getting file path in the servlet...

[vasu devan]

Hi All,
I have a servlet which reads the information from a file 'myfile.txt'.
My requirement is that I should not hard code the file path in the servlet. If that is the case wher do I set the file path, so that when the servlet is invoked it gets the file path and does the reading process.
Is there also any specific directory where I should keep the above mentioned file.
Please throw some light on the above problem.
Thanks
Vasu

[David O'Meara]

If you put the file in the web-inf/classes directory, you can use the local ClassLoader to find the file for you.
Try something like this in your servlet:

URL fileURL = this.getClass().getResource("/myFile.txt");

Then you should be able to open it with a FileInputStream or whatever you want...
Dave

[vasu devan]

Hi David O'Meara,
As you suggested I tried keeping the myFile.txt in WEB-INF/classes dir. But stil my servlet is not in position to resolve the particular file.
Moreover as a project requirement, the file can be in any directory,in that case where do I mentioned the path, so that my servlet opens the file and read the content.
Can any one help me in resolving the above issue.
Thanks,
Vasu.

[William Brogden]

I like to use an <init-param> in the web.xml file to designate a working directory for reading and writing data. Not as portable as using WEB-INF/ but more flexible.
Bill