Name: vi73552 Date: 04/07/99


There is a problem in the design of several methods of
java.io.File. Specifically, methods such as mkdir don't
return any indication of why they failed if they fail.

This means that a calling program has no further information
to use to take corrective action or to report to the user.

If something like mkdir() fails, there should be a reason
(e.g., already exists, some parent directory does not exist,
general IO error, IO permissions error (something other than
the existing SecurityException case)).

In that case, mkdir() should return information about the reason
(e.g., by throwing an exception whose class and message and/or
data contents carry that information).


DSB/DFI
(Review ID: 56635)
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