How to make a resource file available in a jar?

Question

I have a jar and resource files are in the jar root directory. Inside the code I have:

Kernel.class.getResourceAsStream(resource);

I start the application as

java -cp myjar.jar com.mycompany.MyClass

However, the resource is not found.

Jar files have a "class-path" manifest entry which defines the class path Java should use to find dependencies. I believe -cp will override this, but it's been so long since I tried anything like this I could be wrong. Besides, -cp is only defining a single entry, it should be listing ALL the Jar's, which why it's better to use the Jar class-path manifest entry — MadProgrammer
– MadProgrammer, Commented Jun 8, 2018 at 23:33
This might very well be a duplicate of stackoverflow.com/questions/16570523/… — fvu
– fvu, Commented Jun 8, 2018 at 23:36
Please show output of jar tvf myjar.jar for the resource files. Also be certain you have a leading "/" in your resource. — Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen, Commented Jun 8, 2018 at 23:42
Kernel.class.getResourceAsStream(resource); Not nearly enough information to help solve this. What is the value of resource? What is the listing of the Jar content (see comment of @ThorbjørnRavnAndersen)? For better help sooner, post a minimal reproducible example or Short, Self Contained, Correct Example. — Andrew Thompson
– Andrew Thompson, Commented Jun 9, 2018 at 2:10

Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-08 23:37:10Z

1

You need your current directory in your classpath.

Linux:

java -cp myjar.jar:. com.mycompany.MyClass

Windows:

java -cp myjar.jar;. com.mycompany.MyClass

answered Jun 8, 2018 at 23:37

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2 Comments

Even with and resource files are in the jar root directory ?

I was wondering because I read it as the root of the jarfile. OP should probably add some more info to the question.

Alex · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-11 20:14:00Z

I needed to precede the resource name by slash "/". Then finding the resource in the jar root directory works fine