java.io.FileNotFoundException in eclipse

Question

Code:

import java.io.*;
import java.util.Scanner;

public class Driver {

    private int colorStrength;
    private String color;

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {

        String line, file = "strength.txt";

        File openFile = new File(file);
        Scanner inFile = new Scanner(openFile);

        while (inFile.hasNext()) {
            line = inFile.nextLine();
            System.out.println(line);
        }

        inFile.close();
    }
}

This is a small part of a program I am writing for a class (the two private attributes have yet to be used I know) but when I try to run this with the strength.txt file I receive the following errors:

Exception:

Exception in thread "main" java.io.FileNotFoundException: strength.txt (The system cannot find the file specified)
at java.io.FileInputStream.open(Native Method)
at java.io.FileInputStream.<init>(Unknown Source)
at java.util.Scanner.<init>(Unknown Source)
at Driver.main(Driver.java:14)

If anyone with Eclipse could help me figure this out it would be much appreciated!

Answer 1

You've used a relative file path which is relative to your project execution.

If this works for you, you can change the execution directory from the project root to the binary directory by:

1. "Run" -> "Run configurations"
2. In the "Arguments" tab, find "working directory" settings.
3. Switch from "Default" to "Other".
4. Click the "Workspace" button and select the project in pop-up window then click "OK"; this will bring you something like $(workspace_loc:proj-1).
5. Append "/bin" to the end of it; save the configuration.

I need this instead of simply putting files in project root directory when I am doing assignment and the professor requires specific file hierarchy; in addition, this is more portable than absolute path.

Answer 2

You've used a relative file path which is relative to your project execution.

If you'd like to do it that way, simply put the strength.txt file in the base directory of your project. Like so:

Alternatively, you could reference the absolute file path on your system. For example, use:

Windows:

C:/dev/myproject/strength.txt

Mac/Unix:

/Users/username/dev/strength.txt

(or whatever the full path may be) instead.