1. Output to files
reading: 6.4

2. Output to files
PrintStream: A class in the java.io package that lets you print output to a destination such as a file.
Any methods you have used on System.out (such as print, println, printf) will work on a PrintStream.
Syntax:
File myFile = new File("file name");
PrintStream name = new PrintStream(myFile); OR
PrintStream name = new PrintStream(new File("file name"));
PrintStream name = new PrintStream("file name"));
Example:
PrintStream output = new PrintStream(new File("out.txt"));
output.println("Hello, file!");
output.println("This is a second line of output.");
Contents of file out.txt:
Hello, file!
This is a second line of output.

3. Details about PrintStream
PrintStream name = new PrintStream(new File("file name"));
PrintStream name = new PrintStream("file name");
If the given file does not exist, it is created.
If the given file already exists, it is overwritten.
The output you print appears in a file, not on the console. You will have to open the file with an editor to see it. In Eclipse a new file will not automatically show up, you must right click on the project (e.g. Program8) and choose Refresh.
Do not open the same file for both reading (Scanner) and writing (PrintStream) at the same time.
You will overwrite your input file with an empty file (0 bytes).
If Java can't create or write the file it throws a FileNotFoundException. (e.g. If the path to the file does not exist or the name is not a legal file name in the system.)
common PrintStream bug:
- declaring it in a method that gets called many times. This causes the file to be re-opened and wipes the past contents. So only the last line shows up in the file.

4. PrintStream Objects
The console output object, System.out is a PrintStream object.
PrintStream out1 = System.out;
PrintStream out2 = new PrintStream(new File("data.txt"));
out1.println("Hello, console!"); // goes to console
out2.println("Hello, file!"); // goes to file
A reference to System.out can be stored in a PrintStream variable.
Printing to that variable causes console output to appear.
You can pass System.out to a method as a PrintStream parameter, using out1.
Allows a method to send output to the console or a file.
(This is rarely of use , and probably never of use in COS 160.)
outputMethod(out1,”whenever”); // writes to System.out, the console.
outputMethod(out2, “whatever”); // writes to file data.txt
public static void outPutMethod(PrintStream chosen, String s){
chosen.println(s); }

5. import java.io.*; // for File
public class Choose {
public static void main(String[] args) throws FileNotFoundException {
PrintStream out1 = System.out;
PrintStream out2 = new PrintStream(new File("data.txt"));
outputMethod(out1,"whenever"); // writes to System.out, the console.
outputMethod(out2, "whatever"); // writes to file data.txt }
public static void outputMethod(PrintStream chosen, String s) {
chosen.println(s);
Console: whenever
data.txt: whatever

6. Kim (ID#123) worked 31.4 hours (7.85 hours/day)
PrintStream question
Modify our previous Hours program to use a PrintStream to send its output to the file hours_out.txt.
The program will produce no console output.
But the file hours_out.txt will be created (or overwritten) with the text:
Kim (ID#123) worked 31.4 hours (7.85 hours/day)
Eric (ID#456) worked 36.8 hours (7.36 hours/day)
Stef (ID#789) worked 39.5 hours (7.9 hours/day)

7. PrintStream answer
// Processes an employee input file and outputs each employee's hours another file.
import java.io.*; // for Files, also FileNotFoundException
import java.util.*; // for Scanner
public class Hours2 {
public static void main(String[] args) throws FileNotFoundException {
Scanner input = new Scanner(new File("hours.txt"));
PrintStream out = new PrintStream(new File("hours_out.txt"));
while (input.hasNextLine()) {
Scanner lineScan = new Scanner(input.nextLine());
int id = lineScan.nextInt(); // e.g. 456
String name = lineScan.next(); // e.g. "Eric"
double sum = 0.0;
int count = 0;
while (lineScan.hasNextDouble()) {
sum = sum + lineScan.nextDouble();
count++; }
double average = sum / count;
out.printf("%s (ID# %d) worked %5.2f hours (%5.2f hours/day)\n", name, id, sum, average);
System.out.println("Job done, output written to file hours_out.txt.");}}
Console: Job done, output written to file hours_out.txt.
hours_out.txt:
Kim (ID#123) worked hours (7.85 hours/day)
Eric (ID#456) worked hours (7.36 hours/day)
Stef (ID#789) worked hours (7.90 hours/day)
You should also probably show them the version that has a static method for processing one person's data. It takes a String line and a PrintStream as parameters.

8. import java.io.*; // for File import java.util.*; // for Scanner
public class Overwrite {
public static void main(String[] args) throws FileNotFoundException {
File outFile = new File("out.txt");
if (outFile.exists()){
PrintStream out = new PrintStream(outFile);
System.out.println("File " + outFile.getName() + " existed and will be overwritten.");
out.println("File " + outFile.getName() + " existed and was overwritten."); }
else {
System.out.println("File " + outFile.getName() +
" does not exist and will be created and written to.");
out.println("I did not exist but now I do");
} } }
You can use this test to allow the user to decide whether or not to overwrite the file.
First run
Console: File out.txt does not exist and will be created and written to.
out.txt: I did not exist but now I do
Second run
Console: File out.txt existed and will be overwritten.
out.txt: File out.txt existed and was overwritten.

9. Allowing the user to decide whether or not to overwrite an existing file.
(version 2)
Run1: Overwrite an existing file.
Console:
Enter a file name to use: bogus
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) no
Enter a different file name to use: grtyu
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) yes
Wrote to file named: grtyu
Run2: Create a new file and write to it.
Console:
Enter a file name to use: ffdre
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) no
Enter a different file name to use: grtyu
Enter a different file name to use: qqqq
Wrote to file named: qqqq

10. Prompting for a file name
Done in exactly the same way as getting a file name for input.
Use nextLine(), not next()
File name may contain spaces.
// prompt for input file name
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Enter a file name to use: ");
String filename = console.nextLine();
File file = new File(filename);
// See if the user wants to overwrite an existing file
boolean overwriteFile = false;
while (file.exists()) {
System.out.print("File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) ");
String yesNo = console.nextLine();
if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("yes"))
. . . // (see next slides)
If the file does not exist at any point, we assume it is OK to write to it.

11. while (file.exists()) { // From previous slode.
System.out.print("File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) ");
String yesNo = console.nextLine();
if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("yes")){
overwriteFile = true;
break;}
else if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("no")){
System.out.print("Enter a different file name to use: ");
filename = console.nextLine();
file = new File(filename); }
else // yes or no not entered
System.out.print("Please enter yes if you want to overwrite the file"
+ " and no if you do not: ");
PrintStream out = new PrintStream(file);
out.println("Whatever");
System.out.println("Wrote to file named: " + filename);

12. import java. io. ; import java. util
import java.io.*; import java.util.*; // not recommended, need space to fit program on slide
public class FileExists {
public static void main(String[] args) throws FileNotFoundException {
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Enter a file name to use: ");
String filename = console.nextLine();
File file = new File(filename);
boolean overwriteFile = false;
while (file.exists()) {
System.out.print("File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) ");
String yesNo = console.nextLine();
if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("yes")){
overwriteFile = true;
break;}
else if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("no")){
System.out.print("Enter a different file name to use: ");
filename = console.nextLine();
file = new File(filename); }
else // yes or no not entered
System.out.print("Please enter yes if you want to overwrite the file"
+ " and no if you do not: ");
PrintStream out = new PrintStream(file);
out.println("Whatever");
System.out.println("Wrote to file named: " + filename);
} }

13. Console:
Enter a file name to use: other.txt
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) no
Enter a different file name to use: iuty
Enter a different file name to use: q125
Creating and writing to new file q125
Contents of file q125
I feel brand new.
Allowing the user to decide whether or not to overwrite an existing file.
(version 2)
Console:
Enter a file name to use: other.txt
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) no
Enter a different file name to use: q123
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) yes
Overwriting file q123
Contents of file q123
I have been overwritten.

14. import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
public class FileExistsWhile {
public static void main(String[] args) throws FileNotFoundException {
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Enter a file name to use: ");
String filename = console.nextLine();
File file = new File(filename);
boolean overwriteFile = false;
while (file.exists() && !overwriteFile) {
System.out.print("File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) ");
String yesNo = console.nextLine();
if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("yes"))
overwriteFile = true;
else if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("no")){
System.out.print("Enter a different file name to use: ");
filename = console.nextLine();
file = new File(filename); }
else // yes or no not entered
System.out.print("Please enter yes if you want to overwrite the file”
+ “ and no if you do not: ");
} more . . .
File writing program, page 1
First time encountering the loop, if file.exists() is false then the while is not executed at all. This condition may also occur after the loop has executed several or many times

15. File writing program, page 2
/* When we exit the loop it could be for 1 of 2 reasons:
Found a file that did not previously exist.
Want to overwrite a file.
It is very common in programming to test which condition caused a loop to exit after it has exited. */
PrintStream out = new PrintStream(file);
if (overwriteFile){
System.out.println("Overwriting file " + file.getName());
out.println("I have been overwritten."); }
else {
System.out.println("Creating and writing to new file " + file.getName());
out.println("I feel brand new.");
Run2: try.txt exists
Enter a file name to use: try.txt
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) yes
Overwriting file try.txt
try.txt: I have been overwritten.
Run 1: try.txt does not exist.
Enter a file name to use: try.txt
Creating and writing to new file try.txt
try.txt: I feel brand new.

16. Run 3: User does not want to overwrite an existing file.
Enter a file name to use: try.txt
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) qw
Please enter yes if you want to overwrite the file and no if you do not:
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) re
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) no
Enter a different file name to use: slop
Creating and writing to new file slop
slop: I feel brand new.
Note: The only way to quit this program is to accept one of the options. A test should be added that allows the user to type quit in order to stop without writing to a file.

17. Example: Creating a file of powers of 2
import java.io.*; // for File
import java.util.*; // for Scanner
public class PowersOfTwo {
public static void main(String[] args) throws FileNotFoundException {
File f = new File("powersOf2.txt");
PrintStream output = new PrintStream(f);
output.println("powers of 2");
int power = 1;
for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
power *= 2;
output.printf("2^%-2d = %4d\n", i, power); }
powersOf2.txt
powers of 2
2^1 = 2
2^2 = 4
2^3 = 8
2^4 = 16
2^5 = 32
2^6 = 64
2^7 = 128
2^8 = 256
2^9 = 512
2^10 = 1024
What happens if a file names powersOf2.txt already exists?
It will be overwritten.

18. Activity
Write a program to read a file and then create a ">" indented output file as when quoting a mail message.
Input file:
Output file:
Sue,
la de dah
de dah
Thanks,
Bob
> Sue,
> la de dah
> de dah
> Thanks,
> Bob
Here is a start:
public static void main(String[] args) throws FileNotFoundException {
Scanner consoleIn = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Input file: ");
String inFilename = consoleIn.nextLine();
System.out.print("Output file: ");
String outFilename = consoleIn.nextLine();

19. import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
public class echoFile {
public static void main(String[] args) throws FileNotFoundException {
Scanner consoleIn = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Input file: ");
String inFilename = consoleIn.nextLine();
File inFile = new File(inFilename);
Scanner inputFile = new Scanner(inFile);
System.out.print("Output file: ");
String outFilename = consoleIn.nextLine();
File outFile = new File(outFilename);
PrintStream outputFile = new PrintStream(outFile);
String myString;
while ( inputFile.hasNextLine() ) {
myString = inputFile.nextLine();
outputFile.println(">" + myString); }
System.out.println("Finished copying file “ + inFilename + " to " + outFilename);
Console:
Input file: Sue.txt
Output file: outSue.txt
Finished copying file Sue.txt to outSue.txt
Sue.txt
Sue,
la de dah
de dah
Thanks,
Bob
outSue.txt
>Sue,
>la de dah
>de dah
>Thanks,
>Bob

20. More on the exists() method:
import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
public class FileExistsWhile {
public static void main(String[] args) throws FileNotFoundException {
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Type a file name to use: ");
String filename = console.nextLine();
File file = new File(filename);
while (!file.exists()) {
System.out.print("File not found! Try again: ");
filename = console.nextLine();
file = new File(filename); }
Scanner input = new Scanner(file); // open the file }} Output: Type a file name to use: hourz.text
File not found! Try again: h0urz.txt
File not found! Try again: hours.txt
/*This program is looking to open an existing
file and then read it. It rejects all files that do
not exist (are not found).*/
Why must we say the method throws the FileNotFoundException?
It can’t throw the exception because we test for the file’s existence but the compiler does not know this. The compiler must see a try catch block to know the exception was handled.

21. When writing a file you might not want to overwrite an existing file:
String fileName;
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Enter a file name: ");
fileName = console.next();
File f = new File(fileName);
while ( f.exists() ) {
System.out.println("File " + fileName + " exists, do you want to overwrite it? "
+ "(Enter yes or no)");
String yesNo = console.next();
if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("yes"))
break; // used break instead of boolean
System.out.print("Enter a new file name: ");
f = new File(fileName); }
PrintStream output = new PrintStream(f);
output.println("powers of 2");
int power = 1;
for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
power *= 2;
output.printf("2^%-2d = %4d\n", i, power); } } }
System.out.println(“File “ + fileName + “now contains the powers of 2.”);
/*This program reads the name of an output file and tests to see if it already exists. If it does it asks the user if they want to overwrite the file. If the answer is yes, the file is overwritten, if the answer is anything other than yes it is taken as a no, a new file name is read and the process repeats until a satisfactory file name is entered. */

22. Now pwrs2.txt exists so another run might look like this:
File pwrs2.txt does not exist before this sequence.
Enter a file name: asdf.txt
File asdf.txt exists, do you want to overwrite it? (Enter yes or no) no
Enter a new file name: ffdre
File ffdre exists, do you want to overwrite it? (Enter yes or no)
ye // This is taken as a no.
Enter a new file name: qwer
File qwer exists, do you want to overwrite it? (Enter yes or no)
yeah // This is taken as a no.
Enter a new file name: pwrs2.txt
File pwrs2.txt now contains the powers of 2.
pwrs2.txt
powers of 2
2^1 = 2
2^2 = 4
2^3 = 8
2^4 = 16
2^5 = 32
2^6 = 64
2^7 = 128
2^8 = 256
2^9 = 512
2^10 = 1024
Now pwrs2.txt exists so another run might look like this:
Enter a file name: asdf.txt
File asdf.txt exists, do you want to overwrite it?
(Enter yes or no) no
Enter a new file name: pwrs2.txt
File pwrs2.txt exists, do you want to overwrite it?
Yes
File pwrs2.txt now contains the powers of 2.

23. Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Enter a file name to use: ");
String filename = console.nextLine();
File file = new File(filename);
boolean overwriteFile = false;
while (file.exists() && !overwriteFile) {
System.out.print("File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) ");
String yesNo = console.nextLine();
if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("yes"))
overwriteFile = true;
else if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("no")){
System.out.print(
"Enter a different file name to use: ");
filename = console.nextLine();
file = new File(filename); }
else
System.out.print("Please enter yes if you want to overwrite the file and no if you do not:\n "); }
PrintStream out = new PrintStream(file);
if (overwriteFile){
System.out.println("Overwriting file " + file.getName());
out.println("I have been overwritten."); }
else {
System.out.println("Creating and writing to new file " + file.getName());
out.println("I feel brand new.");
} }
Same program as the last but no break; statement and explicitly asks for “no”.
Enter a file name to use: good.txt
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) no
Enter a different file name to use: good.txt
File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) yes
Overwriting file good.txt

24. Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Enter a file name to use: ");
String filename = console.nextLine();
File file ;
boolean overwriteFile = false;
do {
file = new File(filename);
if (file.exists()){
System.out.print("File exists! Do you want to overwrite it? (yes/no) ");
String yesNo = console.nextLine();
if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("yes"))
overwriteFile = true;
else if (yesNo.equalsIgnoreCase("no")){
System.out.print("Enter a different file name to use: ");
filename = console.nextLine();
file = new File(filename); }
else
System.out.print(
"Please enter yes if you want to overwrite the file and no if you do not: "); }
} while ( !(!file.exists() || overwriteFile)) ;
PrintStream out = new PrintStream(file);
if (overwriteFile){
System.out.println("Overwriting file " + file.getName());
out.println("I have been overwritten."); }
else {
System.out.println("Creating and writing to new file " + file.getName());
out.println("I feel brand new."); }
Same program as the last but uses a do while statement.

25. Handling the FileNotFoundException (Ignore if not enough time)
Java provides a method for handling exceptions called a try/catch statement (or try/catch block);
try { // contains statements that can throw a FileNotFoundException
<statement>;
... }
catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
<statement>; // These statements should take care of the
<statement>; // exception. In Lab 9 we will read a default file
// in but that did not really get rid of the error.
<statement>; // That default file might not be there, either,
/ // so main() had to include a throws clause.
FileNotFoundException

26. public class FileGoodNameCatch {
import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
public class FileGoodNameCatch {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
Scanner input = null;
File file;
do{
System.out.print("Type a file name to use: ");
String filename = console.nextLine();
file = new File(filename);
try {
input = new Scanner(file); // If this works, input will be set to a legal address }
catch (FileNotFoundException e){
System.out.println("FILE NOT FOUND: Please try again.");
} while (input == null );
while ( input.hasNext())
System.out.println(input.next());
Type a file name to use: tyuiop
FILE NOT FOUND: Please try again.
Type a file name to use: tryew
Type a file name to use: input.txt
The
quick
brown
fox
jumps
over
the
lazy
dog.
We do not need a throws
FileNotFoundException in main( because that exception is caught in main().

27. import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
public class FileGoodName {
public static void main(String[] args)
throws FileNotFoundException {
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
File file;
do{
System.out.print("Type a file name to use: ");
String filename = console.nextLine();
file = new File(filename);
} while (!file.exists());
Scanner input = new Scanner(file);
while ( input.hasNext())
System.out.println(input.next()); }
Type a file name to use: tyuiop
Type a file name to use: trvew
Type a file name to use: input.txt
The
quick
brown
fox
jumps
over
the
lazy
dog.
We do need a throws FileNotFoundException in main() because the exception is not caught in main(), no try … catch block. The logic says things are OK but the compiler does not see the logic. Actually there is at least one way to have Java throw an exception here.

28. // You wouldn’t lie to the compiler, would you?
// This example does nothing if the exception is thrown, but all is OK due to the program logic.
// If you include a try/catch block, the compiler assumes you are handling the exception.
// You wouldn’t lie to the compiler, would you?
Type a file name to use: tyuiop
Type a file name to use: wertghj
Type a file name to use: input.txt
The
quick
brown
fox
jumps
over
the
lazy
dog.
import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
public class FileGoodNameCatchLying {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
Scanner input = null;
File file;
do{
System.out.print("Type a file name to use: ");
String filename = console.nextLine();
file = new File(filename);
try {
input = new Scanner(file); // If this works, input will be set to a legal address }
catch (FileNotFoundException e){
} while (input == null ); // Saved by this test.
while ( input.hasNext())
System.out.println(input.next()); }}
Initializing input to null is like initializing a boolean to false. If a file is not found, input is not changed from the null value. We can test for that and continue until input is not null, meaning a file has been found that will work. input will contain a pointer (reference) to the Scanner object, that value is guaranteed to not be null.

29. import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
public class FileGoodNameCatchBad {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
Scanner input = null;
File file;
System.out.print("Type a file name to use: ");
String filename = console.nextLine();
file = new File(filename);
try {
input = new Scanner(file); // If this works, input will be set to a legal address }
catch (FileNotFoundException e){
while ( input.hasNext())
System.out.println(input.next());
Console when a good file name is used:
Type a file name to use: input.txt
The
quick
brown
fox
jumps
over
the
lazy
dog.
Console when a bad file name is used:
Type a file name to use: qwedcv
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException at FileGoodNameCatchWorse.main(FileGoodNameCatchBad.java:17)
The existence of the catch block says that the exception is being handled. The machine believes it even though it is not true.
This does not work because this statement throws the exception and it is not in a try catch block.
Would a human lie?