Retrieving .txt file from jar for an applet

Question

I guess this is a newbie question but i checked the tutorial sessions and i am doing exactly what it says there but still...no luck:
I'm trying to access a .txt. file stored in the .jar file where my applet .class file is stored. I'm using:
String s = "myfile.txt";
// get current Class loader
ClassLoader cl = this.getClass().getClassLoader();
FileInputStream is = new FileInputStream((cl.getResource(s)).toString());
BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));But when the applet is viewer from the browser or from the appletviewer, i'm getting the FileNotFoundException:
java.io.FileNotFoundException: jar:file:\C:\FeatureSelection\sFeatureSelection.jar!\myfile.txt (The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect)
I tried to use the following instead:
FileInputStream is = new FileInputStream((myApplet.class.getResource(s)).toString());orFileInputStream is = new FileInputStream((getClass().getResource(s)).toString());but the same exception is still there.
The jar file and the html file are all stored in this directory C:\FeatureSelection\
The signed jar file is called sFeatureSelection.jar
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

Answer 1

One way to get at files in a jar is to put the jar in the CLASSPATH and then just refer to the resource by its path in the jar. If the same path occurs in two different jars, then you only get the first one, based on the order of the jars in CLASSPATH, I think.
The classloader is involved, which can be confusing, but an easy way to try this is:
String s = "myfile.txt";
URL u = this.class.getClassLoader().getResource(s);
Object o = u.getContent();Now, you only really know that something matched that path and now it is in a URL.
I think the Object will be a stream and you have to read() it or something.
BTW: I encourage you to examine the URL, but it is not necessary to do so.
If you have somehitng like a GIF image, then here is an example of how to work with that:
http://www.devx.com/tips/Tip/5697
Here is a way to get the bytes without involved the ClassLoader:
http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/javatips/jw-javatip49.html
Take your pick.