Getting a resource in a web container

[Satish Chilukuri]

I want to read a file which I have put under WEB-INF/lib folder. But a I don't want to use a hardcoded reference to that file. I'm using getResource() method on ClassLoader. But i'm a getting a null reference. I have configured the server to use only one classloader for the entire application. To be on a safe side, I'm trying to get the resource on all classloaders like this:

ClassLoader loader = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
URL url = null;
while (true) {
url = loader.getResource("filename");
loader = loader.getParent();
if(url != null || loader == null) {
break;
}
}
if(url!=null) {
FileReader reader = new FileReader(url.getFile());
}

But still, it is not able to find the file.

Is there anything wrong with my approach?

[Manuel Moons]

Are you trying to load a resource in a jar file? If not you can try to put the file in a jar file. If will be put into the classpath and then it will become available using the classloader (getResource).

[Satish Chilukuri]

Originally posted by Manuel Moons:
Are you trying to load a resource in a jar file? If not you can try to put the file in a jar file. If will be put into the classpath and then it will become available using the classloader (getResource).

Yes if I do that, it is able to locate the file. But it is giving the file path as /WEB-INF/lib/files.jar!/config.xml and the FileReader is throwing an exception. files.jar is where I put the file "config.xml".

But if i put the file under WEB-INF/classes it is working fine.

[Manuel Moons]

Ah yes, you can also put it in the classes folder (I forgot about that, it's been a long time since I developed a webapp).

You can also use the getResourceAsStream method. You do not have to use a FileInputStream in that case since you already have a stream open to that file. It's just an idea, but that will work for both the resource in the jar and in the classes folder.

[Satish Chilukuri]

Using the getResourceAsStream() is working fine. Thanks!!