FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
$ java -version
java version " 1.7.0_15 "
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_15-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.7-b01, mixed mode)


ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Tested on Debian Squeeze with Kernel 2.6.32
$ uname -a
Linux lurkabove 2.6.32-matroxfb1000hz #3 SMP Fri Feb 17 20:41:15 CET 2012 x86_64 GNU/Linux

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
The java.awt.FileDialog opens the GTK Filechooser in Java 7. That Filechooser allows to enter the full path to the file into the " Location " textfield (It even allows completion, so pressing the " tab " key completes the next segment of the path if possible).

However, when doing this, Java correctly returns the selected _filename_, but ignores its real path and prepends it with the directory currently listed in the directory below the " Location " textfield. So instead of returning " /tmp/the_target_file " it returns " /currentdirectory/the_target_file " , if the content of " /currentdirectory " is displayed in the dialog.


STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Run the test case below from the Homedirectory (/home/username).

The FileDialog displays the content of " /home/username " . When selecting a File in that listing and pressing the " Open " button, the output is:

----------------/-----------------------
Directory: /home/username/
Filename: selected_file.txt
File[]: /home/username/selected_file.txt
----------------/-----------------------

which is correct.

If you do the same, but enter the full path to the file into the " Location " textbox to select " /tmp/the_other_file.txt " , the result is:
----------------/-----------------------
Directory: /home/username/
Filename: the_other_file.txt
File[]: /home/username/the_other_file.txt
----------------/-----------------------

which is obviously wrong.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Directory: /tmp/
Filename: the_other_file.txt
File[]: /tmp/the_other_file.txt
ACTUAL -
Directory: /home/username/
Filename: the_other_file.txt
File[]: /home/username/the_other_file.txt

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------

import java.awt.FileDialog;
import java.awt.Frame;
import java.io.File;

public class FileDialogTest {

  public static void main(String[] args){
    FileDialog d= new FileDialog((Frame) null);
    d.setVisible(true);
    System.out.println( " Directory: " +d.getDirectory());
    System.out.println( " Filename: " +d.getFile());
    for (File f : d.getFiles()){
      System.out.println( " File[]: " +f.getPath());
    }
    d.dispose();
  }
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------