how can I create a temporary folder in java 6?

Question

Possible Duplicate:
Create a temporary directory in Java

Is there a way of creating a temporary folder in java ? I know of File's static method createTempFile, but this will only give me a temporary file.

Why isn't this question flagged as duplicate? Brian Agnew has posted the relevant links. — alphazero, May 03 '09 at 21:06

score 30 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 04 '12 at 13:55

30

I've never seen a good solution for this, but this is how I've done it.

File temp = File.createTempFile("folder-name","");
temp.delete();
temp.mkdir();

edited Jul 04 '12 at 13:55

Saeed Zarinfam

answered May 03 '09 at 16:22

John Meagher

This is an interesting approach. I didn't think about it this way. – Geo May 03 '09 at 19:28

score 8 · Answer 2 · answered May 03 '09 at 16:32

8

Any reason you can't use the directory defined by the java.io.tmpdir property?

ie

String dirName = System.getProperty("java.io.tmpdir");

answered May 03 '09 at 16:32

cagcowboy

'Temporary file' from createTempFile is automatically deleted when JVM exits. I think OP is asking for this kind of directory, so using existing tmpdir directory won't make it. (I needed something similar for writing unit tests, and used createTempFile+delete+mkdir and created only 'temporary' files within this directory -- JVM can then do the cleanup, if I remember correctly) – Peter Štibraný May 03 '09 at 17:17
1

Ok, it's not deleted automatically .. you need to ask JVM first to do so (by deleteOnExit) – Peter Štibraný May 03 '09 at 17:20
Just as a side note: you could easily add 'destruction on JVM exit' yourself by registering a shutdown hook. – Alexander Torstling Jul 22 '10 at 06:52

score 5 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:54

5

I would check out this past question in SO for a solution. Or this one!

edited May 23 '17 at 11:54

Community

answered May 03 '09 at 17:05

Brian Agnew

score 4 · Answer 4 · answered May 03 '09 at 16:29

4

I write my own utility classes for creating temporary directories and for disposing them when they are not anymore needed. For example like this.

answered May 03 '09 at 16:29

Esko Luontola

4 Answers4