Trouble using exists() from File Class

Question

I'm trying to have the user input a filename, and then I'm storing the filename in a file object called childFile.
I'm having trouble with the conditional and boolean statements. The screen should print "I'm real" if the file exists, but it doesn't. It prints I don't exist every time, no matter what the user inputs.
I really appreciate any help.
import java.io.*;
import java.util.Scanner;
public class FileObject {
     public static void main(String[] args)
     throws java.io.IOException
          //boolean childFile.exists() = true;
          Scanner keyboard = new Scanner( System.in );
          System.out.print("Please enter the name of an existing file: ");
          String input = keyboard.nextLine().trim();
          File childFile = new File (input);
          File parentFile = new File( childFile.getCanonicalFile().getParent() );
          boolean exists = childFile.exists();
          if (exists)
               System.out.println("I'm real.");
          else
               System.out.println("I don't exist");
          System.out.println(childFile);
          System.out.println(parentFile);
          //displayFiles(list.listFiles(), indent + " ");
     //void displayFiles(File[]list, String indent) {

Answer 1

Use File.getAbsolutePath() to make sure your file is actually pointing where you think it's pointing