ok this is for example my propertie file in a application i open any Text Editor and i put this (the # are comments): #Archivo de Propiedades de ISSP, modificado por ultima vez el: # #Sat Jun 02 19:13:06 GMT-06:00 2007 report.downmessage="GNU/GPL for a free world" report.iconpath=/home/necronet/Java/MARENASOFT/AplicacionMarena/src/aplicacionmarena/images/marena_nicaragua.gif report.direccion=Carretera NortenTel 263-2826 report.path=/home/necronet/Java/MARENASOFT/AplicacionMarena/src/reportes/reports report.title=Ministerio de Recursos Ambientales y Forestales report.showdate=true appear.landf=System appear.drag=OUTLINE appear.background=none appear.status=true i save it as MarenaConfiguration.properties, now my report.path is the path where my application search the reports. If you still have doubt let me know, here or directly to joseayerdis@gmail.com in order to send you a more complete example.