how to select file extension

[sanjay kumar]

Hi Guys,

I want to write a class for the following scenario:
I have hundreds of files with different extensions(ex: pdf,txt,csv,xml etc)
I want to read the file and parse it based on its extension(type) & put it in a DB.

But a general If-Else / switch approach will be not the optimum solution.

Can any one help me if there is a pattern for this sort of thing..
* I have tried putting the extension & action in a file as pairs and then accessing them

Thanks

[Campbell Ritchie]

Welcome to the Ranch.

Please check the Java Ranch naming policy which required first name-space-last name and adjust your name accordingly.

There is an interface called FileFilter or something similar which can probably help sort out your extension problem.

[sanjay kumar]

Hi Campbell,

Have sorted the naming issue.

I dont think you are getting the problem I'm facing.

I have 500 (for example) files all with different extensions.
Now to associate with an action corresponding to the File Parsing if-else or switch is not a good solutions as i will have to generate/write as many if blocks. So is the case of a filter I believe?

Thanks

[Nitesh Kant]

Originally posted by frank:

I have tried putting the extension & action in a file as pairs and then accessing them

Bang on. This is a good approach, provided you read the file once at the application start and put it in memory after that.
I also hope that you have an interface that defines the contract for processing a kind of extension.
If you are doing the above, you are on track and in some way following the Factory method design pattern