Eclipse getResourceAsStream returning null

Question

I cannot get getResourceAsStream to find a file. I have put the file in the top level dir, target dir, etc, etc and have tried it with a "/" in front as well. Everytime it returns null.

Any suggestions ? Thanks.

public class T {
 public static final void main(String[] args) {

  InputStream propertiesIS = T.class.getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream("test.txt");

  System.out.println("Break");
 }
}

Answer 1

Put your file "test.txt" into the same directory where the java file of your class is (same package). Then use

T.class.getResourceAsStream( "test.txt" );

This works, because eclipse automatically copies the file as a resource to the classpath. When using the command line, you have to do this by hand.

Answer 2

You shouldn't need to add these files to the same directory to get it to work.

I was getting this symptom when I created a new Package and Source Folder to hold my junit tests. The tests would fail because getResourceAsStream was returning null.

Here's how to fix it:

Right-click the class (in my case, the new junit test class) in the Eclipse Project Explorer View

Build Path -> Configure Build Path -> Java Build Path -> Source Tab -> Add Folder

Select the folder that holds your files.