Fetch the path of the file I just clicked to open with a java application (jar executable)

Question

I have this simple program that does nothing:

class ShowTheNameOfTheFile{
  static public void main(String[] argv){

  }
}

I compile it as ShowTheNameOfTheFile.jar and configure my Windows machine to open all txt files with it.

Now, when I click a txt file it will open my ShowTheNameOfTheFile.jar program.

In java, how can I know with txt file has opened the ShowTheNameOfTheFile application?

Isn't the filename handed over to the java program as a parameter (`argv`)? — Andy, Jan 04 '13 at 15:30
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12254123/open-with-a-java-program — Nikolay Kuznetsov, Jan 04 '13 at 15:31
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2043029/utilising-a-file-association-in-a-java-application — Nikolay Kuznetsov, Jan 04 '13 at 15:32
"Under windows, you need to attach some details into the registry". And that's why it wasn't working. Thank you all: — Helio Santos, Jan 04 '13 at 15:45
from your link (stackoverflow.com/questions/12254123/open-with-a-java-program). I don't how to put url in comments. If you post an answer with it I will gladly give you the creadits: — Helio Santos, Jan 04 '13 at 16:18

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 04 '13 at 15:43

You can refer the code by Joop Eggen.

The thing is that if it is the only code and you assign this jar to Windows Open with it might just silently die without printing any output to any console, because it is not started from a console.

First, try from console

java -jar ShowTheNameOfTheFile.jar 1 2 3

if number gets printed then it works okay.

Then add something like this

Process Builder pb = new ProcessBuilder("cmd", "/c", "start", "echo", args[0]);
pb.start();

to your code and then double click a file.

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 04 '13 at 15:34

1

The command line arguments should give the file paths.

class ShowTheNameOfTheFile{
    static public void main(String[] argv) {
        System.out.println(Arrays.toString(argv));
    }
}

edited Jan 04 '13 at 15:34

Nikolay Kuznetsov

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answered Jan 04 '13 at 15:30

Joop Eggen

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"Under windows, you need to attach some details into the registry". And that's why it wasn't working. – Helio Santos Jan 04 '13 at 15:46

Fetch the path of the file I just clicked to open with a java application (jar executable)

2 Answers2