different directory - e.g. "C:\" after you made sure you have write access to that directory. If that works, the path name of the file is wrong.

Take a look at the comment in the Exception and try to vary all the elements in the path name of the file. Experiment. Draw conclusions.

Answer 2

Here is the test program I use

import java.io.File;
public class TestWrite {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        if (args.length!=1) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Expected 1 argument: dir for tmp file");
        }
        try  {
            File.createTempFile("bla",".tmp",new File(args[0]));
        } catch (Exception e) {
            System.out.println("exception:"+e);
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

Answer 3

Remove any special characters in the file/folder name in the complete path.

Answer 4

A very similar error:- " ... java.io.IOException: The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect" was generated in Eclipse for me when the TOMCAT home setting had a training backslash.

The minor edit suggested at:- http://www.coderanch.com/t/556633/Tomcat/java-io-IOException-filename-directory fixed it for me.

Answer 5

Try this, as it takes more care of adjusting directory separator characters in the path between targetPath and filename:

File targetFile = new File(targetPath, filename);

Answer 6

Do you check that the targetPath is a directory, or just that something exists with that name? (I know you say the user can copy it from the operating system, but maybe they're typing something else).

Does targetPath end with a File.separator already?

(It would help if you could log and tell us what the value of targetPath and filename are on a failing case)