Java: Input File Renamer

Question

I am currently writing an input file renamer, to ensure that all my input values have an unique name. However I am now wondering how to store the unique name, most likely being an integer + extension.

I have considered this so far:

Database. Might be slow, always needs a connection up.
Registry. Not sure if you would want to use registry for a simple counter like this, which will be modified a lot.
Plain text file. Seems like most simple option, but is prone to easy deletion, hence does not offer that much 'security' as database/registry.

The renamer will act like this:

Input randomstrings.pdf -> 1.pdf
Input notrandomatall.pdf -> 2.pdf
Input abcdef.pdf -> 3.pdf
etc.

It needs to be persistent over multiple executions of the program and system (server) shutdown/failure aswell.

Regards

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 11:49:14Z

1

This answer already given:

Databases can handle querying tasks, so you don't have to walk over file manually. Databases can handle very complicated queries.

Databases can handle indexing tasks, so if tasks like get record with id = x can be VERY fast

Databases can handle multiprocess/multithread access.

Databases can handle access from network

Databases can watch for data integrity

Databases can update data easily (see 1) )

Databases are reliable

Databases can handle transactions and concurrent access

Databases + ORMs let you manipulate data in very programmer friendly.

edited May 23, 2017 at 11:49

CommunityBot

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answered Jul 30, 2013 at 7:30

Ankur Lathi

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nneonneo · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-30 07:20:21Z

1

The classic suggestion is just to generate a random sequence of characters (6 alphanumeric usually suffices), and just try a different filename if the target filename already exists. After all, the filesystem does already store information about the used filenames, so there's really no need to store that information again in some other form (database, registry, etc.).

answered Jul 30, 2013 at 7:20

nneonneo

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4 Comments

skiwi Over a year ago

The files move to different folders and subfolders though, so I do not always know where they are. However there is a to-be-checked list in my database, which absolutely may not have duplicate filenames. So I cannot simply check if a file already exists.

nneonneo Over a year ago

So you already have a database? Why not use that if you need to hit the database anyway?

skiwi Over a year ago

It is definately a possibility. But I was asking about the best-practice in the OP. A downside though is that no input files can be processed anymore if the database/connection is down.

scott_fakename Over a year ago

Couldn't you pull a list of to-be-checked into a set or a map from the database (or wherever)? Then serialize it however you want, and let the contract for map and set take care of all that uniqueness business? Or am I misunderstanding your needs?

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