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How to get directory path using JFileChooser by selecting a folder not a file

I want to use the JFileChooser in Java to get the user to select where they would like to save a file. I have used this code:
JFileChooser chooser = new JFileChooser();
chooser.showOpenDialog(null);
File f = chooser.getSelectedFile();
String filename = f.getAbsolutePath();
This works and does get the path however the dialog box requires the user to select a file in order to get the file path. As i want it to save a new file i need it to get the path without having to select a file but from the folder the user has selected instead.
Im new to this and not sure of any other way of doing this, please could you advise me on a way around this.

chooser.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.DIRECTORIES_ONLY);

How to make output directory selection panel?

Hi I am trying to make one pane that shows something like windows explorer in my computer.
when user complete it's operations, and after that when he want to save edited image at specific place on disk then he can easily select directory from that pane.
i want to design something like this :
is it possible to do something like that ?
my picture editor looks like :
at right side of editor i want to put something like output directory selection pane.
is anyone know how to do that ?

A complete example using JTree is examined in FileBrowser.
An alternative using Outline is shown here.

Yes its possible. It's basically just JTree.
You will probably want to take a look at File#listRoots, File#isDirectory and File#listFiles.
You'll also want to take a look at How to use trees.
You'll probably also want to take a look at FileSystemView#getSystemIcon which will allow you to look an appropriate icon for the given File
However, it might be simpler to just use a JFileChooser ;)

You could have a look at JFileChooser.
You can use this object to open a SaveDialog and get a save path on the local harddisk.
Then eventually use an ObjectOutputStream to write a file.
Sample code:
JFileChooser c = new JFileChooser();
c.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.DIRECTORIES_ONLY);
// Demonstrate "Save" dialog:
int rVal = c.showSaveDialog(fb);
if (rVal == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION) {
System.out.println(c.getSelectedFile().toString());
}

This can be handled with a JFileChooser, sorry if it's not the solution you're looking for
Note: you say choose a directory but I assume you mean that they can name their file
private File selectSaveFile() {
JFileChooser fc = new JFileChooser();
fc.setFileFilter(new FileNameExtensionFilter("File Type", "txt"));
fc.setCurrentDirectory(new File(System.getProperty("user.home")));
int returnVal = fc.showSaveDialog(frame);
if (returnVal == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION) {
return fc.getSelectedFile();
}
//the user didn't click save if we are here
return null;
}

JFileChooser change default directory in Windows

I want to change the default directory of my JFileChooser to "My Music" on Windows.
This directory is C:\Users\Fre\Music on my account because my username is Fre
The default is set on C:\Users\Fre\Documents (depends on OS i think).
How can I change this?

You can use the API method setCurrentDirectory when initializing your JFileChooser objects:
public void setCurrentDirectory(File dir)
Sample usage might be like:
yourFileChooser.setCurrentDirectory(new File
(System.getProperty("user.home") + System.getProperty("file.separator")+ "Music"));

why don't you just give the FileChooser the path when you create it, like:
JFileChooser chooser = new JFileChooser("C:\\Users\\Fre\\Music\\");

Sorry for taking your time,
Just found the answer myself:
String userhome = System.getProperty("user.home");
JFileChooser fc = new JFileChooser(userhome +"\\Music");

JFileChooser openFile = new JFileChooser("C:\\Users\\Fre\\Music");

Creating all your own code, so as to set a default file directory is unnecessary and lengthy. A much easier and quicker way of doing it is by just right clicking on the File Chooser itself on Design view and right clicking 'customise code'.
Customise Code for File Chooser
This will show you the vital code for that GUI component. From the drop down box next to the top line of code, select 'custom creation'.
This will allow you to customise what fileChooser = is assigned to. Between the curly brackets JFileChooser() you can either hard code in the file directory with speech marks like this.
JFileChooser("C:\Users\user\Documents")
or type in a name that for a variable you created earlier. This variable would hold the file directory. I would recommend the latter option, though either will work fine.
Hope this helps.
p.s. sorry about having to use a link for the photo. I don't have enough privilege yet.

You can Change the default directory of my JFileChooser to "Directory you want" on Windows
JFileChooser fileChooser = new JFileChooser();
fileChooser.setCurrentDirectory(new File("put here your directory"));
int result = fileChooser.showOpenDialog(getParent());
if (result == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION)
{
File selectedFile = fileChooser.getSelectedFile();
jTextField.setText(selectedFile.getAbsolutePath());
}

Pretty Simple:
JFileChooser browseImageFile = new JFileChooser("User Defined Directory");

java file chooser that forces the file to already exist

After a bit of googling I'm not seeing this turn up much. Is there some "generic" way to forces the user to select a file that "already exists"
I could add something like
http://coding.derkeiler.com/Archive/Java/comp.lang.java.help/2004-01/0302.html or like JFileChooser with confirmation dialog but is there some canonical way?
Thanks.

First you need to check if your better option is choser.showOpenDialog or showSaveDialog
Save Dialog will let you select any name in the specified path it could be a non existent file, but open will always accept the selected file.. and you can safely add a file.exists() to ensure the file exists. You can also change the text of the buttons.. dialog.. etc..
JFileChooser chooser = new JFileChooser();
chooser.setApproveButtonText("Save");
int result = chooser.showOpenDialog(null);
if(result == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION){
File selection = chooser.getSelectedFile();
//verify if file exists
if(selection.exists()){
//you can continue the code here or call the next method or just use !exists and behavior for wrong file
}else{
//System.exit(0), show alert.. etc
}
}

Sounds like you want an "Open" behavior, but a confirmation button that says "Save" instead of "Open".
You can do this via this method:
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/javax/swing/JFileChooser.html#showDialog%28java.awt.Component,%20java.lang.String%29
Pass in "Save" for the approveButtonText argument.

As simple as this:
JFileChooser fc = new JFileChooser();
while(true)
{
if(fc.showSaveDialog(null) == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION &&
!fc.getSelectedFile().exists())
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You must select an existing file!");
else break;
}

Java select a file location

I'm not sure if this is even possible as I can't find anything about it after quite a few Google searches.
What I would like to do is on event open up a file dialog box and allow the user to select a folder and then store that folders full directory in a string. So if a user selected a folder in C:\Windows\Example the directory would be stored in String fileDir = C:\Windows\Example;
Does this make sense? I hope so as I'm struggeling to find the answer. I do apperciate the help, thanks in advance for looking and more thanks if you help me :)

In swing you'll want a JFileChooser.
public String promptForFolder( Component parent )
{
JFileChooser fc = new JFileChooser();
fc.setFileSelectionMode( JFileChooser.DIRECTORIES_ONLY );
if( fc.showOpenDialog( parent ) == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION )
{
return fc.getSelectedFile().getAbsolutePath();
}
return null;
}
It can be a little awkward selecting folders from a user's perspective. I've watched a lot of folks struggle with it. If you have the time you may want to try my DirectoryChooser. Sorry the code is so crufty; I wrote it awhile back.

You are looking for a FileChooser.
File choosers provide a GUI for navigating the file system, and then either choosing a file or directory from a list, or entering the name of a file or directory. To display a file chooser, you usually use the JFileChooser API to show a modal dialog containing the file chooser.