How to specify file path in Java Bean in a web application?

Question

I want to read models.txt in WebContent/resources/db/ from IndexBean.java in src/DataTable/. How shall I set the filePath in

sc = new Scanner(new File(filePath));

I know I can achieve this by absolute path, but want to know how to do it in relative path.

capture

And another interesting thing is: In IndexBean.java which is a Java Bean, if I run the following code, I will get the path of eclipse.exe. While if I run the same code in testFileRead.java in the same package which is not a Java Bean, I will get the path of the workspace of the application. Could someone explain this? Thanks!

File dir1 = new File("..");
try {
    System.out.println("Current dir : " + dir1.getCanonicalPath());
} catch (IOException e1) {
    e1.printStackTrace();
}

This question is not related with Eclipse nor JSF nor JavaBeans. Again, if you're working with Managed Beans, call them like that, not as java beans. — Luiggi Mendoza
– Luiggi Mendoza, Commented Jun 6, 2013 at 14:58

Joop Eggen · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-06 18:27:04Z

3

First of all, these kind of internal files should reside in an inaccessible spot, in WebContent/WEB-INF.

You could get a file system File:

File file = request.getServletContext().getRealPath("/resources/db/models.txt");

If you store the file as real resource (in the class path), you can use:

InputStream in = getClass().getResourceAsStream("/db/models.txt");

Please specify the character encoding:

sc = new Scanner(new File(filePath), "UTF-8");

So the same encoding is used whether developing under Windows or deploying on a Linux server. Because the default encoding is platform dependent.

ServletContext servletContext = (ServletContext)
    FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getExternalContext().getContext();

edited Jun 6, 2013 at 18:27

answered Jun 6, 2013 at 15:01

Joop Eggen

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4 Comments

ethanjyx Over a year ago

So I should move the resources folder under WEB-INF? Why?... Thanks!

ethanjyx Over a year ago

I guess I should declare request as HttpServletRequest and it should be String filePath(instead of File file) = request.getServletContext().getRealPath("/resources/db/models.txt");?

Joop Eggen Over a year ago

Right. ServletRequest may be cast to HttpServletRequest.

Joop Eggen Over a year ago

Added how to retrieve the ServletContext from JSF.

grepit · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-06 15:05:14Z

0

I think @Joop Eggen has proposed the best solution for you. However, sometimes you can set a environment variable to your file path and you can change it as you push your code through different environment.

 String dir = System.getProperty("user.dir");

answered Jun 6, 2013 at 15:05

grepit

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1 Comment

Joop Eggen Over a year ago

Especially sensible for dynamic data, files you write to. Then you can deploy a .war without the file. Or massive file uploads.

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