How to get local application data folder in Java? [duplicate]

Answer 1

I would like to use the following two ways:

String dataFolder = System.getenv("APPDATA");

String dataFolder = System.getProperty("user.home") + "\\Local Settings\\ApplicationData";

Answer 2

System.getenv("APPDATA")

(there seems to be no env variable for the "Local Settings" folder, but this will give you the 'Application Data' folder)

Answer 3

I resolved in this way

private static File getAppData(){
    ProcessBuilder builder = new ProcessBuilder(new String[]{"cmd", "/C echo %APPDATA%"});

    BufferedReader br = null;
    try {
        Process start = builder.start();
        br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(start.getInputStream()));
        String path = br.readLine();
        // TODO HACK do not know why but I get an extra '"' at the end
        if(path.endsWith("\"")){
            path = path.substring(0, path.length()-1);
        }
        return new File(path.trim());


    } catch (IOException ex) {
        Logger.getLogger(Util.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, "Cannot get Application Data Folder", ex);
    } finally {
        if(br != null){
            try {
                br.close();
            } catch (IOException ex) {
                Logger.getLogger(Util.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
            }
        }
    }

    return null;
}

Answer 4

It would be possible to spawn a process to query the key and then parse the output:

REG QUERY "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders" /v "Local AppData"

Honestly, though, I'd be more inclined to use JNA or JNI.

Answer 5

what about the following

String dataFolder = System.getenv("LOCALAPPDATA");

I have a situation where this is NOT under "user.home"

Answer 6

You could read the path from the registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\* where * is one of those Keys:

• Local AppData (C:\Documents and Settings\USER\Local Settings\Application Data)
• Local Settings (C:\Documents and Settings\USER\Local Settings)
• AppData (C:\Documents and Settings\USER\Application Data)

Note: Those example paths are from an english Windows XP installation