Thread: How to open files when in classes instead of the main code.

Members, please help me understand these question. I have looked over other people code relating to files that are related to my actual studies in class. My teacher hasn't worked on a lot of file problems so I want to gain some understanding on it.

First question:
1.) I have this class with variables declared

import java.io.*;
public class FileDisplay
{
	private String filename;
	FileWriter outputfile;
	File Inputfile;

I'm aware that having a private variable would not allow that variable to be accessed outside the code. Vice versa, public variabl would do that. The FileWriter and the File Inputfile is something I don't understand, especially have them in classes. What is the purpose of them?

2.)

public class FileDisplay
{
	private String filename;
	FileWriter outputfile;
	File Inputfile;
 
 
	//Create a constructor
	public FileDisplay(String Name_file) throws IOException
	{
		filename=Name_file;
 
		//Open the output file
			new FileWriter(filename);
 
		//Open the input file
			new File("Results.txt");
	}
}

I have made this code here that opens the output and input file. If I make another method, how would I display the text onto that same file. Hard to clarify for me, but in each method do I just keep creating

 FileWriter outputfile=new Filewriter(filename)

        public FileDisplay(String Name_file) throws IOException
	{
		filename=Name_file;
 
		//Open the output file
			new FileWriter(filename);
 
		//Open the input file
			new File("Results.txt");
	}

in your constructor, you created FileWriter and File,
but you ignored them.
it would be better if you stored them in variable.
something like outputfile = new FileWriter(filename);

how would I display the text onto that same file

do mean to display the content of the file? if so, I think FileWriter cannot do that.

Thank you for your kindly response. I have improved on my code a tad bit and have come up with this.

public class FileDisplay
{
	private String filename;
	FileWriter outputfile;
	PrintWriter print;
	File Inputfile;
	Scanner inputfile;
 
 
	//Create a constructor
	public FileDisplay(String Name_file) throws IOException
	{
		filename=Name_file;
 
		//Open the output file
			outputfile=new FileWriter(filename);
			print=new PrintWriter(outputfile);
 
		//Open the input file
			Inputfile=new File("Results.txt");
			inputfile=new Scanner(Inputfile);
 
 
	}
 
	//Make a method that display the first 5 lines
	public void displayHeader() throws IOException
	{
		int counter=1;
		while(inputfile.hasNext()&&counter<6)
		{
			String Line=inputfile.nextLine();
			print.println(Line);
			counter++;
		}

I did fix what you told me to. I'm going to making more methods in this class. I want to know is this practice good, meaning declaring the objects of Filewriter, printwriter and file in the beginning, if I'm going to create lots of methods that involves using files?

--- Update ---

Also when you say "store them into a variable." Is outputfile not suppose to be an object of a class rather then variable?

Thank you! Did help me a lot and I did read your other post which seemed to help be a lot I appreciate it. I know how to write codes using files but couldn't understand how to use files in classes

you better read the doc for the class your not sure of
java.io.File Files (Java Platform SE 7 )

To make it short, File class is not capable of reading and writing from and to files.
I think it is just the handle of the file.

In java.io.File we can:
create file,
delete file,
create/delete directory
create symbolic link etc etc..

but we cannot write/read it.
for some instances, we will need this class before reading since classes that are designed for reading and writing files accepts the File class for their construction of files.
like for example:
I'm going to write to a file,
but before I write, I must create the file first named me.txt.
for that instance I'm going to use File class and create a file,
next I'm going to pass it to other class that can write on it.
Well, that was just an example

haha...I should clarified about how to use "files" in classes not how to use the file class Appreciate our response though!

haha...I should clarified about how to use "files" in classes not how to use the file class Appreciate our response though!

ahahahah sorry man, I'm not good in english

but what do you mean by this?:

but couldn't understand how to use files in classes