filewriter problem..please help ASAP.....

[karan, chopra]

hi all,
can someone tell me if there is a way by which a filewriter deletes the entire contents of an existing file and start writing fresh from the 1st line of that file?basically in my applet i am using a couple of text files and i want that when the applet is destroyed then either the text files should be entirely deleted or at least their contents should be deleted in their entirety..please tell me how can this be done..
thanks a lot in advance
karan
PS- please help ASAP,its kinda urgent

[Sean MacLean]

If you simply want to retain the original file (in place) and wipeout the content and write anew, just specify false for the append mode when you create the FileWriter. Like so.

import java.io.*;
public class Test {
    public static void main( String[] args ) {
        try {
            FileWriter fw = new FileWriter( "text.txt", false );
            fw.write( "Hello world" );
            fw.flush();
        }
        catch( IOException e ) {}
    }
}

You'll see how this does just that if you create a large file called text.txt and then run this. The remaining file will only include the "Hello World".
If you just want to have some temp file type of behavior, then explore the java.io.File class, particularly the createTempFile() and the deleteOnExit() methods. I hope this helps.
Sean

[Mindy Wu]

Hi Sean,
I tried your code, but it did not work as what you said. Can you explane?
Thanks! Mindy

Originally posted by Sean MacLean:
[B]If you simply want to retain the original file (in place) and wipeout the content and write anew, just specify false for the append mode when you create the FileWriter. Like so.

import java.io.*;
public class Test {
    public static void main( String[] args ) {
        try {
            FileWriter fw = new FileWriter( "text.txt", false );
            fw.write( "Hello world" );
            fw.flush();
        }
        catch( IOException e ) {}
    }
}

You'll see how this does just that if you create a large file called text.txt and then run this. The remaining file will only include the "Hello World".
If you just want to have some temp file type of behavior, then explore the java.io.File class, particularly the createTempFile() and the deleteOnExit() methods. I hope this helps.
Sean[/B]

[karan, chopra]

hey sean,
thanks a lot man..it worked and solved my purpose..
regards
karan
public static void main( String[] args ) {
try {
FileWriter fw = new FileWriter( "text.txt", false );
fw.write( "Hello world" );
fw.flush();
}
catch( IOException e ) {}
}
}
[/CODE]
You'll see how this does just that if you create a large file called text.txt and then run this. The remaining file will only include the "Hello World".
If you just want to have some temp file type of behavior, then explore the java.io.File class, particularly the createTempFile() and the deleteOnExit() methods. I hope this helps.
Sean[/B]