DO NOT REPLY [Bug 20210] New: - Need method to get absolute path of Jar in definition.

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http://nagoya.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=20210

Need method to get absolute path of Jar in <classpath> definition.

           Summary: Need method to get absolute path of Jar in <classpath>
                    definition.
           Product: Ant
           Version: 1.5.3
          Platform: All
        OS/Version: Other
            Status: NEW
          Severity: Critical
          Priority: Other
         Component: Core
        AssignedTo: dev@ant.apache.org
        ReportedBy: cp1965@ROGERS.com


I looked at the Java code for Path and PathElement classes.  These two classes 
are used in ANT scripts to implement path blocks such as:

<classpath>
   <pathelement path="lib1,lib2" />
   <pathelement localion="lib/mylib.jar">
</classpath>

I am writing an ANT task that scans previously defined Jars (as above) and 
calls the JUnit tests on them.  The point is that I want to use a previously 
defined Jar inside of <classpath>.  The obvious way is to use id references 
since ANT is XML.  I can do that by putting id attribute and rely on XML to do 
the rest.  

<classpath>
   <pathelement path="lib1,lib2" />
   <pathelement id="ref.mylib" localion="lib/mylib.jar">
</classpath>

However once the <pathelement> (i.e. the object of type Path.PathElement), how 
can I get the absolute file path to the Jar file?  Intuitively, there should be 
a pointer back to the containing Path object.  I don't see it!  Also, there 
should be some sort of search method on the Path object to look for the 
absolute path to the Jar file.  We can assume that the Jar file exists because 
the <classpath> has already run int the 'init' target.

You might say that the <classpath> block is only declarative and that the Java, 
JavaDoc or similar programs will determine if the Jar file exists.  I will 
point out that there is a real necessity for a search method to look whether 
the Jar file exists or not.  

Furthermore, I suspect that this code already exists in your class loader.  I 
will seach for it.  Such search method should be in the Path class.

Regards,
Colbert Philippe