How can I get the file contents to display as readable text?

[xtiano77]

import java.io.*;

public class TestClass {
	public static void main (String args[]) throws IOException {
		try{
			BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new FileReader("testFile.txt"));
			char txt;
			while(br.ready()){
				System.out.println(br.read());
			}
		}catch(IOException e){
			System.out.println("IOException caught.");
		}
	}	
}

I think the file is being read, but the display is nothing but numbers such as below:

72
101
108
108
111
32
87
...

Can anyone help me out with what it is that I am missing? Thanks in advance.

[gcalvin]

Does the file happen to begin with "Hello W"? Do you wonder how I know that?

Take another look at the BufferedReader docs, particularly the read() and readLine() methods.

-Gary-

[xtiano77]

Yes, it began with "Hello World". The whole text was "Hello World! This is a test on how to write to a file while usign Java.". I think this would be a simpler approach, right? I guess my biggest hang up is perhaps the fact that I get a bit intimidated by the large amount of classes and packages.

import java.io.*;

public class TestClass {
	public static void main (String args[]) throws IOException {
		try{
			FileReader fr = new FileReader("testFile.txt");
			while(fr.ready()){
				System.out.print((char) fr.read());
			}
		}catch(IOException e){
			System.out.println("IOException caught.");
		}
	}	
}

[gcalvin]

Yeah, you got it. With the BufferedReader's read() method you were reading bytes, and then your println() was printing the numeric values -- 72 = H, 101 = e, 108 = l, etc. You didn't have to switch to a FileReader, and depending on what else you wanted to do, you may have been happier with the BufferedReader's readLine() method.

I guess my biggest hang up is perhaps the fact that I get a bit intimidated by the large amount of classes and packages.

I totally understand that. Just know that nobody came out of the womb knowing this stuff -- everybody had to learn these classes and libraries one at a time. Be patient with yourself, and think of it like making new friends.

-Gary-

[xtiano77]

I appreciate the help and the positive advise. Thanks a bunch.

[javastuden]

hi
see what is the return type of br.read() in
BufferedReader (Java 2 Platform SE v1.4.2)
thank
please use br.readLine() ;

[xtiano77]

Thanks for your reply. It is much clearer now.