Java AWT | Desktop Class

The Desktop class is a part of Java AWT package. This class is used to launch associated applications registered on the native desktop to handle a URI or a file.

Important Points About Desktop Class :

• It can open a default web browser showing a specific URI
• It can launch default mail client with optional mailto URI
• It can launch a registered application to open, edit or print a specific file.

Different Methods in Desktop Class

Below programs illustrate the Desktop class in Java AWT:

• Program to Launch the browser and open a specific URI

  
  

  
  
  

  // Java Program to Launch the browser // and open a specific URI import java.awt.*; import javax.swing.*; import java.awt.event.*; import java.net.*;    class desk extends JFrame implements ActionListener {        // frame     static JFrame f;            // Main Method      public static void main(String args[])     {         desk d = new desk();            // create a frame         f = new JFrame("desktop");            // create a panel         JPanel p = new JPanel();            // create a button         JButton b = new JButton("launch");            // add Action Listener         b.addActionListener(d);            p.add(b);         f.add(p);         f.show();         f.setSize(200, 200);     }        // if button is pressed     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)     {         try {                // create a URI             URI u = new URI("www.geeksforgeeks.org");                Desktop d = Desktop.getDesktop();             d.browse(u);         }         catch (Exception evt) {         }     } }

  Output :

  

• Program to Launch the mail to a specific URI

  
  

  
  
  

  // Java Program to Launch the // mail to a specific URI import java.awt.*; import javax.swing.*; import java.awt.event.*; import java.net.*;    class desk extends JFrame implements ActionListener {        // frame     static JFrame f;        // Main Method     public static void main(String args[])     {         desk d = new desk();            // create a frame         f = new JFrame("desktop");            // create a panel         JPanel p = new JPanel();            // create a button         JButton b = new JButton("launch");            // add Action Listener         b.addActionListener(d);            p.add(b);         f.add(p);         f.show();         f.setSize(200, 200);     }        // if button is pressed     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)     {         try {             URI u = new URI("mailto:contribute@geeksforgeeks.org");                Desktop d = Desktop.getDesktop();             d.mail(u);         }         catch (Exception evt) {             JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, evt.getMessage());         }     } }

  Output:

  

• Program to open a file

  
  

  
  
  

  // Java Program to open a file import java.awt.*; import javax.swing.*; import java.awt.event.*; import java.io.*; import java.net.*; class desk extends JFrame implements ActionListener {     // frame     static JFrame f;             // Main Method     public static void main(String args[])     {         desk d = new desk();            // create a frame         f = new JFrame("desktop");            // create a panel         JPanel p = new JPanel();            // create a button         JButton b = new JButton("launch");            // add Action Listener         b.addActionListener(d);            p.add(b);         f.add(p);         f.show();         f.setSize(200, 200);     }        // if button is pressed     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)     {         try {                // create a file             File u = new File("f:\\image.png");                Desktop d = Desktop.getDesktop();             d.open(u);         }         catch (Exception evt) {             JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, evt.getMessage());         }     } }

  Output :
  

• Program to open a file for editing

  
  

  
  
  

  // Java Program to open a file for editing import java.awt.*; import javax.swing.*; import java.awt.event.*; import java.io.*; import java.net.*;    class desk extends JFrame implements ActionListener {        // frame     static JFrame f;        // Main Method     public static void main(String args[])     {         desk d = new desk();            // create a frame         f = new JFrame("desktop");            // create a panel         JPanel p = new JPanel();            // create a button         JButton b = new JButton("launch");            // add Action Listener         b.addActionListener(d);            p.add(b);         f.add(p);         f.show();         f.setSize(200, 200);     }        // if button is pressed     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)     {         try {                // create a file             File u = new File("f:\\sample.txt");                Desktop d = Desktop.getDesktop();             d.edit(u);         }         catch (Exception evt) {             JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, evt.getMessage());         }     } }

  Output :

  

• Program to open a file for printing

  
  

  
  
  

  // Java Program to open a file for printing import java.awt.*; import javax.swing.*; import java.awt.event.*; import java.io.*; import java.net.*;    class desk extends JFrame implements ActionListener {        // frame     static JFrame f;        // Main Method     public static void main(String args[])     {         desk d = new desk();            // create a frame         f = new JFrame("desktop");            // create a panel         JPanel p = new JPanel();            // create a button         JButton b = new JButton("launch");            // add Action Listener         b.addActionListener(d);            p.add(b);         f.add(p);         f.show();         f.setSize(200, 200);     }        // if button is pressed     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)     {         try {                // create a file             File u = new File("f:\\sample.txt");                Desktop d = Desktop.getDesktop();             d.print(u);         }         catch (Exception evt) {             JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, evt.getMessage());         }     } }

  Output :
  

Reference: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/awt/Desktop.html