Java - File setReadable(boolean readable, boolean ownerOnly) method

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Description

The Java File setReadable(boolean readable, boolean ownerOnly) method is used to set or modify the read permission of a file, with an option to restrict it to the owner only.

• If readable is true, the file is made readable.

• If readable is false, the file is made not readable.

• If ownerOnly is true, the permission applies only to the owner of the file.

• If ownerOnly is false, the permission applies to all users.

Declaration

Following is the declaration for java.io.File.setReadable(boolean readable, boolean ownerOnly) method −

public boolean setReadable(boolean readable, boolean ownerOnly)

Parameters

• readable− true sets the access permission to allow read operations, false denies read operation.

• ownerOnly− true sets the read permission only to the owner's read permission; otherwise, it applies to everybody.

Return Value

This method returns true if the operation succeeded, else false.

Exception

• SecurityException − If a security manager exists and its method denies read access to the pathnames.

Example - Usage of File setReadable(boolean readable, boolean ownerOnly) method

The following example shows the usage of Java File setReadable(boolean readable, boolean ownerOnly) method. We've created a File reference. Then we're creating a File Object using a file path which is present in the given location. Using setReadable() method, we're trying to make the file readable and getting the result in boolean variable. Then we're printing the status of file as readable using canRead() method and result is printed.

FileDemo.java

package com.tutorialspoint;

import java.io.File;

public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      boolean bool = false;      
      try {     
      
         // create new File objects
         f = new File("F:/test.txt");
         
         // set readable as true for owner
         bool = f.setReadable(true, true);
         
         // prints
         System.out.println("setReadable() succeeded?: "+bool);
         
         // can read
         bool = f.canRead();
         
         // prints
         System.out.print("Can read?: "+bool);
         
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result−

setReadable() succeeded?: true
Can read?: true

Now, you can check that file is renamed.

Example - Usage of File setReadable(boolean readable, boolean ownerOnly) method

The following example shows the usage of Java File setReadable(boolean readable, boolean ownerOnly) method. We've created a File reference. Then we're creating a File Object using a file path which is present in the given location and was made readable in previous example. Using setReadable() method, we're trying to make the file non-readable and getting the result in boolean variable. Then we're printing the status of file as readable using canRead() method and result is printed.

FileDemo.java

package com.tutorialspoint;

import java.io.File;

public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      boolean bool = false;      
      try {     
      
         // create new File objects
         f = new File("F:/test.txt");
         
         // set readable as true for all
         bool = f.setReadable(true, false);
         
         // prints
         System.out.println("setReadable() succeeded?: "+bool);
         
         // can read
         bool = f.canRead();
         
         // prints
         System.out.print("Can read?: "+bool);
         
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result−

setReadable() succeeded?: true
Can read?: true

Example - Setting Read Permission for Owner and All Users

The following example shows the usage of Java File setReadable(boolean readable, boolean ownerOnly) method.

FileDemo.java

package com.tutorialspoint;

import java.io.File;

public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      // Create a File object representing an existing file
      File file = new File("example.txt");

      // Check if the file exists
      if (file.exists()) {
         // Set read permission only for the owner
         if (file.setReadable(true, true)) {
            System.out.println("File is readable only by the owner: " + file.getAbsolutePath());
         } else {
            System.out.println("Failed to set read permission for the owner.");
         }

         // Set read permission for all users
         if (file.setReadable(true, false)) {
            System.out.println("File is now readable by all users.");
         } else {
            System.out.println("Failed to set read permission for all users.");
         }
      } else {
         System.out.println("File does not exist.");
      }
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result−

File is readable only by the owner: C:\Users\YourName\example.txt
File is now readable by all users.

Explanation

• The program creates a File object for "example.txt".

• It first checks if the file exists before modifying its permissions.

• It calls setReadable(true, true) to grant read permission only to the owner.

• It then calls setReadable(true, false) to grant read permission to all users.

• It prints messages indicating whether the operations were successful.