Integration

I have packaged a class file and a .properties file in the same folder as a ejb-jar file and in the class file i try reading the properties file and it throws me the error - "The system cannot find the file specified". But when I put the complete path, it has no problem finding the file.
I know that this must be the problem with classpath, but can anybody tell me why it is not finding the properties file even if they are in the same folder. How do I make class files find .properties file which are in a folder.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.