Using JFileChooser instead of serialization hard coded files

[Joe Chavis]

Using book Head First Java pg 464

Hello all,

I am attempting to use a JFileChooser to save my beatbox data which originally was using a serializable method. I am having trouble grasping how to get a serializable object such as a Boolean that is originally coded to go directly to a hard coded file and turn into something that JFileChooser can save (the user creates the file name vs it being hard coded). Here is an example below:

The working Serialization method:

		public class MySendListener implements ActionListener{
			public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent a){ //it all happens when the user clicks the button and action event fires
				boolean[] checkboxState = new boolean[256]; //make a boolean array to hold the state of the boxes
				for(int i = 0; i < 256; i++){
					//walk through the checkbox list and get the state of each box then add it to the array
					JCheckBox check = (JCheckBox) checkboxList.get(i); 
					if(check.isSelected()){
						checkboxState[i] = true;
					}
				}				
				try{
					FileOutputStream fileStream = new FileOutputStream(new File("Checkbox.ser"));
					ObjectOutputStream os = new ObjectOutputStream(fileStream);
					os.writeObject(checkboxState);
				}catch(Exception ex){
					ex.printStackTrace();
				}
			} //close method
		} //close inner class

What I have tried to do with it:

	public class SaveBeatsListener implements ActionListener{
		public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ev){
			/*This code brings up a file dialog box and waits on this line until the user chooses 'save' from the dialog box.  All the file dialog
			navigation and selecting a file, ect is done for you by the JFileChooser!*/
			JFileChooser fileSave = new JFileChooser();
			fileSave.showSaveDialog(theFrame);
			saveFile(fileSave.getSelectedFile());
		}
	}//end inner class
	
	
	private void saveFile(File file){
		boolean[] checkboxState = new boolean[256]; //make a boolean array to hold the state of the boxes
			for(int i = 0; i < 256; i++){
				//walk through the checkbox list and get the state of each box then add it to the array
				JCheckBox check = (JCheckBox) checkboxList.get(i); 
				if(check.isSelected()){
					checkboxState[i] = true;
				}
			}		
		
		try{
			//chain a BufferedWriter to a new FileWriter to make writing more efficient
			BufferedWriter writer = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter(file));
			
			FileOutputStream fileStream = new FileOutputStream(new File("check.ser")); //FILE HARDCODED.  USER SHOULD BE NAMING THE FILE!
			ObjectOutputStream os = new ObjectOutputStream(fileStream);
			os.writeObject(checkboxState);			//WRITING THE OBJECT CHECKBOX STATE TO os/fileStream check.ser!!  WHAT ABOUT THE USER FILE?
		}catch(IOException ex){
			System.out.println("couldn't write the checkbox states out.");
			ex.printStackTrace();
		}
	}

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Luigi Plinge]

I'm a bit rusty on this, but I think you should just be using JFileChooser to get the user to specify a File object. Once you have the File, you just use that in place of the hard-coded filename string. It doesn't have anything to do with serialization per se.

[Joe Chavis]

Luigi Plinge wrote:I'm a bit rusty on this, but I think you should just be using JFileChooser to get the user to specify a File object. Once you have the File, you just use that in place of the hard-coded filename string. It doesn't have anything to do with serialization per se.

AH never thought of that. I was too busy trying to change the data to be saved instead of just changing from where the data is saved. Excellent turn around time and I thank you! Here's my resolution for future coders with a similar issue:

	public class FilePrompt implements ActionListener{
		public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ev){
			
			/*This code brings up a file dialog box and waits on this line until the user chooses 'save' from the dialog box.  All the file dialog
			navigation and selecting a file, ect is done for you by the JFileChooser!*/
			JFileChooser fileSave = new JFileChooser();
			fileSave.showSaveDialog(theFrame);
			saveFile(fileSave.getSelectedFile());
		}
	}//end inner class

	private void saveFile(File file){
		boolean[] checkboxState = new boolean[256]; //make a boolean array to hold the state of the boxes
		for(int i = 0; i < 256; i++){
			//walk through the checkbox list and get the state of each box then add it to the array
			JCheckBox check = (JCheckBox) checkboxList.get(i); 
			if(check.isSelected()){
				checkboxState[i] = true;
			}
		}
			
		try{
			FileOutputStream fileStream = new FileOutputStream(file); //heres the file data passed in from FilePrompt()
			ObjectOutputStream os = new ObjectOutputStream(fileStream);
			os.writeObject(checkboxState);
		}catch(Exception ex){
			ex.printStackTrace();
		}
	} //close method

[Samuel El]

I know this topic is old, but just want to say thank you!