You could use a file chooser

[Bunkerbewohner]

https://github.com/archeaopteryx/CASnumber_lookup/blob/8cc21e9840e1b4890e46d43e3899c1548b681f5e/App.java#L91

To save your mum from having to put the .jar and the excel sheet in the same directory, you could just use a file chooser: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/components/filechooser.html

You also remember the chosen file, in case it's always the same, by saving the path (and any other options you want to remember) to a text file in Window's AppData folder, e.g.:

string appDataDir = System.getenv("APPDATA") + "\CASnumber_lookup";
string settingsPath = appDataDir + "\settings.txt";

// read/write settings from that file, it will persist

[Bunkerbewohner]

Ah... should have read the rest of the email and try the program first. Nevermind, you already figured that out of course ^^ 💪

[Bunkerbewohner]

Afterthought: I guess my point still stands after all. You could have her select the location of her database file once and just save it. Or does she use an empty one every time?

[archeaopteryx]

No, you're right. I like the suggestion of using the AppData :) Just had to hunt down some NPEs and try to handle bad input gracefully first. Thanks again for looking it over!

[archeaopteryx]

And no, she shouldn't use an empty one every time ^^ That wouldn't be very useful

[archeaopteryx]

ok, added a settings file with default location and update option.

[Bunkerbewohner]

Nice!