title: Class getResourceAsStream() resource in a different package
body: <p>I have something like the following project structure </p>
  
  <pre><code>-project 
      -src/main/java // source folder
          -com.mypackage
              -Utility.java
              -some.properties
      -src/main/resources // source folder
          -configuration_files
              -configuration_report.txt
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I'm generating the <code>jar</code> with Eclipse's <code>Export</code> function. The above translates to a <code>jar</code> with the structure:</p>
  
  <pre><code>-myjar.jar
      -com
          -mypackage
              -Utility.class
              -some.properties
      -configuration_files
          -configuration_report.txt
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Within the <code>Utility</code> class, I'm trying to get the <code>InputStream</code> from <code>configuration_report.txt</code>. </p>
  
  <p>I was doing this (it's within a <code>static</code> method):</p>
  
  <pre><code>Utility.class.getResourceAsStream("/configuration_files/configuration_report.txt"); 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>which seems to be validated by the answer to <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/333363/loading-a-properties-file-from-java-package">this question</a>, since the file is not in the same package as the class requesting it.</p>
  
  <p>When I run it, however, it returns <code>null</code>. Why?</p>
  
  <p>Note that for the <code>some.properties</code> file, I could do both</p>
  
  <pre><code>Utility.class.getResourceAsStream("/com/package/some.properties");
  Utility.class.getResourceAsStream("some.properties");
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and I would get the stream.</p>
  
  <p>I'm running this from the command line if it makes any difference.</p>
  
  <pre><code>java [-agentlib:jdwp=transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=y,address=1044] -cp myjar.jar MyMain
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>If I try to run it within Eclipse, it works...</p>
  
  <p><strong>Edit:</strong></p>
  
  <p>This code is relevant. With or without the preceding <code>/</code>, it return null</p>
  
  <pre><code>    String sourceFilePath = "/configuration_files" + File.separator + "configuration_report.txt";
      InputStream in = Utility.class.getResourceAsStream(sourceFilePath);
  </code></pre>