Question

What is the best way to find a path relative to the folder where a java application is “installed”?

I have a class with a static method: public static void saveToFile(String fileName)

When I call it with an absolute path, it works, but what I really want is the relative path to where the application is run from, and a folder.

I have not deployed my application, but right now I want to find a path relative to the (Netbeans) project root, and a folder within called data: ProjectName\data\file.dat. Should I use the File class or make it into a URI or something?

Note that I prefer it to be system-independent and will still work if the application is deployed. Eventually the (relative) pathname will be stored in a properties file.

Sorry if this question is a duplicate, any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

What is the best way to find a path relative to the folder where a java application is “installed”?

OS manufacturers have been saying for a long time not to save files in the application directory.

Note that I prefer it to be system-independent and will still work if the application is deployed.

Instead put the File in a sub-directory of user.home. User home is where it should be possible to establish a file object that can be read or written. It is also a place that is reproducible across runs, and platform independent.