如何在我的程序中加载文本文件而不将其放在源文件夹之外？

Question

So up until now I can only get access to a text file in my java project by placing it outside of the sources folder and outside of any package. I don't think that's how it is supposed to be and I am wondering how else I can load the text file if I put it in a package? Here's what I did for loading the text file, which worked but only since the file is located outside of the sources folder

BufferedWriter bw = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter("saveScores.txt")); //writing on it with a bufferedwriter
Scanner scan = new Scanner(new FileReader("saveData.txt")); //reading the data with a scanner

Answer 1

I would highly recommend to choose a distribution tool (Gradle, Maven, Ant...). These Frameworks/Tools usually create destinct directories. For example a "source" or "src" directory, where your source code is supposed to live. One of the other directories they will create is something like a "resource" or "res" directory, where static resources (like a ".txt" file) are supposed to live in.

Distribution of software is not that trivial. You could do it all by your own, but I wouldn't recommed it. You have to invest a little work to learn using one of these Frameworks/Tools if you want to distribute your code. Choose wisely from the 3 top dogs in the Java world (Personal opinion: Choose Gradle):

1. Gradle
2. Maven
3. Ant

If you want to walk down that road to do it all by your self, follow best practises:

1. Create a new directory where all your resources should live in
2. Add this directory to your classpath
3. Get the resources during runtime via getResourceAsStream .
   • Java will start looking on the classpath for the files you're asking for by searching through all directories/subdirectories you added on your classpath. If Java can't find it, an exception is thrown.
4. Compile your finsihed Programm with this "resource" directory. Since all files/directories in a compiled JAR, are automatically on the classpath, your code will still work.