Classpath messages_xx.properties files not included in JAR

Question

I've run into some problems when practicing with Maven in IntelliJ and somehow the resource files in my class path never gets included in the built JAR.

My module structure:

src/main/java/com/abc/Main.class                
src/main/java/com/abc/Messages.class            
src/main/java/com/abc/messages_en.properties    the not included resource files.
src/main/java/com/abc/messages_es.properties    
src/main/resources/                             misc resources

Project builds successfully, but when I run the JAR file, I would receive a error message as below. And when I unpacked the JAR file, the messages_xx.properties files are missing.

Exception in thread "main" java.util.MissingResourceException: Can't find bundle for base name com.abc.messages, locale en
        at java.util.ResourceBundle.throwMissingResourceException(ResourceBundle.java:1564)
        at java.util.ResourceBundle.getBundleImpl(ResourceBundle.java:1387)
        at java.util.ResourceBundle.getBundle(ResourceBundle.java:845)
        at org.jis.Messages.<init>(Messages.java:42)
        at org.jis.Main.main(Main.java:205)

My pom.xml:

<build>
  <plugins>
    <plugin>
      <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
      <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
      <version>2.6</version>
      <configuration>
        <includes>
          <include>${basedir}/src/main/java/com/abc/*.properties</include>
        </includes>
        <archive>
          <manifest>
            <mainClass>com.abc.Main</mainClass>
            <addClasspath>true</addClasspath>
          </manifest>
        </archive>
      </configuration>
    </plugin>
  </plugins>
</build>

Came across many similar threads on SO but the solutions don't seem to fit my case. Any suggestions what's happening here? I've been trying to figure out why this happened for a while now but haven't found an answer yet. It would be great if someone could give me some hints. Thanks a lot.

Did you check [this answer](http://stackoverflow.com/a/4509391/104891)? Does it help? — CrazyCoder, Apr 28 '17 at 02:59
@CrazyCoder I'm tempted to remove my answer and mark this question as a duplicate of your link... — Steve C, Apr 28 '17 at 03:06
@CrazyCoder No. :( All the other resources (images) in src/main/resources/ got replaced by those 2 *.properties files and the program won't work. — Known Zeta, Apr 28 '17 at 03:15
Well, add multiple resource directories and patterns so that all of them are processed. — CrazyCoder, Apr 28 '17 at 03:17

Steve C · Answer 1 · 2017-04-28T03:36:48.987

0

Maven expects to find

src/main/java/com/abc/messages_en.properties
src/main/java/com/abc/messages_es.properties

in

src/main/resources/com/abc/messages_en.properties
src/main/resources/com/abc/messages_es.properties

Resource files in src/main/java will not finish up in the resulting jar file because

the maven-compiler-plugin compiles the java sources and outputs them to target/classes
the maven-resources-plugin copies (and perhaps filters) files (including their directory structure) from 'src/main/resourcesintotarget/classes`
the maven-jar-plugin then builds the jar from the content of target/classes

So just move your properties files and stop wrestling with the maven way of doing things.

edited Apr 28 '17 at 03:36

answered Apr 28 '17 at 03:04

Steve C

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Thanks! Is there really no (easy) way around except placing properties files in src/main/resources and change the code? Not that I'm not willing to change the code, just would love to know... – Known Zeta Apr 28 '17 at 03:21
Code changes are not required as long as you maintain the com/abc package structure in the resources directory – Steve C Apr 28 '17 at 03:23

Classpath messages_xx.properties files not included in JAR

1 Answers1