title: Serialized files don't work when project is converted to executable jar?
body: <p>I made my java project into an executable jar using the export to jar option in eclipse. The jar runs as expected, except that it does not use any of the serialized files. I can see that clearly from the GUI. What could be the reason for this problem and how do I fix it ?</p>
  
  <p>I saw this related question - <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11350212/why-does-my-jar-file-not-create-a-serialization">Why does my JAR file not create a serialization?</a></p>
  
  <p>But it does not tell me exactly how to get around this problem. It looks like you cannot pack a folder into a jar. Why ? Because code could accidentally/intentionally continue to add data into that folder and make the whole jar occupy the hard disk ?</p>
  
  <p>How do I create some kind of structure in which I pack my executable jar and its serialization folder ?</p>