Opening .html file

[Prajin]

Hi
I want to open index.html file when I click on the menu item of the GUI, this file is in dist/javadoc/index.html of my GUI application project.
I tried

                try {
 Desktop.getDesktop().open(new File("dist/javadoc/index.html"));  
                } catch (IOException ioe) {
                    ioe.printStackTrace();
                    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Can't open requested file.", "Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
                }

Here I didn't gave the full path because I thought it might give problem when this application jar file is shifted to next PC.
I don't have much idea on File IO operation, so any help is appreciated.

-Regards

[Norm]

What happens when you execute the code?
For debugging, take the new File() out of the method call, create a File object and printout its absolute path to see if the path to the file is correct.

[Prajin]

What happens when you execute the code?

When executed, I got error message saying file don't exist. So changed code and I did this

 File file = new File("C:/Users/prajin/Documents/NetBeansProjects/MMS/dist/README.TXT");
                    System.out.println("");
                    System.out.println(file.canExecute());
                    System.out.println( file.getPath());
                    Desktop.getDesktop().open(file);

I got it working,the README.txt is open, but still one issue is left.
Using absolute path to open file is not what I want, because README.txt always have to in same directory.
If I move the application to D: drive with README.TXT along, then absolute path won't work. What I'm looking is relative path, that will search the application directory and open readme.txt.

-Regards

[Eranga]

Where is your java class file is located?

Is this done on a NetBeans project?

[Prajin]

Yup it's NetBeans project.
But I got it working,

 String currentDirectory = System.getProperty("user.dir");
                    System.out.println(currentDirectory);
                    File file = new File(currentDirectory+File.separator+"dist/README.TXT");
                    System.out.println(file.getName());
                    System.out.println( file.canExecute());
                    System.out.println(file.getPath());
                    Desktop.getDesktop().open(file);

Now where ever application is shifted, file will open. Just I have to make sure that readme.txt file is inside application directory.

Thanks for the help

[Eranga]

The things is this. Do you ever heard about relative paths and absolute paths we are talking about in almost all languages. You've access the file in wrong way in *.html case. Use of text file follows the complete file, where system can easily locate it.

[Prajin]

Yeah I have heard about absolute and relative path. And for *.html case, I was doing it wrong, I agree.

[Eranga]

Both dist and src folders are in same level, and you want to move your file handler one step ahead. :) That's what you haven't done.