URLConnection and getOutputStream()

Question

This is not a question, but more of a rant.
I'm writing an application which keeps data files in the same folder or sub-folders as itself. Obviously, it will read from and write to these files.
I cannot just specify the file name (using only the path from the app directory onward), because the working directory might be different - it depends upon the user and how 'clever' he/she is being. If so, the file will not exist, of course.
So I use the old getClass().getResource() approach. To get an InputStream from this is fine. However,trying to get an OutputStream (using getClass().getResource().openConnection().getOutputStream()) returns a java.net.UnknownServiceException, with a message telling me 'protocol doesn't support output'. What? URLConnection can't write to normal files? Doesn't seem to make sense...
And I certainly cannot use new FileOutputStream(getClass().getResource().getFile()); because this will return a Standard formatted URL, i.e. the spaces in the path will be %20, etc. But because SUN have not re-opened the bug on this (I forget the bug id at the moment) the getFile() method does not actually return a valid File. This would be no problem if the user installs to a path with no spaces, but I don't see why they should have to, as most people are used to this from windows.
The major problem I have with deploying applications is how to make them 'user-proof'. Forget the 'do I use an executable jar' or 'how do I make an exe from my jar' questions. This is far more irritating to figure out.
grr

Answer 1

And I certainly cannot use
newFileOutputStream(getClass().getResource().getFile());
because this will return a Standard formatted
URL, i.e. the spaces in the path will be %20, etc.Just decode the URL yourself then:
String path =
URLDecoder.decode(getClass().getResource().getPath());
File file = new File(path);
new FileOutputStream(file);(I can't remember if you should use getPath() or
getFile() on the URL. Experiment with it.)Thanks pervel! I'll give it a try.