FileNotFoundException when trying to create a File in Android

Question

I'm trying to use Jexcel API to create an excel file and write to it using my application on my phone. When I run the app, it throws a FileNotFoundException. I even tried creating a text file according to an answer to another such question, but it throws the same error. I have given the appropriate permissions in the manifest, but I still cant seem to pinpoint the problem. Please help.

Here is my code

 public WritableWorkbook createWorkbook(String fileName){

    //Saving file in external storage
        File sdCard = Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_DOWNLOADS);
        File directory = new File(sdCard.getAbsolutePath() + "/bills");

        //create directory if not exist
        if(!directory.isDirectory()){
            directory.mkdirs();
        }

        //file path
        file= new File(directory, fileName);
        if (file.exists())
            Log.e(taf,"file created");
        else
        Log.e(taf,"file not created");

        WorkbookSettings wbSettings = new WorkbookSettings();
        wbSettings.setLocale(new Locale("en", "EN"));
        wbSettings.setUseTemporaryFileDuringWrite(true);
        WritableWorkbook workbook;
        workbook=null;

        try {
            workbook = Workbook.createWorkbook(file, wbSettings);
            Log.i(taf,"workbook created");
            //Excel sheet name. 0 represents first sheet
            WritableSheet sheet = workbook.createSheet("MyShoppingList", 0);

            try {
                sheet.addCell(new Label(0, 0, "Subject")); // column and row
                sheet.addCell(new Label(1, 0, "Description"));


                        String title = "blaj";
                        String desc = "nxjdncj";

                        int i = 1;
                        sheet.addCell(new Label(0, i, title));
                        sheet.addCell(new Label(1, i, desc));
            } catch (WriteException e) {
                e.printStackTrace();
            }
            workbook.write();
            try {
                workbook.close();
            } catch (WriteException e) {
                e.printStackTrace();
            }
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    return workbook;
}

On executing, the log message " file not created " is printed. Im new to android so please point out even the most basic issues.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Instantiating File does not create the file, just gives you a File instance whether a file with that particular path and file name exists or not.

Check out the source code of the constructor:

public File(String dirPath, String name) {
    if (name == null) {
        throw new NullPointerException("name == null");
    }
    if (dirPath == null || dirPath.isEmpty()) {
        this.path = fixSlashes(name);
    } else if (name.isEmpty()) {
        this.path = fixSlashes(dirPath);
    } else {
        this.path = fixSlashes(join(dirPath, name));
    }
}

To actually create the file you could do something like this:

if (!file.exists()) {
    // file does not exist, create it
    file.createNewFile();
}