Opening a file from a java app (not applet)

Question

My program can't find the text file I'm trying to open in my stand-alone java app. I am specifying it like this:
File filename = new File("myfile.txt");
FileReader = new FileReader(filename);
It is in the same directly as the class files. It won't find it when it's in a jar file either. I had a similar problem with an applet a lont time ago, but that turned out to be a security issue, which I assume normal apps don't have.
So, what's up with this?

Answer 1

If system become larger, there are duplicated files
can be found in different directories.
Using classpath may cause problem, if there are
duplicated file name.
If you are coding, you should know exact location of
the file to be opened.
"system become larger" - huh? You control the classpath on a per-app basis, not one huge monolithic classpath containing all jars/folders for all apps.
It's common, well-designed practice to use the classpath. It's bad practice to hard-code directory names and expect all deployments of the app to follow the same directory naming convention. I wouldn't want you to dictate to me where to put the file on my hard drive. I should be able to install it anywhere I want, and let it find it (via the classpath, in this instance).