Can't find the file I created

[Brian Wong]

I can't seem to find the file I created. What is wrong?

package com.example.creatingfile;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.widget.TextView;
import java.io.*;
public class CreatingFile extends Activity {
    /** Called when the activity is first created. */
    @Override
    public void onCreate (Bundle savedInstanceState){
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        File f;
        f=new File("myfile.txt");
        if(!f.exists()){
        try{
        f.createNewFile();
        }catch(IOException e){
        TextView tv = new TextView(this);
        tv.setText("IOException!");
        setContentView(tv);
        }
        TextView tv = new TextView(this);
        tv.setText("New file \"myfile.txt\" has been created to the current directory");
        setContentView(tv);
        }
        else{
        TextView tv = new TextView(this);
        tv.setText("File already exists!");
        setContentView(tv);
        }
    }
}

It's a very simple class with only one function, creating a file called "myfile.txt". But I can't find that file. Please help!

[Dave MacLean]

The Context class has a method called getFilesDir() which will return the absolute path to where your file is being created. It is probably under /data/data somewhere but could be device-dependent so it's best to rely on that method call to find where it is.

- dave

[Brian Wong]

I am using Windows Vista. Where is the data/data/ directory likely located?

Thanks!

[Peter Johnson]

The file is not anywhere in your Windows environment. If you are using the emulator, it is on the emulator's virtual disk.

[Brian Wong]

Can you believe what kind of newb I am? Thanks!!
So in an actual Android phone, whicj directory will this txt file be at?

[Peter Johnson]

Hmm, I should know this (I went through this exercise), but I'm away from home and don't have access to my notes. Try printing to the log the File.getAbsolutePath() - that will tell yo exactly where it is located.

By the way, my code checks to the existence of an SD card, and if one is there, I place my data file there. Makes it much easier to find, and I can always back it up, edit it, etc.

[Nidhi Sar]

Brian Wong wrote:So in an actual Android phone, whicj directory will this txt file be at?

As Dave said, it is device dependent.
On my Atrix & Driod it would be /data/data/com.example.creatingfile/files

[Dave MacLean]

A common pattern for where the files go is /data/data/your_package_name_here/files. If you're running your app on the emulator, you can use the FileExplorer within the DDMS perspective of Eclipse to navigate there. Or you can use "adb shell" from the command line of your computer to get a shell on the emulated device, then use basic Unix commands to cd to that directory. But knowing where the file is doesn't mean other apps can read it from there. Permissions are very strict within /data/data and files there are really just for the app that created them in the first place. As long as you continue to use the same filenames in your app, you should really care where the files go. Unless of course you want to create large files or files you want to share. Then you should definitely consider using the SD card instead. Even here though, you should use a method such as Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() or Context.getExternalFilesDir(String type) to locate (and/or create) the appropriate directory in which to write your files.

- dave