Thread: [SWT-App] Loading .swf files from a runnable .jar or external folder

Hey,

I'm programming using the SWT Widget Library for Java in eclipse, and I'm designing a runnable Java application. I've got the application down, I just don't know how to load external .swf files from a folder on "ALL" computers. I can load Images from any computer, because I use the getResourceAsStream line of code. But the "import com.docuverse.swt.flash.FlashPlayer" "loadMovie(arg, arg)" only takes a String.

So I did ClassName.class.getResource("blah.swf").getPath(); which gives you a string, I set it up, and running it on eclipse it can perfectly find the file in the package. When I export it, the runnable Jar I made cannot find the "blah.swf" inside of the .jar file.

So there is my problem, how do I load my .swf files from within the .jar or from an external folder so clients can download along side the .jar executable application, so it can point to those swf files.

Thankyou.

loadMovie(arg, arg)" only takes a String.

What is the contents of the String? Is it the path to the file on the local PC?

So I did ClassName.class.getResource("blah.swf").getPath(); which gives you a string

What was the contents of that String? A path to a file on the local PC?

If the API only takes a String representing a path on the local PC, then you will need a way to have your input files on the local PC.

Have you tried putting the input files in the same folder with the jar file and reading them from there?

It would try to search in the .jar file so it would output a string like;

"file://C://Desktop//application.jar!//blah.swf"

So it knew where the flash file was, it just couldn't get to it, I tried replacing ".jar!" with an empty string "", and nothing. I ended up just now finding a solution, but it's kind of 'dirty'.

What I did was make a folder "SWF" and .replace("application.jar!", "SWF"); so that it could find the blah.swf file.
So it was: "file://C://Desktop//SWF//blah.swf"

Which meant, where ever the application was being stored on the computer, the "SWF" folder had to be with it, otherwise if the SWF folder was in another directory and the application.jar was in another directory, the output string wouldn't be able to find the SWF folder and thus the .swf files. I'm fine with that though, but it's a real dirty solution. I'd rather have a better one.

Why not put the swf files in the same directory with the jar file.

Yeah, that's what I did, so I have both my jar file and SWF files in the same folder. Ahh I guess I kind of solved my own problem.....well, I hope it helps anyone else with the same problem I have.

Cross-posted here:
java - SWT-App Loading .swf files from a runnable .jar or external folder - Stack Overflow

The answer there sounds workable. What's being suggested is that you store the bytes of the SWF in the jar. When you want to use it, you obtain a local temporary filename (I think that would be safer than kludging-in a permanent one), copying the bytes to the local file and then loading the local file as your swf.

Can you link this cross-post at SO? I can't do it, I'm not a member.

edit:swt/swf confusion

Hey Sean, would this be an accurate tutorial to read up on for what your saying Reading, Writing, and Creating Files (The Java™ Tutorials > Essential Classes > Basic I/O) ? Skip down to "Methods for Creating Regular and Temporary Files"

Methods for Creating Regular and Temporary

Yes, that looks about right, though it does remind me I should have a thorough read up on what's new in Java 7!

I'd advise in favour of using methods that *don't* specify a path, allowing the JVM to choose where to put your temporary file. If you want to make portable applications, it's best to avoid depending on things like "working directory" and "file tree". The more you delegate your decisions to the JVM, the better the chance your code will work on diverse platforms.

Which of these steps are you having trouble with?
create a temp file and save its address (you'll use it in the last step)
copy the "file"/resource from the jar file to the temp file
use the path to the temp file in the loadMovie method call

Yeah I ended up getting it working. Thanks~ I just had to puzzle it together and look harder.

Yep, that's how programming can be sometimes

Can you please provide an example of what I'm trying to do

yeah sure, since I am hand-waving - but I can't do it instantly
... a few minutes pass. You have completed 75% of the requested code ...

I ended up getting it working

D'oh!

package com.javaprogrammingforums.domyhomework;
 
import java.io.*;
 
import javax.swing.*;
 
public class ImageButtonJarTempFile extends JFrame
{
  public final static long serialVersionUID = 42l;
  public static class ResourceToFileButton extends JButton
  {
    public final static long serialVersionUID = 42l;
    public ResourceToFileButton(String resourcePath) throws Exception
    {
      super();
      // image bytes are in the resource. We're simulating
      // the situation where we can't use the bytes directy
      // using something like ClassLoader.getResourceAsStream()
      // because no handy constructor exists in 3rd party
      // API, so write a temp file and pass filepath to
      // lame constructor
      File fTmp = File.createTempFile("imgbtn", resourcePath.substring(resourcePath.lastIndexOf(".") + 1));
      System.out.println("About to get resource '" + resourcePath + "'");
      InputStream is = new BufferedInputStream(getClass().getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream(resourcePath));
      OutputStream os = new BufferedOutputStream(new FileOutputStream(fTmp));
      int aByte;
      while((aByte = is.read()) > -1)
        os.write(aByte);
      is.close();
      os.close();
      this.setIcon(new ImageIcon(fTmp.toString()));
    }
  }
  public ImageButtonJarTempFile() throws Exception
  {
    super("Image from temp file from jar");
    setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    add(new ResourceToFileButton("likeaswf.png"));
    setSize(200, 200);
    setVisible(true);
  }
  public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception
  { new ImageButtonJarTempFile(); }
}

There you go ... like that. Dodgy Exception handling and byte-by-byte resource copy, but otherwise demonstrates the approach. I can't do the SWT version, don't have Eclipse, but it shouldn't be very different.

Can you write a short program that creates a temp file and then tries to delete it to demonstrate the problem?

I can only delete the laste one with tempFile.delete();

Can you save the values of tempFile in an array and then use those references to delete the files?