Java Weka - Cannot create a new output file. Standard out is used

Question

I have a Java program that converts CSV files to Weka's ARFF format.

It works perfectly the first time it's run in any given session, however it subsequently always fails with the message:

Cannot create a new output file. Standard out is used.

Here's the program:

import java.io.File;
import weka.core.Instances;
import weka.core.converters.ArffSaver;
import weka.core.converters.CSVLoader;

public class CSV2Arff {
      /**
   * takes 2 arguments:
   * - CSV input file
   * - ARFF output file
     * @param args
     * @throws java.lang.Exception
   */
  public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
    if (args.length != 2) {
      System.out.println("\nUsage: CSV2Arff <input.csv> <output.arff>\n");
      System.exit(1);
    }

    // load CSV
    CSVLoader loader = new CSVLoader();
    loader.setSource(new File(args[0]));
    Instances data = loader.getDataSet();

    // save ARFF
    ArffSaver saver = new ArffSaver();
    saver.setInstances(data);
    saver.setFile(new File(args[1]));
    //saver.setDestination(new File(args[1]));
    saver.writeBatch();
  }
}

Full error from console:

Oct 31, 2016 3:53:39 PM org.apache.coyote.AbstractProtocol start
INFO: Starting ProtocolHandler ["http-nio-8080"]
Oct 31, 2016 3:53:39 PM org.apache.coyote.AbstractProtocol start
INFO: Starting ProtocolHandler ["ajp-nio-8009"]
Oct 31, 2016 3:53:39 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina start
INFO: Server startup in 6142 ms
Cannot create a new output file. Standard out is used.

Answer 1

According to weka mail list, this error is a file issue. Other emails suggest to use Java I/O approch to save arff file.

This error is coming from the CSVSaver and indicates that it is unable 
to create the directory and/or file that you've specified. More than 
likely it is something to do with permissions on where it is trying to 
write to.

Try following code.

import java.io.FileWriter;
import java.io.BufferedWriter;
import java.io.File;
import weka.core.Instances;
import weka.core.converters.ArffSaver;
import weka.core.converters.CSVLoader;

public class CSV2Arff {
      /**
   * takes 2 arguments:
   * - CSV input file
   * - ARFF output file
     * @param args
     * @throws java.lang.Exception
   */
  public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
    if (args.length != 2) {
      System.out.println("\nUsage: CSV2Arff <input.csv> <output.arff>\n");
      System.exit(1);
    }

    // load CSV
    CSVLoader loader = new CSVLoader();
    loader.setSource(new File(args[0]));
    Instances data = loader.getDataSet();
    String fileName = args[1];


    // save ARFF
    BufferedWriter writer = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter(fileName));
    writer.write(data.toString());
    writer.flush();
    writer.close();

  }
}