How to load a text file from classpath to a String[] in Java

Question

Im trying to read the content from a text file to a String. In the Netbeans IDE everthing works perfectly, but if I compile nothing works.

Here's my code:

private String[] getSplashes(String Name) {
    String[] sp = null;
    try {
        String content = new Scanner(new File(getClass().getResource(Name).getFile())).useDelimiter("\\Z").next();
        sp = content.split(";");
    } catch (IOException ex) {
    }
    return sp;
}

Here's the exception I get:

Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.NullPointerException
    at jumpover.MenuDrawing.getRandomSplash(MenuDrawing.java:51)
    at jumpover.MenuDrawing.<init>(MenuDrawing.java:47)
    at jumpover.JOFrame.<init>(JOFrame.java:18)
    at jumpover.JOFrame.lambda$main$0(JOFrame.java:46)
    at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch(Unknown Source)
    at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(Unknown Source)
    at java.awt.EventQueue.access$500(Unknown Source)
    at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
    at java.security.ProtectionDomain$JavaSecurityAccessImpl.doIntersectionPrivilege(Unknown Source)
    at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(Unknown Source)
    at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(Unknown Source)
    at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(Unknown Source)
    at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(Unknown Source)
    at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(Unknown Source)
    at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(Unknown Source)
    at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(Unknown Source)

I don't know what I am doing wrong!

In the Netbeans IDE everthing works perfectly, but if I compile nothing works. you mean when you try to compile externally using javac command ? — Anand Undavia
– Anand Undavia, Commented Mar 8, 2017 at 14:13
Possible duplicate of What is simplest way to read a file into String? — Pushkarraj Pujari
– Pushkarraj Pujari, Commented Mar 8, 2017 at 14:13

Robert · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-08 14:12:52Z

4

Use getClass().getResourceAsStream(Name)

instead of

new File(getClass().getResource(Name).getFile())

In the end you get:

String content = new Scanner(getClass().getResourceAsStream(Name)).useDelimiter("\\Z").next();

Accessing a resource as a file is always a bad idea as the resource can be inside of a JAR file and therefore not directly accessible as common file. However if you access it as stream you can always access it.

answered Mar 8, 2017 at 14:12

Robert

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2 Comments

GPI Over a year ago

Maybe a good time to link to documentation : stackoverflow.com/documentation/java/2433/… and/or stackoverflow.com/documentation/java/3720/the-classpath/14224/…

amsjntz Over a year ago

Thank you Robert! Works perfectly! :)

The Appsolit · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-08 14:38:51Z

1

if you generate a jar file you have to put the txt file in the same folder as jar's folder.

answered Mar 8, 2017 at 14:38

The Appsolit

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