Problem loading Properties file

Hi,

I have a properties file in the following path :
/WebContent/WEB-INF/systemoperations.properties

I am trying to load the properties file in my servlet init() method.

I tried the following code:
Properties properties =null;
InputStream inputStream = ClassLoader.getSystemResourceAsStream("WEB-INF/serviceoperations.properties");
properties = new Properties();
properties.load(inputStream);

but this piece of code is throwing a null pointer exception.

Please help me resolve this problem.

I am using Eclipse Europa.

Thanks!

Replace the code loading the file with this snippet.

Hi Pheonixashes,

ClassLoaders are typically used to load the binary name of a class. For more information on its usage please refer

ClassLoader
[ August 12, 2008: Message edited by: Schandha Ravi ]

Hi,

Thanks it worked.

May I know why the previous code didn't work?

I also tried the following:

InputStream inputStream = ctx.getResourceAsStream(ctx.getRealPath("serviceoperations.properties"));

ClassLoader classLoader = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();

InputStream inputStream =classLoader.getResourceAsStream("serviceoperations.properties");
URL url=classLoader.getResource("serviceoperations.properties");

I didnt understand why the above failed to load the file

Thanks very much!

Class loader only loads classes not property files

"pheonixashes11",
Welcome to the JavaRanch.

We're a friendly group, but we do require members to have valid display names.

Display names must be two words: your first name, a space, then your last name. Fictitious names are not allowed.

Please edit your profile and correct your display name since accounts with invalid display names get deleted.
[ August 12, 2008: Message edited by: David O'Meara ]

Originally posted by Muhammad Safwat:
Class loader only loads classes not property files

Not correct. The ClassLoader can be used to find any resource on the classpath and return an InputStream or URL, as is displayed in the examples above.

Originally posted by pheonixashes11:
May I know why the previous code didn't work?

The ClassLoader can only load from the ClassPath and the WEB-INF directory is not on the classpath. If you placed the properties in the WEB-INF/classes directory, you could have found the resource as /serviceoperations.properties

While finding resources in web applications via the context is useful in web applications, I prefer to default to the classpath mechanism as it will work in regular applications too.

Thanks a lot!!!

No charge, and welcome to the Ranch

I may not be saying this but if you read the link sheriff Dave provided above then it says

You can even use an initial or initials for the first name if you like (but not the last).

Sorry for pointing this out

Hi,

I have one more doubt.

How do I load the properties file when I am in a java bean?
I donot have a servlet config and context there right.

Originally posted by Bijju Kranthi:
How do I load the properties file when I am in a java bean?
I donot have a servlet config and context there right.

I assume, your bean is a simple POJO, with getters and setters. Having said that, why do you need to load the property file in your bean? Some other place might be better in this case. What say you.

If you want to load a properties file from a standalone java application you can use Classpath.getResourceAsStream() and the load the properties using Properties.load() Make sure your properties file is in classpath.