NetBeans IDE: Classpath not working for a JLabel icon image

[victorj42]

Hi all,

I get an error after using NetBeans to select an image file for a JLabel icon.

IDE code that works:
gallows.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon("K:\\Hangman\\images\\gallows.gif"));

IDE code that fails when I run the project:
gallows.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("/gallows.gif")));

How I'm selecting the image location:
1) from the IDE click the [...] next to the icon property of my label then choose classpath and click [select file].
2) I am able to navigate to the file correctly and it is displayed in the preview window. I can even see it when I click on the test form button.

If I run my file I get an error:
netbeans Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.NullPointerException
at javax.swing.ImageIcon.(ImageIcon.java:138)
at Keyboard.initComponents(Keyboard.java:175)
at Keyboard.(Keyboard.java:15)
<following errors removed by me>

I hope someone can help me

Thanks

[super_faz]

Hello,

"victorj42" wrote:

gallows.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("/gallows.gif")));

Your "gallows.gif" image needs to be in your jar file.
The "simpliest" way is to put it in the default package of your source folder.