How to Automate Basic File Operations Using Java

There are many repetitive tasks that you may need to complete from time to time. One example is if you need to regularly make changes to files on your local computer. These actions can include copying, moving, deleting, or archiving files.

Instead of completing these repetitive tasks manually, it’s possible to automate them using a program. You can do this with a single script file, using one of the many programming languages available, such as Java.

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How to Set Up the Java Application

First, ensure that you haveOracle’s Java SE Development Kitinstalled. Then create a simple Java console application:

How to Access Local Files in Your Computer

You can use the File class to programmatically access files in a directory.

How to Copy Files to Another Location

There are multiple ways you can copy files. A common way to copy files (especially before Java 7 and the java.nio.file package), is to use the FileInputStream or FileOutputStream classes.

When copying files, the idea is to open an input and output stream. Using those streams, you will read the bytes of the file at the source location, and then write those bytes to the new location.

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This example will use a newer implementation to copy files, by using the copy() function from the Files class of the java.nio.file package. To use the java.nio.file package, you must have Java 7 or higher installed.

How to Move Files or Folders

You can move files or folders using themove()function in the Files class, which is also part of the java.nio.file package.

How to Delete a File

you could use thedelete()method from the File class to delete a particular file.

How to Zip Files

There are many ways you can create a zip archivecontaining several compressed files. This example will use theZipOutputStreamandZipEntryclasses.

Automating Simple Tasks With Java

You can use a script to complete repetitive file manager tasks programmatically. These tasks include accessing, copying, moving, deleting, and zipping files.

Another way you may automate repetitive tasks is by using system commands in a script file. On Linux and macOS, such files are known as shell scripts, while Windows refers to them as batch scripts.

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Do you frequently execute boring and repetitive tasks? A batch file might be exactly what you’re looking for. Use it to automate actions. We’ll show you the commands you need to know.

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