How to read an external properties file in Maven

Try the Properties Maven Plugin

Using the suggested Maven properties plugin I was able to read in a buildNumber.properties file that I use to version my builds.

  <build>        <plugins>      <plugin>        <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>        <artifactId>properties-maven-plugin</artifactId>        <version>1.0-alpha-1</version>        <executions>          <execution>            <phase>initialize</phase>            <goals>              <goal>read-project-properties</goal>            </goals>            <configuration>              <files>                <file>${basedir}/../project-parent/buildNumber.properties</file>              </files>            </configuration>          </execution>        </executions>      </plugin>   </plugins>

This answer to a similar question describes how to extend the properties plugin so it can use a remote descriptor for the properties file. The descriptor is basically a jar artifact containing a properties file (the properties file is included under src/main/resources).

The descriptor is added as a dependency to the extended properties plugin so it is on the plugin's classpath. The plugin will search the classpath for the properties file, read the file''s contents into a Properties instance, and apply those properties to the project's configuration so they can be used elsewhere.