JetBrains/intellij-community · error · ConfigurationException

Enter {0} file location

Error message

Enter {0} file location

What it means

Thrown by NamePathComponent.validateNameAndPath() when the project directory path field is empty or whitespace-only. Without a location the wizard cannot create the project directory or place the project file, so validation prompts for the location.

Source

Thrown at java/idea-ui/src/com/intellij/ide/util/projectWizard/NamePathComponent.java:157

    String baseDir = context.getProjectFileDirectory();
    String projectName = context.getProjectName();
    String initialProjectName = projectName != null ? projectName : ProjectWizardUtil.findNonExistingFileName(baseDir, "untitled", "");
    component.setPath(projectName == null ? (baseDir + File.separator + initialProjectName) : baseDir);
    component.setNameValue(initialProjectName);
    component.getNameComponent().select(0, initialProjectName.length());
    return component;
  }

  public boolean validateNameAndPath(WizardContext context, boolean defaultFormat) throws ConfigurationException {
    String name = getNameValue();
    if (StringUtil.isEmptyOrSpaces(name)) {
      ApplicationNamesInfo info = ApplicationNamesInfo.getInstance();
      throw new ConfigurationException(JavaUiBundle.message("prompt.new.project.file.name", info.getFullProductName(), context.getPresentationName()));
    }

    String projectDirectoryPath = getPath();
    if (StringUtil.isEmptyOrSpaces(projectDirectoryPath)) {
      throw new ConfigurationException(JavaUiBundle.message("prompt.enter.project.file.location", context.getPresentationName()));
    }
    if (myShouldBeAbsolute && !new File(projectDirectoryPath).isAbsolute()) {
      throw new ConfigurationException(JavaUiBundle.message("file.location.should.be.absolute", StringUtil.capitalize(context.getPresentationName())));
    }

    boolean shouldPromptCreation = isPathChangedByUser();
    String message = JavaUiBundle.message("directory.project.file.directory", context.getPresentationName());
    if (!ProjectWizardUtil.createDirectoryIfNotExists(message, projectDirectoryPath, shouldPromptCreation)) {
      return false;
    }

    File projectDirectory = new File(projectDirectoryPath);
    if (projectDirectory.exists() && !projectDirectory.canWrite()) {
      throw new ConfigurationException(JavaUiBundle.message("project.directory.is.not.writable", projectDirectoryPath));
    }
    for (Project p : ProjectManager.getInstance().getOpenProjects()) {
      if (ProjectUtil.isSameProject(projectDirectory.toPath(), p)) {
        throw new ConfigurationException(JavaUiBundle.message("project.directory.is.already.taken", projectDirectoryPath, p.getName()));

View on GitHub (pinned to be881553f2)

Solutions

1. Enter or restore the project location path in the wizard
2. Use the '...' browse button to re-select a directory so the field is repopulated canonically
3. In plugin code, always call component.setPath(baseDir + File.separator + name) before validate()

Example fix

// before
component.setNameValue("my-app");
// path field empty
component.validateNameAndPath(context, true); // ConfigurationException: enter file location

// after
component.setNameValue("my-app");
component.setPath("/home/user/IdeaProjects/my-app");
component.validateNameAndPath(context, true);

if (component.getPath() == null || component.getPath().trim().isEmpty()) {
  component.setPath(baseDir + File.separator + suggestedName);
}
component.validateNameAndPath(context, true);

When it happens

Trigger: Calling validateNameAndPath(context, defaultFormat) while getPath() returns empty — the path field was cleared or never initialized (headless reuse of the component without setPath).

Common situations: User wipes the location field in New Project dialog; custom wizard step embedding NamePathComponent does not pre-set path from the previously chosen directory; drag-select accidentally deletes the path text.

Related errors

• Enter {0} file location
• Enter module file location
• Enter a file name to create a new {0} {1}
• {0} location path should be absolute
• Enter a file name to create a new {0} {1}

AI-assisted analysis of JetBrains/intellij-community@be881553f2 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/3e0da951799bae69. Report an issue: GitHub.