getResourceAsStream returns null

Question

I\'m loading a text file from within a package in a compiled JAR of my Java project. The relevant directory structure is as follows:

/src/initialization/Life         


        

Answer 1

The rules are as follows:

1. check the location of the file you want to load inside the JAR (and thus also make sure it actually added to the JAR)
2. use either an absolute path: path starts at the root of the JAR
3. use an relative path: path starts at the package directory of the class you're calling getResource/ getResoucreAsStream

And try:

Lifepaths.class.getResourceAsStream("/initialization/Lifepaths.txt")

instead of

Lifepaths.class.getClass().getResourceAsStream("/initialization/Lifepaths.txt")

(not sure if it makes a difference, but the former will use the correct ClassLoader/ JAR, while I'm not sure with the latter)