Why does getRealPath() return null when deployed with a .war file? [duplicate]

Answer 1

For a start, ServletRequest.getRealPath(String path) is deprecated. The appropriate replacement is:

ServletContext context = session.getServletContext();
String realContextPath = context.getRealPath(request.getContextPath());

However, the API docs for ServletContext.getRealPath(String path) state:

"This method returns null if the servlet container cannot translate the virtual path to a real path for any reason (such as when the content is being made available from a .war archive)."

So the API is fulfilling its contract! However, all is not lost, as you can load a resource from the WAR using the following method, as defined in ServletContext:

ServletContext context = session.getServletContext();
InputStream is = context.getResourceAsStream("generate.xml");

Answer 2

do you use Weblogic?

If yes - then this is a Weblogic issue which you may fix in Weblogic admin console ->Domain->Web Applications - click the checkbox "Archived Real Path Enabled".

See: http://ananthkannan.blogspot.com/2009/12/servletcontextgetrealpath-returns-null.html

Answer 3

The following fix working fine for me.

// I am using Struts2 
ServletContext sc = (ServletContext) ac.get(StrutsStatics.SERVLET_CONTEXT);
fileInputStream = sc.getResourceAsStream("test.xls");

After deployed war file, I am able to get the file from the context path.

Answer 4

I had the same problems too. Calling getRealPath() return null when deployed to a standalone server. After searching around for a while, I found the solution for this, it's not in the code. It's in the config of your web server.

For me it's Weblogic 10.3, you go to Home - - Configuration - Web Application, set Archived Real Path Enabled to true. Restart server and everything works fine.

Hope this help, Regards.

Answer 5

I do not believe it is possible to do what you're trying to do.

You should use getResource to read the xml file from inside your war file (this also works without war)

servletContext.getResourceAsStream("/generate.xml")

The leading slash depends on where the generate.xml is stored.

Answer 6

Take note context.getRealPath() can return null when there is user permission problem, check Web server running under which user.