FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.6.0-rc"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.6.0-rc-b70)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.6.0-rc-b70, mixed mode, sharing)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows XP [version 5.1.2600]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
All methods of java.awt.Desktop only work if
path are canonical (at least on windows).



STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
run the test case

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
open an explorer on the current directory.
ACTUAL -
an IOException (see below)

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
Exception in thread "main" java.io.IOException: Failed to open file:/C:/java/workspace/java-patch/./. Error message: Le chemin d'accès spécifié est introuvable.

at sun.awt.windows.WDesktopPeer.ShellExecute(WDesktopPeer.java:59)
at sun.awt.windows.WDesktopPeer.browse(WDesktopPeer.java:52)
at java.awt.Desktop.browse(Desktop.java:348)
at DesktopBug.main(DesktopBug.java:11)

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import java.awt.Desktop;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.URI;

public class DesktopBug {
   public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
    Desktop desktop=Desktop.getDesktop();
    URI uri=new File(".").toURI();
    //URI uri=new File(".").getCanonicalFile().toURI(); // works
    desktop.browse(uri);
  }
}

---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
use getCanonical() before transform the Fil to an URI.