Change working directory in ant junit task

Question

I have a ant file that runs JUnits tests. These tests rely on a relative path to certain configuration files. I've tried to set the working directory for the batch test, but fail.

I want the working directory to be ${plugins.dir}/${name}

The JUnit part of the ant script:

<junit haltonfailure="no" printsummary="on" fork="true" showoutput="true" dir="${plugins.dir}/${name}">
    <jvmarg value="-Duser.dir=${plugins.dir}/${name}"/>
    <classpath> 
        <path refid="project.classpath"/>
        <pathelement location="${plugins.dir}/${dependency}/@dot/"/>
        <pathelement location="${plugins.dir}/${name}/" />
    </classpath>
    <formatter type="xml" />
    <sysproperty key="basedir" value="${plugins.dir}/${name}"/>
    <sysproperty key="dir" value="${plugins.dir}/${name}"/>
    <batchtest todir="${junit.output}">
        <fileset dir="${dir}"> 
            <include name="**\*AllTests.class" />
        </fileset>
    </batchtest>
</junit>

I've googled and searched but the workarounds I've found have been to set the "dir", "sysproperty" or "jvmarg". As you can see I've tried them all :)

Is there a way to print the current dir in the tag? It doesnt support . That would allow me to verify if the dir is actually changed and to what.

One wildcard in this equation is that this is being run in Hudson that starts upp an eclipse process that starts antrunner. This is so we can run both junit and eclipse plugin junit tests. Shouldn't have anything to do with the problem I think.

Is it not possible to simply fix your tests such that they are self-contained? E.g. if the resources you need are put somewhere in the classpath instead, you could load them through getClass().getResource(String) instead. — Mark Peters
@Mark peters, Yes, that is possible. But that involves updating some 400-500 tests, so I'd prefer to consider that plan B. — Fredrik

Peter Schuetze Peter Schuetze · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-07T21:55:15

I think you are right with setting the basedir property (see projects attributes). However, since it is a property of ANT (and not of the JVM) it is READ ONLY!

Does it effect other target if you set the basedir when calling your ant task? See Command Line reference.

ant -Dbasedir=somedir

Alternatively, span a new ant process to call your junit target. See the AntCall task or Ant task. Following examples assumes that the junit target contains your junit task. I used this task for other properties (never needed the basedir property so far.

<antcall target="junit">
  <param name="basedir" value="${plugins.dir}/${name}"/>
</antcall>

<ant dir="${plugins.dir}/${name}" target="junit" />

Change working directory in ant junit task

3 Answers