Can't read files on network shared folder [webbapp is over tomcat as a service]

Question

I've a web application on Tomcat 7.0.57 on Windows 8.1 running it as a service, that is instructed to copy a file on a locally network shared directory, for example \\Network_machine\Shared_folder, but it's not able to do so.

I am able to access the shared folder in windows explorer without any authentication, as it has permission to read for everyone. The following code is checking for the directory exist:

  String sourceURL = this.servletContext.getInitParameter("sourceURL");
  log.debug("---------->Source reports directory : " + sourceURL);
  File sourceDir = new File(sourceURL);
  log.debug("---------->Source directory exists : "+sourceDir.exists());
  if (sourceDir.exists()) {
    String files[] = sourceDir.list();
    log.debug("----------> Total files in source dir :" + files.length);
    List<String> newFiles = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(files));
    newFiles.removeAll(processedFiles);
    log.debug("----------> Latest files in source dir :" + newFiles.size());
    File file = null;
    if (newFiles.size() > 0) {
      for (String fileName : newFiles) {
        file = new File(sourceURL + Constants.FILE_SEP + fileName);
        latestSourceFiles.add(file);
      }
    }
  } else {
    log.debug("Source reports directory " + sourceURL + " is not found");
  }

Additional Info:

log - Source directory exists is returning 'FALSE'.

Answer 1

As Kenneth says, you need to map the shared folder to a drive and then write directly to that drive.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-shortcut-map-network-drive