code: static URL tryToGetValidUrl(String workingDir, String path, String filename) {
          try {
              if (new File(filename).exists())
                  return new File(filename).toURI().toURL();
              if (new File(path + File.separator + filename).exists())
                  return new File(path + File.separator + filename).toURI().toURL();
              if (new File(workingDir + File.separator + filename).exists())
                  return new File(workingDir + File.separator + filename).toURI().toURL();
              if (new File(new URL(filename).getFile()).exists())
                  return new File(new URL(filename).getFile()).toURI().toURL();
          } catch (MalformedURLException e) {
              // don't do anything, we're going on the assumption it is a jar, which could be wrong
          }
          return null;
      }
docs: a little bit cryptic...