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Documentation Index

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A transaction that creates a new file on a Hedera network. The file is referenced by its file ID which can be obtained from the receipt or record once the transaction reaches consensus on a Hedera network. The file does not have a file name. If the file is too big to create with a single FileCreateTransaction(), the file can be appended with the remaining content multiple times using the FileAppendTransaction().
The maximum file size is 1,024 kB.
Transaction Signing Requirements
  • The key on the file is required to sign the transaction if different than the client operator account key
Transaction Fees
  • Please see the transaction and query fees table for base transaction fee
  • Please use the Hedera fee estimator to estimate your transaction fee cost

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File Properties

FieldDescription
Key(s)Set the keys which must sign any transactions modifying this file (the owner(s) of the file). All keys must sign to modify the file’s contents or keys. No key is required to sign for extending the expiration time (except the one for the operator account paying for the transaction). The network currently requires a file to have at least one key (or key list or threshold key) but this requirement may be lifted in the future.
ContentsThe contents of the file. The file contents can be recovered from requesting the FileContentsQuery. Note that the total size for a given transaction is limited to 6KiB (as of March 2020) by the network; if you exceed this you may receive a TRANSACTION_OVERSIZE error.
Expiration TimeSet the instant at which this file will expire, after which its contents will no longer be available. Defaults to 1/4 of a Julian year from the instant was invoked.
MemoShort publicly visible memo about the file. No guarantee of uniqueness. (100 characters max)

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Methods

ConstructorDescription
new FileCreateTransaction()Initializes the FileCreateTransaction object
new FileCreateTransaction()
The default max transaction fee (1 hbar) is not enough to create a a file. Use setDefaultMaxTransactionFee()to change the default max transaction fee from 1 hbar to 2 hbars.
MethodTypeRequirement
setKeys(<keys>)KeyRequired
setContents(<contents>)StringOptional
setContents(<bytes>)bytes [ ]Optional
setExpirationTime(<expirationTime>)InstantOptional
setFileMemo(<memo>)StringOptional
//Create the transaction
FileCreateTransaction transaction = new FileCreateTransaction()
    .setKeys(fileKey) 
    .setContents(fileContents);
        
//Change the default max transaction fee to 2 hbars
FileCreateTransaction modifyMaxTransactionFee = transaction.setMaxTransactionFee(new Hbar(2)); 

//Prepare transaction for signing, sign with the key on the file, sign with the client operator key and submit to a Hedera network
TransactionResponse txResponse = modifyMaxTransactionFee.freezeWith(client).sign(fileKey).execute(client);

//Request the receipt
TransactionReceipt receipt = txResponse.getReceipt(client);

//Get the file ID
FileId newFileId = receipt.fileId;

System.out.println("The new file ID is: " + newFileId);

//v2.0.0

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Get transaction values

MethodTypeRequirement
getKeys()KeyOptional
getContents()ByteStringOptional
getExpirationTime()InstantOptional
getFileMemo()StringOptional
//Create the transaction
FileCreateTransaction transaction = new FileCreateTransaction()
    .setKeys(key)
    .setContents(fileContents);
        
//Get the file contents
ByteString getContents = transaction.getContents();