Please help with the URL class

Question

Hello,
I am trying to write a Java app that will take a url and download it.
I believe you can do this with the URL class but I don't understand how to. For example, if the http url location points to a picture file, how would I code the app to retrieve this picture and save it to a specified directory?
Also, is there a way that my java app could open another program, let's say Microsoft Internet Explorer?
Please be as specific as possible, thanks!

Answer 1

You'll see below an example to download a file
private static String copyFile (String url, String nomFichier){
     // construction du fichier de sortie
     File outputFile = new File(repertoire + "\\fichiers\\" + nomFichier);
     // si le fichier existe d�j�, il ne sert � rien de le t�l�charger !
if (outputFile.exists())
     return "fichiers/" + nomFichier;
          try {     
     HttpURLConnection connect = (HttpURLConnection)new URL(url).openConnection();
boolean connected = false;
while (!connected){
try {
connect.connect();
connected = true;
     catch (java.io.IOException e1) { System.out.print("...Tentative de connection"); }     
DataInputStream reader = new DataInputStream(
connect.getInputStream());
     FileOutputStream out = new FileOutputStream(outputFile);
     int length = 1024;
     byte[] buf = new byte[length];
     int offset = 0;
     long offsetCourant = 0;
     int nb=0;
     while ((nb=reader.read(buf,offset,length))!= -1) {
          out.write(buf,0,nb);
     out.close();
     catch (java.net.MalformedURLException e) { System.out.println("pb d'url"); }
     catch (java.io.IOException e1) { System.out.println(e1.getMessage()); }
     return "fichiers/" + nomFichier;
}