How to write console output to a txt file

Question

I have tried to write the console output to a txt file using this code suggestion (http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread23883.html#) however I was not successful. What's wrong?

try {
      //create a buffered reader that connects to the console, we use it so we can read lines
      BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));

      //read a line from the console
      String lineFromInput = in.readLine();

      //create an print writer for writing to a file
      PrintWriter out = new PrintWriter(new FileWriter("output.txt"));

      //output to the file a line
      out.println(lineFromInput);

      //close the file (VERY IMPORTANT!)
      out.close();
   }
      catch(IOException e1) {
        System.out.println("Error during reading/writing");
   }

Answer 1

You need to do something like this:

PrintStream out = new PrintStream(new FileOutputStream("output.txt"));
System.setOut(out);

The second statement is the key. It changes the value of the supposedly "final" System.out attribute to be the supplied PrintStream value.

There are analogous methods (setIn and setErr) for changing the standard input and error streams; refer to the java.lang.System javadocs for details.

A more general version of the above is this:

PrintStream out = new PrintStream(
        new FileOutputStream("output.txt", append), autoFlush);
System.setOut(out);

If append is true, the stream will append to an existing file instead of truncating it. If autoflush is true, the output buffer will be flushed whenever a byte array is written, one of the println methods is called, or a \n is written.

---

I'd just like to add that it is usually a better idea to use a logging subsystem like Log4j, Logback or the standard Java java.util.logging subsystem. These offer fine-grained logging control via runtime configuration files, support for rolling log files, feeds to system logging, and so on.

Alternatively, if you are not "logging" then consider either:

• redirecting standard output to a file on the command line, or
• changing your application to use an out stream passed as a parameter rather than writing to System.out.

Changing System.out may cause nasty surprises for other code in your JVM that is not expecting this to happen.

Answer 2

You can use System.setOut() at the start of your program to redirect all output via System.out to your own PrintStream.

Answer 3

PrintWriter out = null;
try {
    out = new PrintWriter(new FileWriter("C:\\testing.txt"));
    } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
    }
out.println("output");
out.close();

I am using absolute path for the FileWriter. It is working for me like a charm. Also Make sure the file is present in the location. Else It will throw a FileNotFoundException. This method does not create a new file in the target location if the file is not found.

Answer 4

to preserve the console output, that is, write to a file and also have it displayed on the console, you could use a class like:

    public class TeePrintStream extends PrintStream {
        private final PrintStream second;

        public TeePrintStream(OutputStream main, PrintStream second) {
            super(main);
            this.second = second;
        }

        /**
         * Closes the main stream. 
         * The second stream is just flushed but <b>not</b> closed.
         * @see java.io.PrintStream#close()
         */
        @Override
        public void close() {
            // just for documentation
            super.close();
        }

        @Override
        public void flush() {
            super.flush();
            second.flush();
        }

        @Override
        public void write(byte[] buf, int off, int len) {
            super.write(buf, off, len);
            second.write(buf, off, len);
        }

        @Override
        public void write(int b) {
            super.write(b);
            second.write(b);
        }

        @Override
        public void write(byte[] b) throws IOException {
            super.write(b);
            second.write(b);
        }
    }

and used as in:

    FileOutputStream file = new FileOutputStream("test.txt");
    TeePrintStream tee = new TeePrintStream(file, System.out);
    System.setOut(tee);

(just an idea, not complete)

Answer 5

This is my idea of what you are trying to do and it works fine:

public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException{

    BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));

    BufferedWriter out = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter("c://output.txt"));
    try {
        String inputLine = null;
        do {
            inputLine=in.readLine();
            out.write(inputLine);
            out.newLine();
        } while (!inputLine.equalsIgnoreCase("eof"));
        System.out.print("Write Successful");
    } catch(IOException e1) {
        System.out.println("Error during reading/writing");
    } finally {
        out.close();
        in.close();
    }
}

Answer 6

The easiest way to write console output to text file is

//create a file first    
    PrintWriter outputfile = new PrintWriter(filename);
//replace your System.out.print("your output");
    outputfile.print("your output");
    outputfile.close();