Java - How to create a file in a directory using relative Path

Question

I want to create a file in a new directory using the relative path. Creating the directory "tmp" is easy enough.

However, when I create the file, it is just located in the current directory not the new one. The code line is below.

    File tempfile = new File("tempfile.txt"); 

Have tried this also:

    File tempfile = new File("\\user.dir\\tmp\\tempfile.txt"); 

Clearly I'm misunderstanding how this method works. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

EDIT: added currently used code line as well as the one I think might work for a relative path to clear up confusion.

Answer 1

File dir = new File("tmp/test"); dir.mkdirs(); File tmp = new File(dir, "tmp.txt"); tmp.createNewFile(); 

BTW: For testing use @Rule and TemporaryFolder class to create temp files or folders

Answer 2

You can create paths relative to a directory with the constructors that take two arguments: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/io/File.html

For example:

File tempfile = new File("user.dir/tmp", "tempfile.txt"); 

By the way, the backslash "\" can be used only on Windows. In almost all cases you can use the portable forward slash "/".