How can i implement opening a file with my java program?

Question

I have a basic, simple and maybe stupid question, but how do I implement that I can drag a file onto my java program and open it? I searched really long for this basic question.....

As long as I found out you can't implement dragging it onto the .jar, because its not executable. You have to create a .exe, which also open your .jar, but that's all! I would really like to know how :)

A keyword would be enough, if I can get the answer through searching this keyword.

Thanks, Leander

//Edit: I may have expressed things a little bit complicated. Later i want to have a shortcut on, for example, the desktop where i can drag any file on the shortcut and the programm opens with the file(it will, at this point) only move it to a special location.

I don´t know how the code for this would be, I even don't know how to google for this (I only get questions how to implement "open with" with the answer Desktop.open(File f)).

Answer 1

For windows only:

option 1:

make a batch file into the directory of your jar file (or anywhere you like but then you need to adjust the path, you can also make a shortcut from the batch file).

@ECHO OFF
start java -jar %~dp0MYAPP.jar %1

option 2:

• Make a shortcut (right click - new - shortcut)
• Enter into the location "java -jar C:\path\to\myapp.jar"

drag and drop will work if your jar accepts filename as a parameter

public class Main {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        if (args.length == 0)
            System.out.println("No arguments");
        else
            System.out.println("1st argument: " + args[0]);
    }

}