How to close pictures that are opened by JAI.create("fileload",filename)

Question

After doing some deletion tests, it seems that all picture I'm loading with
JAI.create("fileload",filename) or JAI.create("filestore",pb) stay open and prevent me from deleting those pictures.
Do you have an idea on how I could close those pictures ?
thank you !
Edited by: dnlfrnc on Feb 13, 2008 10:42 AM

Answer 1

Short answer: you can't if you use JAI.create("fileload",filename) :you can't rely on making a call to the garbage collector, because you can't be sure it will work.
Instead, use the sream operator:
       FileSeekableStream stream = null;
        try {
            stream = new FileSeekableStream(sourceImageFile.getAbsolutePath());
            // use the stream operator because the fileload operator does not allow to release the handle on the opened file
            PlanarImage input = JAI.create("stream", stream);
            // do your stuff
        } finally {
            // close the stream.
            stream.close();
        } Why you don't have any means (besides gc, but I don't call that an option) of releasing the handle on a file you opened with the fileload operator is beyond me, though (especially as this operator is widely used in the tutorials, and thus is bond to end up in a lot of code)