Constructing a File Object
does not Create a File!

When a File object is constructed, no check is made to see if the pathName corresponds to an existing file or directory. If a file or directory of pathName does not exist, constructing a File object will not create it.

Here is an example program that constructs a File object and uses one of its methods. The constructor argument is a simple file name (which counts as a relative path name).

import java.io.*;
class testExist
{

  public static void main ( String[] args ) 
  {
    String pathName = "notLikely.txt" ;

    File   test = new File( pathName );

    if ( test.exists() )
      System.out.println( "The file " + pathName + " exists." );
    else
      System.out.println( "The file " + pathName + " Does Not exist." );
  }

}

Since pathName is a simple file name the File object will use the current directory. If you start the program from a DOS prompt, the current directory is the directory the DOS prompt is "in". This is the directory that is listed with a DIR command.