docs: private File getWorkDir() throws IOException
      {
          if (_workDir == null)
          {    
              File   dummy   = File.createTempFile("dummy", ".log");
              String workDir = dummy.getPath().substring(0, dummy.getPath().lastIndexOf(File.separatorChar));
      
              if ((workDir == null) || (workDir.length() == 0))
              {
                  workDir = ".";
              }
              dummy.delete();
              _workDir = new File(workDir);
          }
          return _workDir;
      }