The Java Developers Almanac 1.4

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e16. Determining If Two Filename Paths Refer to the Same File

A filename path may include redundant names such as `.' or `..' or symbolic links (on UNIX platforms). File.getCanonicalFile() converts a filename path to a unique canonical form suitable for comparisons.

    File file1 = new File("./filename");
    File file2 = new File("filename");
    
    // Filename paths are not equal
    boolean b = file1.equals(file2);      // false
    
    // Normalize the paths
    try {
        file1 = file1.getCanonicalFile(); // c:\almanac1.4\filename
        file2 = file2.getCanonicalFile(); // c:\almanac1.4\filename
    } catch (IOException e) {
    }
    
    // Filename paths are now equal
    b = file1.equals(file2);              // true

Related Examples

e13. Constructing a Filename Path
e14. Converting Between a Filename Path and a URL
e15. Getting an Absolute Filename Path from a Relative Filename Path
e17. Getting the Parents of a Filename Path
e18. Determining If a Filename Path Is a File or a Directory

See also: Directories Encodings Files Parsing Reading and Writing Serialization

© 2002 Addison-Wesley.