I have the following code trying to read a .properties file:

Properties prop = new Properties();
ClassLoader loader = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();           
InputStream stream = loader.getResourceAsStream("myProp.properties");
prop.load(stream);

I get an exception at the last line. Specifically:

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
at java.util.Properties$LineReader.readLine(Properties.java:418)
at java.util.Properties.load0(Properties.java:337)
at java.util.Properties.load(Properties.java:325)
at Assignment1.BaseStation.readPropertyFile(BaseStation.java:46)
at Assignment1.BaseStation.main(BaseStation.java:87)

thanks, Nikos