Using a custom font - inside JAR file

[leiger]

This code works perfectly fine when I run it as a class file (the font is located in the same directory) - however when I package it into a JAR file it can't find the font and the program crashes.

The font is definitely being included in the JAR archive, so I suspect I'm not using the correct syntax to point to it.

How would I modify this so that it works in both cases?

// Text area font
try
{
	// Determine the font file path
	String path = System.getProperty("java.class.path");
	String fileseparator = System.getProperty("file.separator");
	int pathlength = path.length();
	if (path.charAt(pathlength-1) != fileseparator.charAt(0)) { path += fileseparator; }
	path += "Inconsolata.pfa";
	
	// Make the font the proper size
	Font STEFont = Font.createFont(Font.TYPE1_FONT, new File(path));
	STEFont = STEFont.deriveFont(15.0f);
			
	// Add the font to STE
	jTextArea.setFont(STEFont);
			
}
catch (Exception e)
{
	e.printStackTrace();
}

When running the JAR file using Windows Explorer there are no error messages (literally, nothing seems to happen). When I run it from the console this is returned:

java.io.IOException: Can't read STE.jar\Inconsolata.pfa
	at java.awt.Font.createFont(Font.java:978)
	at TextEditorFrame.<init>(TextEditorFrame.java:605)
	at TextEditor.<init>(TextEditor.java:26)
	at TextEditor.main(TextEditor.java:104)
An unexpected problem occurred. Please report this so it can be fixed, including the error message that you see below.

java.lang.NullPointerException

The last part is a custom error message I've put into a catch block in the TextEditor class (the class with the main method).

TextEditorFrame is a class that extends JFrame, and the code I posted above in the first code block is located inside the constructor of this class.

Update: If you want to attempt to reproduce this, you'll probably need the font as well. The font can be downloaded here: http://www.levien.com/type/myfonts/inconsolata.html (use the link titled "pfa file").

[NormR1]

Does an overload of createFont() method take a URL instead of a File?
The classpath for code in a jar is the jarfile which is NOT useable in a File constructor.
Add some debugging code to print out the values returned by the various method calls you are using.
To get a file from the jar file, look at using the getResource method.

[leiger]

I've been using the getResource method for gif files just fine, but that didn't seem to work for the font. I think the reason was what you mentioned - that there is no overload of createFont() that takes a URL.

I'll have another look at the getResource method then, perhaps I missed something last time I looked. I'll check again to make sure there's no way for me to pass a URL to createFont().

[leiger]

Okay, the only two versions of the createFont() method are:

• static Font createFont(int fontFormat, File fontFile)
• static Font createFont(int fontFormat, InputStream fontStream)

The only versions of the getResource() method are:

• URL getResource(String name)
• InputStream getResourceAsStream(String name)

So... if I understand this correctly I can use the second version of each. The getResource one to get an InputStream for the font... and then plug that into the second createFont method?

I'll see if I can get that working now.

[leiger]

Works perfectly! Thanks! :)

Posting a list of parameters and return types helped me to find the answer. It was right in front of me the whole time - I just didn't notice.

[NormR1]

Congratulations. There was a connection between the URL and the InputStream needed int the method call.

[Obfuscator]

Thanks so much for this info!
I've been struggling with the same issue, didn't even notice the inputStream possibilities...
you made my day :)

[Mikhinmyintta]

Hope someone could provide me complete code or correct my code...

Here is my code:
static Font teFont = null;
static Font tFont = null;
String url = "build/classes/com/font/myFont.ttf";
InputStream is = this.getClass().getResourceAsStream(url);
teFont = Font.createFont(Font.TRUETYPE_FONT, is);
tFont = Font.createFont(Font.TRUETYPE_FONT, is);
GraphicsEnvironment ge = GraphicsEnvironment.getLocalGraphicsEnvironment();
ge.registerFont(teFont);
ge.registerFont(tFont);
teFont = teFont.deriveFont(12.0f);
tFont = tFont.deriveFont(10.0f);

Here is compiling code:
Exception in thread "main" java.io.IOException: Problem reading font data.
at java.awt.Font.createFont(Font.java:924)
at com.main.FontTester.<init>(FontTester.java:36)
at com.main.FontTester.main(FontTester.java:161)

[karlmeier]

Probably need to reset the inputstream