Unable to write a file while using Tomcat

Question

I am unable to create and then write a file in Tomcat. The file gets created if I run the java program (only the writing piece of code) as a Java application, but fails in Tomcat.

there is no error message. The file is simply not created at all!

Please suggest if I am missing something here:

//code inside the servlet
public void setData(HttpServletRequest request){
    name=request.getParameter("name");
    address=request.getParameter("address");


    BufferedWriter dataOut;
    try {
        System.out.println("Wrinting file...");
        dataOut = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter("data.txt", true));




        dataOut.write("name:");
        dataOut.flush();

        dataOut.write("address");
        dataOut.flush();

        dataOut.write("\n");
        dataOut.flush();

        dataOut.close();
        System.out.println("File write complete!");
    }
    catch(Exception e){
        e.printStackTrace();
    }

Answer 1

Looks like the file really is created without problems.

You may actually be missing where it is saved.

Change this line:

System.out.println("File write complete!");

To:

System.out.println("File write complete! Saved to: "+new File("data.txt").getAbsolutePath());

And you may solve the mistery.

Answer 2

The file is being created, but it is using a relative path. It will be created relative to the execution location, which on Tomcat will not be where you're used to it being.

Use an absolute path or print its location.