All Superinterfaces:

java.lang.AutoCloseable, java.io.Closeable, java.lang.Comparable<FileObject>, java.lang.Iterable<FileObject>

All Known Implementing Classes:

AbstractFileObject, Bzip2FileObject, CompressedFileFileObject, DecoratedFileObject, DelegateFileObject, FtpFileObject, GzipFileObject, Http4FileObject, HttpFileObject, JarFileObject, LocalFile, OnCallRefreshFileObject, RamFileObject, SftpFileObject, SynchronizedFileObject, TarFileObject, UrlFileObject, ZipFileObject
```
public interface FileObject
extends java.lang.Comparable<FileObject>, java.lang.Iterable<FileObject>, java.io.Closeable
```
Represents a file, and is used to access the content and structure of the file.
Files are arranged in a hierarchy. Each hierarchy forms a file system. A file system represents things like a local OS file system, a windows share, an HTTP server, or the contents of a Zip file.

There are two types of files: Folders, which contain other files, and normal files, which contain data, or content. A folder may not have any content, and a normal file cannot contain other files.

File Naming

TODO - write this.

Reading and Writing a File

Reading and writing a file, and all other operations on the file's content, is done using the FileContent object returned by getContent().

Creating and Deleting a File

A file is created using either createFolder(), createFile(), or by writing to the file using one of the FileContent methods.

A file is deleted using delete(). Recursive deletion can be done using delete(FileSelector).

Finding Files

Other files in the same file system as this file can be found using:
- findFiles(org.apache.commons.vfs2.FileSelector) to find a set of matching descendants in the same file system.
- getChildren() and getChild(java.lang.String) to find the children of this file.
- getParent() to find the folder containing this file.
- getFileSystem() to find another file in the same file system.
- resolveFile(java.lang.String) to find another file relative to this file.
To find files in another file system, use a FileSystemManager.

Iterating Files

You can iterate over a FileObject using the Java "foreach" statement, which provides all descendants of a File Object.

Sorting Files

Files may be sorted using Arrays.sort() and List.sort().
See Also:

FileSystemManager, FileContent, FileName

Field Summary

Fields
Modifier and Type Field Description

static FileObject[] EMPTY_ARRAY
An empty immutable FileObject array.

Method Summary

All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods Default Methods
Modifier and Type	Method	Description
`boolean`	`canRenameTo(FileObject newfile)`	Queries the file if it is possible to rename it to newfile.
`void`	`close()`	Closes this file, and its content.
`void`	`copyFrom(FileObject srcFile, FileSelector selector)`	Copies another file, and all its descendants, to this file.
`void`	`createFile()`	Creates this file, if it does not exist.
`void`	`createFolder()`	Creates this folder, if it does not exist.
`boolean`	`delete()`	Deletes this file.
`int`	`delete(FileSelector selector)`	Deletes all descendants of this file that match a selector.
`int`	`deleteAll()`	Deletes this file and all children.
`boolean`	`exists()`	Determines if this file exists.
`FileObject[]`	`findFiles(FileSelector selector)`	Finds the set of matching descendants of this file, in depthwise order.
`void`	`findFiles(FileSelector selector, boolean depthwise, java.util.List<FileObject> selected)`	Finds the set of matching descendants of this file.
`FileObject`	`getChild(java.lang.String name)`	Gets a child of this file.
`FileObject[]`	`getChildren()`	Gets a lists of children of this file.
`FileContent`	`getContent()`	Gets this file's content.
`FileOperations`	`getFileOperations()`	Gets this instance's FileOperations.
`FileSystem`	`getFileSystem()`	Gets the file system that contains this file.
`FileName`	`getName()`	Gets the name of this file.
`FileObject`	`getParent()`	Gets the folder that contains this file.
`default java.nio.file.Path`	`getPath()`	Gets a Path representing this file.
`java.lang.String`	`getPublicURIString()`	Gets the receiver as a URI String for public display, like, without a password.
`FileType`	`getType()`	Gets this file's type.
`default java.net.URI`	`getURI()`	Gets a URI representing this file.
`java.net.URL`	`getURL()`	Gets a URL representing this file.
`boolean`	`isAttached()`	Checks if the fileObject is attached.
`boolean`	`isContentOpen()`	Checks if someone reads/write to this file.
`boolean`	`isExecutable()`	Determines if this file is executable.
`boolean`	`isFile()`	Checks if this file is a regular file.
`boolean`	`isFolder()`	Checks if this file is a folder.
`boolean`	`isHidden()`	Determines if this file is hidden.
`boolean`	`isReadable()`	Determines if this file can be read.
`default boolean`	`isSymbolicLink()`	Determines if this file is a symbolic link.
`boolean`	`isWriteable()`	Determines if this file can be written to.
`void`	`moveTo(FileObject destFile)`	Move this file.
`void`	`refresh()`	This will prepare the fileObject to get resynchronized with the underlying file system if required.
`FileObject`	`resolveFile(java.lang.String path)`	Finds a file, relative to this file.
`FileObject`	`resolveFile(java.lang.String name, NameScope scope)`	Finds a file relative to this file.
`boolean`	`setExecutable(boolean executable, boolean ownerOnly)`	Sets the owner's (or everybody's) write permission.
`boolean`	`setReadable(boolean readable, boolean ownerOnly)`	Sets the owner's (or everybody's) read permission.
`boolean`	`setWritable(boolean writable, boolean ownerOnly)`	Sets the owner's (or everybody's) write permission.

Methods inherited from interface java.lang.Comparable
compareTo

Methods inherited from interface java.lang.Iterable
forEach, iterator, spliterator

- Field Detail
  - EMPTY_ARRAY
```
static final FileObject[] EMPTY_ARRAY
```
    An empty immutable FileObject array.
    
    Since:
    
    2.8.0
- Method Detail
  - canRenameTo
```
boolean canRenameTo(FileObject newfile)
```
    Queries the file if it is possible to rename it to newfile.
    
    Parameters:
    
    newfile - the new file(-name)
    
    Returns:
    
    true it this is the case
  - close
```
void close()
    throws FileSystemException
```
    Closes this file, and its content. This method is a hint to the implementation that it can release any resources associated with the file.
    The file object can continue to be used after this method is called.
    
    Specified by:
    
    close in interface java.lang.AutoCloseable
    
    Specified by:
    
    close in interface java.io.Closeable
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error closing the file.
    
    See Also:
    
    FileContent.close()
  - copyFrom
```
void copyFrom(FileObject srcFile,
              FileSelector selector)
       throws FileSystemException
```
    Copies another file, and all its descendants, to this file.
    If this file does not exist, it is created. Its parent folder is also created, if necessary. If this file does exist, it is deleted first.
    
    This method is not transactional. If it fails and throws an exception, this file will potentially only be partially copied.
    
    Parameters:
    
    srcFile - The source file to copy.
    
    selector - The selector to use to select which files to copy.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - If this file is read-only, or if the source file does not exist, or on error copying the file.
  - createFile
```
void createFile()
         throws FileSystemException
```
    Creates this file, if it does not exist. Also creates any ancestor folders which do not exist. This method does nothing if the file already exists and is a file.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - If the file already exists with the wrong type, or the parent folder is read-only, or on error creating this file or one of its ancestors.
  - createFolder
```
void createFolder()
           throws FileSystemException
```
    Creates this folder, if it does not exist. Also creates any ancestor folders which do not exist. This method does nothing if the folder already exists.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - If the folder already exists with the wrong type, or the parent folder is read-only, or on error creating this folder or one of its ancestors.
  - delete
```
boolean delete()
        throws FileSystemException
```
    Deletes this file. Does nothing if this file does not exist of if it is a folder that has children. Does not delete any descendants of this file, use delete(FileSelector) or deleteAll() for that.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if this object has been deleted
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - If this file is a non-empty folder, or if this file is read-only, or on error deleteing this file.
  - delete
```
int delete(FileSelector selector)
    throws FileSystemException
```
    Deletes all descendants of this file that match a selector. Does nothing if this file does not exist.
    This method is not transactional. If it fails and throws an exception, this file will potentially only be partially deleted.
    
    Parameters:
    
    selector - The selector to use to select which files to delete.
    
    Returns:
    
    the number of deleted objects
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - If this file or one of its descendants is read-only, or on error deleting this file or one of its descendants.
  - deleteAll
```
int deleteAll()
       throws FileSystemException
```
    Deletes this file and all children.
    
    Returns:
    
    the number of deleted files.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - if an error occurs.
    
    See Also:
    
    delete(FileSelector), Selectors.SELECT_ALL
  - exists
```
boolean exists()
        throws FileSystemException
```
    Determines if this file exists.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if this file exists, false if not.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error determining if this file exists.
  - findFiles
```
FileObject[] findFiles(FileSelector selector)
                throws FileSystemException
```
    Finds the set of matching descendants of this file, in depthwise order.
    
    Parameters:
    
    selector - The selector to use to select matching files.
    
    Returns:
    
    The matching files. The files are returned in depthwise order (that is, a child appears in the list before its parent).
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - if an error occurs.
  - findFiles
```
void findFiles(FileSelector selector,
               boolean depthwise,
               java.util.List<FileObject> selected)
        throws FileSystemException
```
    Finds the set of matching descendants of this file.
    
    Parameters:
    
    selector - the selector used to determine if the file should be selected
    
    depthwise - controls the ordering in the list. e.g. deepest first
    
    selected - container for selected files. list needs not to be empty.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - if an error occurs.
  - getChild
```
FileObject getChild(java.lang.String name)
             throws FileSystemException
```
    Gets a child of this file. Note that this method returns null when the child does not exist. This differs from resolveFile(String, NameScope) which never returns null.
    
    Parameters:
    
    name - The name of the child.
    
    Returns:
    
    The child, or null if there is no such child.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - If this file does not exist, or is not a folder, or on error determining this file's children.
  - getChildren
```
FileObject[] getChildren()
                  throws FileSystemException
```
    Gets a lists of children of this file.
    
    Returns:
    
    An array containing the children of this file. The array is unordered. If the file does not have any children, a zero-length array is returned. This method never returns null.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - If this file does not exist, or is not a folder, or on error listing this file's children.
  - getContent
```
FileContent getContent()
                throws FileSystemException
```
    Gets this file's content. The FileContent returned by this method can be used to read and write the content of the file.
    This method can be called if the file does not exist, and the returned FileContent can be used to create the file by writing its content.
    
    Returns:
    
    This file's content.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error getting this file's content.
  - getFileOperations
```
FileOperations getFileOperations()
                          throws FileSystemException
```
    Gets this instance's FileOperations.
    
    Returns:
    
    FileOperations interface that provides access to the operations API.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - if an error occurs.
  - getFileSystem
```
FileSystem getFileSystem()
```
    Gets the file system that contains this file.
    
    Returns:
    
    The file system.
  - getName
```
FileName getName()
```
    Gets the name of this file.
    
    Returns:
    
    the FileName.
  - getParent
```
FileObject getParent()
              throws FileSystemException
```
    Gets the folder that contains this file.
    
    Returns:
    
    The folder that contains this file. Returns null if this file is the root of a file system.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error finding the file's parent.
  - getPath
```
default java.nio.file.Path getPath()
```
    Gets a Path representing this file.
    
    Returns:
    
    the Path for the file.
    
    Since:
    
    2.7.0
  - getPublicURIString
```
java.lang.String getPublicURIString()
```
    Gets the receiver as a URI String for public display, like, without a password.
    
    Returns:
    
    A URI String without a password, never null.
  - getType
```
FileType getType()
          throws FileSystemException
```
    Gets this file's type.
    
    Returns:
    
    One of the FileType constants. Never returns null.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error determining the file's type.
  - getURI
```
default java.net.URI getURI()
```
    Gets a URI representing this file.
    
    Returns:
    
    the URI for the file.
    
    Since:
    
    2.7.0
  - getURL
```
java.net.URL getURL()
             throws FileSystemException
```
    Gets a URL representing this file.
    
    Returns:
    
    the URL for the file.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - if an error occurs.
  - isAttached
```
boolean isAttached()
```
    Checks if the fileObject is attached.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if the FileObject is attached.
  - isContentOpen
```
boolean isContentOpen()
```
    Checks if someone reads/write to this file.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if the file content is open.
  - isExecutable
```
boolean isExecutable()
              throws FileSystemException
```
    Determines if this file is executable.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if this file is executable, false if not.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error determining if this file exists.
  - isFile
```
boolean isFile()
        throws FileSystemException
```
    Checks if this file is a regular file.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if this file is a regular file.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - if an error occurs.
    
    Since:
    
    2.1
    
    See Also:
    
    getType(), FileType.FILE
  - isFolder
```
boolean isFolder()
          throws FileSystemException
```
    Checks if this file is a folder.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if this file is a folder.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - if an error occurs.
    
    Since:
    
    2.1
    
    See Also:
    
    getType(), FileType.FOLDER
  - isHidden
```
boolean isHidden()
          throws FileSystemException
```
    Determines if this file is hidden.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if this file is hidden, false if not.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error determining if this file exists.
  - isReadable
```
boolean isReadable()
            throws FileSystemException
```
    Determines if this file can be read.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if this file is readable, false if not.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error determining if this file exists.
  - isSymbolicLink
```
default boolean isSymbolicLink()
                        throws FileSystemException
```
    Determines if this file is a symbolic link.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if this file is a symbolic link, false if not.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error determining if this file exists.
    
    Since:
    
    2.4
  - isWriteable
```
boolean isWriteable()
             throws FileSystemException
```
    Determines if this file can be written to.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if this file is writable, false if not.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error determining if this file exists.
  - moveTo
```
void moveTo(FileObject destFile)
     throws FileSystemException
```
    Move this file.
    If the destFile exists, it is deleted first.
    
    Parameters:
    
    destFile - the New file name.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - If this file is read-only, or if the source file does not exist, or on error copying the file.
  - refresh
```
void refresh()
      throws FileSystemException
```
    This will prepare the fileObject to get resynchronized with the underlying file system if required.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - if an error occurs.
  - resolveFile
```
FileObject resolveFile(java.lang.String path)
                throws FileSystemException
```
    Finds a file, relative to this file. Equivalent to calling resolveFile( path, NameScope.FILE_SYSTEM ).
    
    Parameters:
    
    path - The path of the file to locate. Can either be a relative path or an absolute path.
    
    Returns:
    
    The file.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error parsing the path, or on error finding the file.
  - resolveFile
```
FileObject resolveFile(java.lang.String name,
                       NameScope scope)
                throws FileSystemException
```
    Finds a file relative to this file. Refer to NameScope for a description of how names are resolved in the different scopes.
    
    Parameters:
    
    name - The name to resolve.
    
    scope - the NameScope for the file.
    
    Returns:
    
    The file.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error parsing the path, or on error finding the file.
  - setExecutable
```
boolean setExecutable(boolean executable,
                      boolean ownerOnly)
               throws FileSystemException
```
    Sets the owner's (or everybody's) write permission.
    
    Parameters:
    
    executable - True to allow read access, false to disallow.
    
    ownerOnly - If true, the permission applies only to the owner; otherwise, it applies to everybody.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if the operation succeeded.
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error determining if this file exists.
    
    Since:
    
    2.1
  - setReadable
```
boolean setReadable(boolean readable,
                    boolean ownerOnly)
             throws FileSystemException
```
    Sets the owner's (or everybody's) read permission.
    
    Parameters:
    
    readable - True to allow read access, false to disallow
    
    ownerOnly - If true, the permission applies only to the owner; otherwise, it applies to everybody.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if the operation succeeded
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error determining if this file exists.
    
    Since:
    
    2.1
  - setWritable
```
boolean setWritable(boolean writable,
                    boolean ownerOnly)
             throws FileSystemException
```
    Sets the owner's (or everybody's) write permission.
    
    Parameters:
    
    writable - True to allow read access, false to disallow
    
    ownerOnly - If true, the permission applies only to the owner; otherwise, it applies to everybody.
    
    Returns:
    
    true if the operation succeeded
    
    Throws:
    
    FileSystemException - On error determining if this file exists.
    
    Since:
    
    2.1

Interface FileObject

File Naming

Reading and Writing a File

Creating and Deleting a File

Finding Files

Iterating Files

Sorting Files

Field Summary

Method Summary

Methods inherited from interface java.lang.Comparable

Methods inherited from interface java.lang.Iterable

Field Detail

EMPTY_ARRAY

Method Detail

canRenameTo

close

copyFrom

createFile

createFolder

delete

delete

deleteAll

exists

findFiles

findFiles

getChild

getChildren

getContent

getFileOperations

getFileSystem

getName

getParent

getPath

getPublicURIString

getType

getURI

getURL

isAttached

isContentOpen

isExecutable

isFile

isFolder

isHidden

isReadable

isSymbolicLink

isWriteable

moveTo

refresh

resolveFile

resolveFile

setExecutable

setReadable

setWritable