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loading image from a project's folder (not bin) in java

I imported some images into my project javaproject under the folder name images. Now, since earlier the paths were referring to C: drive, I figured I've to change the path. I tried using
this.getClass().getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream("images\\img1.jpg");
I'm not sure what happened there. There was no error yielded whatsoever, but the image is not displaying. I'm fairly new to programming in general so I can't think alternate methods.
How do I re-direct it to the main directory of my project and into my images folder?
Also, I cant have a strict location like:
c:/users/me/java/etc because if this JAR is ever on different computer it won't work.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

if you want to use the above approach then all resources files have to be stored under src/main/resources

In Java where do I put my sprite files to make this open source code work?

I am a beginner and I am trying to learn by messing around with some open source game code.
I was setting it all up in Eclipse but I don't know where to put these sprite gif files.
In the code I found this:
URL url = this.getClass().getClassLoader().getResource(ref);
And when I put all the class files under a java project together and tried to run I got this error message:
Can't find ref: sprites/ship.gif
Of course the code came with sprites including ship.gif. I just don't know where to put it. I tried making a folder under the java project called sprites and putting it in there.
I don't have a res folder.

The this.getClass().getClassLoader().getResource method look for relative path of the data from the package of the class.
Assuming your class is com.my.package.MyClass, you usually have your project organized containing at least in your case:
com/my/package/MyClass.java
com/my/package/sprites/ship.gif
Most of the time, you certainly have a resources or a images folder for your java project.

You can only load those resources if they are on the classpath. Try to add the sprites folder as a source folder on your Eclipse build path and try again.

Put the .gif in the jar.
This can be achieved by creating dedicated folder you add in the sources of eclipse. Often this folder is called "resources".
Be ware that in some cases a "/" is required at the begining of ref.

Thanks everyone.
How I fixed my problem:
When I downloaded the source I opened folders and went to the class files and copied them to my project and then I was trying to do the same thing with the sprites. What I didn't realize is that if I just drop the two main folders "org" and "sprites" into the source file of my project then it all works on its own. These two folders were the first things I had after downloading this open source code.

getResourceAsStream works in Eclipse IDE but not in JAR format

This is a really common error, because there are tons of threads about it, but I'm not sure if since my situation is slightly different from all of them the solutions don't work?
Basically, I'm in eclipse. I have a source folder called src, then I have a package that goes down three folders, then the class in question. The class uses the code:
BufferedImage im = ImageIO.read(Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader().getResourceAsStream(filenames[x].concat(extension)));
surrounded by a try/catch. filenames is an array of all the file names I am loading (this code is run multiple times in a for loop) and extension is ".PNG". The pictures are located in another source folder called EngineTextures.
Running this program works fine in Eclipse! All textures are loaded and all my other code runs! However, I export it as a runnable jar and run it in command prompt to recieve input == null errors on all of them, pointing to the line that has ImageIO.read(Thread.currentThread() in it.
The kicker is this whole thing worked in a separate project before, and when I even tried re-exporting that project, I recieve the same errors on completely unchanged code. This leads me to believe I have some obscure Eclipse setting changed wrongly.
Opening the jar, my MANIFEST.MF has a version of 1.0 and a classpath of just plain ., which I thought was correct for this kind of thing? The Main-Class points to the right place, and all my pictures are right there next to the META-INF folder.
Solutions I've looked at unsuccessfully:
getResourceAsStream working in eclipse, but not when run as applet in browser
Why does getResourceAsStream() work in the IDE but not the JAR?
Java IDE - Eclipse, Importing resources
Audio file in jar made by Eclipse IDE
getResourceAsStream() returning null in jar but fine in eclipse
Additionally, I completely deleted the workspace and recopied my pictures and code into the same state, thinking maybe some .metadata thing was wrong, to no avail.
Thank you, in advance, for any and all help. I hate to make a repeat like this but no solutions have worked thus far. Please let me know if I have not given any crucial information.

Opening the jar, my MANIFEST.MF has a version of 1.0 and a classpath of just plain ., which I thought was correct for this kind of thing?
No. The Class-Path entry in a JAR file names other JAR files, relative to the location of this jar file. It doesn't name directories:
"The value of this attribute specifies the relative URLs of the extensions or libraries that this application or extension needs."
That in turn implies that resources to be loaded via getResourceAsStream() must be in JAR files.

Executable jar file won't run after doing some updates

I am working on Java project (A terraria like sandbox game) and I have come across something that I just don't understand. I have been exporting the project as .jar's as I go along to upload and share with my friends, but the last time I did this, the .jar won't run, but when I run it in eclipse, it runs fine. When I try to run the jar all it does is lose focus on the explorer window for a split second, then goes back. I have tried many things, like changing the main class, changing the META, and moving the files to specific packages, but nothing is working.
The project is 9 classes, so I won't paste all the code for it here, but the latest, non-working source code can be found here (http://www.mediafire.com/?fiw6wq73j7cff4t), the non-working jar here (http://www.mediafire.com/?bhjo162oh3hi2j9), and the working jar here (http://www.mediafire.com/?h918s8xpyxw4psr). If someone with more experience in java could please take a look at this it would be much appreciated.
One of the things I tried was not adding the JPanel (the game), and just leaving the splash screen, and the jar worked. This shows that it must be a problem in the coding somewhere.
Thanks for the time,
I.D.

Couldn't find message comes from your ReadMap class. So check which circumstance leads to this error. Most likely you did not add all classes or other files to your JAR, so file is not found. Check that all needed files are added to exported JAR in Eclipse export dialog. It's also a good idea to provide more debugging info (stacktrace is ok), especially when you are studying. BTW, cool game :)

Export Native library to external Package in Eclipse not working. is it a Bug?

I was about to report a but to Eclipse, but I was thinking to give this a chance here first:
If I add an external package, the application cannot find the referenced native library, except in the case specified at the below:
If my workspace consists of a single project, and I import an external package 'EX_package.jar' from a folder outside of the project folder, I can assign a folder to the native library location via:
mouse over package ->
right click ->
properties ->
Native Library ->
Enter your folder.
This does not work. In runtime the application does not load the library, System.mapLibraryName(Path) also does not work.
Further more, if I create a User Library, and add the package to it and define a folder for the native library it still does not.
If it works for you then I have a major bug since it does not work on my computer I test this in any combination I could think of, including adding the path to the windows PATH parameter, and so many other ways I can't even start to remember, nothing worked, I played with this for hours and had a colleague try to assist me, but we both came up empty.
Further more, if I have a main project that is dependent on few other projects in my workspace, and they all need to use the same 'EX_package.jar' I MUST supply a HARD COPY INTO EACH OF THEM, it will ONLY (I can't stress the ONLYNESS, I got freaked out by this) work if I have a hard copy of the package in ALL of the project folders that the main project has a dependency on, and ONLY if I configure the Native path in each of them!!
This also didn't do the trick.
please tell me there is a solution to this, this drives me nuts...
Update:
if anyone wants to try this for them selfs you can try to use JMF.jar and to refer to the native dlls, or the jmf.properties file, on my XP, I refer to the dll files and I don't need the jmf.properties file.
Thanks,
Adam Zehavi.

I missed the point that Eclipse does not export the native library.
here is a solution to what I was facing: Other answer