CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javafilejakarta-eeinputstreamproperties-file
AndreaNobili
AndreaNobili

Reputation: 42957

How can I retrieve an external .properties file in Java?

I have the following problem trying to load a properties file from a directory that is external to my project.

So my project have the following structure:

PROJECT-ROOT
     |
     |
     |-----> confi
     |
     |------> src
               |
               |
               |------> mainPkg (the package name)
                           |
                           |
                           |------> Main (the main class containing the main() method)

Ok so into the main class I need to load the config.properties file situated outside the project root folder (for example at the same level). So I think that config.properties file is external to the application classpath.

So I tried to do something like this:

InputStream input = new FileInputStream("../../config.properties");

or

InputStream input = new FileInputStream("../../../config.properties");

but don't work because I obtain the following exception:

java.io.FileNotFoundException: ..\..\config.properties (Impossibile trovare il file specificato)
    at java.io.FileInputStream.open(Native Method)
    at java.io.FileInputStream.<init>(FileInputStream.java:120)
    at java.io.FileInputStream.<init>(FileInputStream.java:79)
    at mainPkg.Main.main(Main.java:41)

If I use an absolute path like this it works:

InputStream input = new FileInputStream("C:\\Projects\\edi-sta\\config.properties");

and correctly retrieve the InputStrea object. But this is not good for my purpose because I can't use absolute path.

How can I retrieve my config.properties file that is situated at the same level of the project root folder using relative path?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 6676

Answers (2)

cigno5.5
cigno5.5

Reputation: 712

If the config.properties file is out of classpath you should use a folder as a starting point (for example user folder or current working folder).

Instead if the file is within your classpath you can try with this.class.getResourceAsStream or this.class.getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream().

In a simple context the difference between the two invokations is quite simple: this.class.getResoursceAsStream("config.properties") will return an InputStream if and only if the file is in the same package of class invoking the method.

Instead this.class.getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream("config.properites") will return the same InputStream only if the file is on the root of classpath. In this case you have to add "config" folder to the classpath

Upvotes: 2

Ravi K Thapliyal
Ravi K Thapliyal

Reputation: 51711

Your project root would be your programs's current working directory. So, you should try with

InputStream input = new FileInputStream("../config.properties");

This however is not the recommended setup. The file should be placed inside the project directory and should be jar'd appropriately if and when you publish your application.

Upvotes: 2

Related Questions