How to create alias in Mac using java

[Lucky Dhar]

Hi Everyone,

I am working on a project in Mac OS.And the requirement is that after clicking a button ,a shortcut should be made on the desktop and a pdf file should open.
I need to implement this using java.
I have made the whole Gui in Swings.
Even if we click the shortcut which is made on desktop, the same pdf needs to be launched.

Thanks

[Pauline McNamara]

Hey Lucky, welcome to Javaranch.

I cannot help you with your problem, but other folks might be able to. You can help them help you if you post what you have done or tried so far. Don't be shy, show us your code.

[Lasse Koskela]

Lucky, do you know you'll be running on a *NIX machine rather than Windows?
If you do, then perhaps you could use the ln UNIX command line tool to create a symbolic link, running the command through java.lang.Runtime?

[Seamus Minogue]

Well according to your subject this is on a Mac... So I am assuming its Mac OSX rather than windows running on your mac?

I think Lasse Koskela is right on the mark to use the ln command.

 
ln -s target_filename symlink_filename

For information about how to execute this command from within java take a look at this article:
http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-12-2000/jw-1229-traps.html

[Lucky Dhar]

Hi Everyone.

I tried to implement your suggestions by using
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("ln -s /Users/abc/desktop/text1.pdf /volumes/newcd/mac.pdf");

It is not giving any error while executing.
But a link file is not created on the Desktop.

Please advise.

Thanks,
Lucky

[Lasse Koskela]

Did you check the Process object's return code with Process#waitFor()? You see, the process can fail without any exceptions being thrown (usually exiting a non-zero return code).

The following works on my machine (OSX 10.5):

public static void createSymbolicLink(String target, String link) throws IOException {
    String[] cmd = { "ln", "-s", new File(target).getAbsolutePath(), new File(link).getAbsolutePath() };
    int exitCode = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmd).waitFor();
    if (exitCode != 0) {
        throw new IOException("ln signaled an error with exit code " + exitCode);
    }
}

[Lucky Dhar]

U GUYS ARE INCREDIBLE!!!

Thanks a lot for helping me out.

Thanks
Lucky