Reading a user made text file?

[nhmllr]

I'm making a little application that is a study helper for history
What it does is read a text file (written in a specific format) an makes an array of all of the terms and definitions found in the text file, then can quiz you in a few different ways, such as giving the user a term and five definitions and they have to match it correctly.
I'm pretty far down the line with it, but there's one thing I don't know how to do.

The program should be pretty robust, in that the set of terms and definitions should be able to change without having to edit the source. When the application is done, I want to be able to simply replace the text file (in the same folder as the app) and have the app read the new text.

How do you do this? Thanks.

[Fubarable]

Give it a menu or JButton whose Action opens a JFileChooser, allows the user to choose a file, then tries to open and use that file -- all within try/catch blocks of course.

[nhmllr]

Is there a way to do it where you could just put the text file in the same folder as the application?

[Fubarable]

Is there a way to do it where you could just put the text file in the same folder as the application?

What if you put your application in a Jar file, which is pretty darn likely. Do you mean to put the text files in the jar file? Is it OK if these files cannot be modified? If so, then sure, put them in the Jar (though I'd put them in their own directory), but be sure to refer to them as resources, not files.

[nhmllr]

But if I put it in a Jar, then I CAN'T modify it?
The point is that I should be able to edit the study sheet whenever I want.

It's not the worst thing to have to select the text file every time you open the program, though...

[Fubarable]

But if I put it in a Jar, then I CAN'T modify it?
The point is that I should be able to edit the study sheet whenever I want.

Jars are not made for modification as the data is stored in zip-file format. Modification isn't impossible but there are usually better ways to solve your problem.

It's not the worst thing to have to select the text file every time you open the program, though...

Consider having your program use Properties where you can store the default location of the data files, and then it should be easy to display a file list in a JList. Otherwise if the user doesn't find the file give them the option of using a JFileChooser if need be.

[wsaryada]

You can get the current working directory of your executing program using the following snippet:

System.getProperty("user.dir")

Then you can use this information to find where you data file is located relative to your application.