[FIXED] Config-file for JavaFX-Project

Issue

I would like to add a file or class to my JavaFX project that only contains the configuration data of the project, e.g. the access data for the database, system paths etc. How would you do this? Just write everything in a normal class? There is definitely a better way, right?

Solution

You're right, of course I'll be happy to do that. First I created a property file in the project folder and call it app.properties:

db_url=jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/db name
db_user=user name
db_pwd=secret password
instructions_folder=/home/username/documents/

Then I created a class that loads the properties and makes them available throughout the project.

public class AppProperties {

    // FILENAME = Path to properties-file
    // Store and protect it where ever you want
    private final String FILENAME = "app.properties";
    
    private static final AppProperties config_file = new AppProperties();
    private Properties prop = new Properties();
    private String msg = "";

    private AppProperties(){
        InputStream input = null;

        try{
            input = new FileInputStream(FILENAME);

            // Load a properties
            prop.load(input);
        }catch(IOException ex){
            msg = "Can't find/open property file";
            ex.printStackTrace();
        }finally{
            if (input != null){
                try{
                    input.close();
                }catch(IOException e){
                    e.printStackTrace();
                }
            }

        }
    }

    public String getProperty (String key){
        return prop.getProperty(key);
    }

    public String getMsg () {
        return msg;
    }

    // == Singleton design pattern == //
    // Where ever you call this methode in application
    // you always get the same and only instance (config_file)
    public static AppProperties getInstance(){
        return config_file;
    }
}

In the DBUtilitis class, where I do my database queries, I now load the properties into final variables and use them in the query methods.

private static final String db_url = AppProperties.getInstance().getProperty("db_url");
    private static final String db_user = AppProperties.getInstance().getProperty("db_user");
    private static final String db_pwd = AppProperties.getInstance().getProperty("db_pwd");

If I have not completely misunderstood this, the advantage of property files is that they can be stored and protected somewhere on the server. I hope the solution is not completely wrong - it works well anyway. I am always happy to receive suggestions and / or improvements.

Answered By - 68Doom68