locating the path to a jar file within a program

**nemo** · January 2nd, 2011, 04:33 PM

hello, i am writing a program which will be turned into an executable .jar file. i need to locate the directory in which the jar file is located, using code within the jar file. my code works only in the directory where my source code is located (not the .class files, the .java files).

public class Example{
        public static void main(String[] args){
                try{
                	String exampleClassDirectory = Example.class.getResource("Example.class").getPath();
                	File jarFileDirectory = new File(exampleClassDirectory).getParentFile();
                	String containingDirectory = jarFileDirectory.getParent();
                	JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(new JFrame(), containingDirectory,"Found jar file directory.",JOptionPane.PLAIN_MESSAGE);
                }
                catch(Exception e){
	                JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(new JFrame(), e.toString(),"error",JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
                }
        }
}

**javapenguin** · January 2nd, 2011, 04:37 PM

Put the Jar file in the same area as your code

You can find it under "Properties" if you're using Eclipse:

Path: /wenguin/src/McWoo/Testing.java
Type: File (Java Source File)
Location: C:\Users\Paul\workspace\wenguin\src\McWoo\Testing. java

**javapenguin** · January 2nd, 2011, 04:50 PM

Wait, is the code supposed to make it a jar file for you? If not, just go to export and Runnable Jar File. If that won't work, try export and Jar File.

**nemo** · January 2nd, 2011, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by javapenguin

Put the Jar file in the same area as your code

You can find it under "Properties" if you're using Eclipse:

Path: /wenguin/src/McWoo/Testing.java
Type: File (Java Source File)
Location: C:\Users\Paul\workspace\wenguin\src\McWoo\Testing. java

this will be distributed onto other computers, where i won't know where the jar file is. that's why i'm trying to make code that locates the jar's path for me, so i don't have to tell the user to put the jar file in a specific directory.

Originally Posted by javapenguin

Wait, is the code supposed to make it a jar file for you? If not, just go to export and Runnable Jar File. If that won't work, try export and Jar File.

No, i am not trying to make a jar file. i can do that myself. i am looking to locate the path of the jar file from within the program. i.e. there's an executable named Example.jar which i made. within Example.jar, there is Example.class. there is code inside Example.class which locates the directory containing Example.jar. that is the goal.

**copeg** · January 2nd, 2011, 05:30 PM

Create a new File, which will create a file in the directory of the jar, then get the path from there

File file = new File("temp");
String path =file.getParentFile().getAbsolutePath();

**javapenguin** · January 2nd, 2011, 05:33 PM

Hmmmm...well,

File aFile = new File();

String absolutePathName = aFile.getAbsolutePath();

String pathName = aFile.getPath();

Also, maybe I'm wrong, but don't you need the full path anyway, not just the .class or .java part?

**javapenguin** · January 2nd, 2011, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by copeg

Create a new File, which will create a file in the directory of the jar, then get the path from there

File file = new File("temp");
String path =file.getParentFile().getAbsolutePath();

That's the problem. How will it know where the directory is if the jar is installed or put anywhere on other computers?

Also, why are you returning the path of the parent file? Why not the jar file itself?

---Edit---

Oh the class is inside the jar file. Ok. Never mind then.

**javapenguin** · January 2nd, 2011, 05:41 PM

String exampleClassDirectory = Example.class.getResource("Example.class").getPath ();

Also, it appears you're using a static variable called class to call getResource()

Thread: locating the path to a jar file within a program

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

locating the path to a jar file within a program

Related threads:

Re: locating the path to a jar file within a program

Re: locating the path to a jar file within a program

Re: locating the path to a jar file within a program

Re: locating the path to a jar file within a program

The Following User Says Thank You to copeg For This Useful Post:

Re: locating the path to a jar file within a program

Re: locating the path to a jar file within a program

Re: locating the path to a jar file within a program

Similar Threads

Making computer independent file path

Shared library path

java program to copy a text file to onother text file

how to get full path name from realtive path

[SOLVED] How to a set java class path?