How to load file from resources directory in Java

Question

I am trying to load a properties file directly from the resources directory of my Java project and am getting a null pointer exception. Can someone pl explain how to do it?

Code-

String resourceName = "config-values.properties"; 
Properties props = new Properties();
try(InputStream resourceStream = getClass().getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream(resourceName)) {
            props.load(resourceStream);
        }

My folder structure is - /src/packageName and /src/resources/

Answer 1

Following code expects that the resource, you are trying to access, exists in your class path.

getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream(resourceName))

Assuming that your file exists in src/resources: You may add src/resources/ in your classpath. I don't know which IDE are you using but here are some ways to add a directory in the classpath:

• Intelli J : how to add directory to classpath in an application run profile in intellij idea?
• Eclipse : How do I add a directory to the eclipse classpath?
• At run time : Can a directory be added to the class path at runtime?
• At command line : http://javarevisited.blogspot.com/2012/10/5-ways-to-add-multiple-jar-to-classpath-java.html

Answer 2

Adding another way to do it without stream

File ourFile = new File(getClass().getClassLoader().getResource("yourFile.txt").getFile());

and then you can do things like

ourFile.getAbsolutePath()

Answer 3

InputStream resourceStream  = 
 getClass().getResourceAsStream("/package/folder/foo.properties");

Try above code.

Hope this will helps.