With maven, how can I get the absolute path to where my root pom is?

Question

I need to get the absolute path to a subdirectory located just below where my root pom is. For example the pom is at: c:\somepath\pom.xml I need to get the absolute path to: c:\somepath\myIncludes\ I need this while building in a pom with a path like one these: c:\somepath\subdir1\pom.xml c:\somepath\subdir1\evendeeperdir\pom.xml

To try to stave off comments about how this is a dumb thing to need, I need this because:

The C++ code that gets built by the pom needs a path to includes.
There are multiple C++ projects with different relative paths ( so even though relative paths can work, it is too tedious and error prone to use multiple relative paths )
The project is mostly java (so I want to build it all with maven)
The whole thing is giant and legacy, so I cannot make sweeping changes in the structure.

Try with ${project.basedir} [here](https://maven.apache.org/guides/introduction/introduction-to-the-pom.html) there are some information about pom — giuseppe straziota, Jun 09 '16 at 15:42
That almost works, but, I just realized I need a the directory a parent pom is in. So that I can set the path once from it and use it in child poms that are at different depths in the directory structure ( I will modify the question ) — Solx, Jun 09 '16 at 15:48
@Solx Well then simply use `${project.basedir}/../myIncludes`. It is messy but will work. — Tunaki, Jun 09 '16 at 16:46
I think you should take a look at https://github.com/maven-nar/nar-maven-plugin — khmarbaise, Jun 09 '16 at 17:42
@Tunaki I believe I found that ${project.basedir} varies by which pom you are 'running' so if you are using ${project.basedir} in the parent pom but running maven from a child pom, then ${project.basedir} gets the child poms path. — Solx, Jun 14 '16 at 21:00
@Solx That is correct, but you should probably not run Maven from a child pom to begin with ;). — Tunaki, Jun 14 '16 at 21:01

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 23 '21 at 20:11

2

Declare a property in root pom as <properties><rootdirectory>${project.basedir}\myIncludes</rootdirectory> </properties>

For child pom's, override the the value of rootdirectory as <properties> <rootdirectory>${project.parent.basedir}\myIncludes</rootdirectory> </properties>

answered Mar 23 '21 at 20:11

Deeksha Singh Thakur

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10

Interesting, what if I need it in a pom under that child, would I need to do something like: ${project.parent.parent.basedir}\whatever – Solx Mar 24 '21 at 19:55
1

@Solx thats right. It was the cleanest way I could find that worked. – Deeksha Singh Thakur Mar 30 '21 at 12:46

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 09 '16 at 15:42

0

Create an env variable by adding a property to the maven profile settings`

<profile>
        <id>local-properties</id>
        <properties>
            <SOME_PATH>yourPath</SOME_PATH>
        </properties>
</profile>

answered Jun 09 '16 at 15:42

kyserslick

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This will be use by various people with varying absolute paths. I am looking for a method that automatically determines the path. – Solx Jun 09 '16 at 15:52
@Solx have you found this solution? – ypriverol Dec 12 '17 at 11:18
The solution I ended up using was to put a file with a specific name in the top directory and then running a groovy script to walk up directories to find it. – Solx Jan 11 '18 at 03:05

score 0 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:53

0

Once upon a time I needed to do something similar, but I needed a version. Perhaps you can adapt the procedure in this answer to determine a root directory.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:53

Community

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1

answered Jun 09 '16 at 20:06

user944849

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This looks like it might do it, but I cannot figure out what other attributes rootPom has. I am really hoping one is its path. – Solx Jun 10 '16 at 13:36
rootPom is just a Maven POM with all the properties a POM has in the [Maven API](http://maven.apache.org/ref/3.3.9/maven-core/apidocs/index.html?org/apache/maven/Maven.html). As I read the question, I think `rootPom.basedir` is what you're looking for. – user944849 Jun 10 '16 at 15:52
I used your idea to work out a solution. I used gmaven (groovy) to get the path to the pom is being built. Then I used goovy to extract the part of the path I needed. The solution is a real mess, but will give me the path. – Solx Jun 10 '16 at 20:02
But I will try your suggestion for 'rootPom.basedir' as soon as I get a chance, if it works it will be much cleaner. I am going to mark this an the answer because it pointed me to the means to do what I needed, and may help someone else in the future. – Solx Jun 10 '16 at 20:03

With maven, how can I get the absolute path to where my root pom is?

3 Answers3