Using alternate demographics files with synthea-with-dependencies.jar

[m-goggins]

Hello!

I am trying to use the downloaded synthea jar file (v3.1.1) on Windows 11 Pro with Java version "11.0.16.1" and modifying the following demographic files:

• demographics.default_file
• geography.zipcodes.default_file
• geography.timezones.default_file
• geography.sdoh.default_file

When I try passing in params like:
java -jar synthea-with-dependencies.jar -p 10 --generate.demographics.default_file="C:\test\modified_demographics.csv"

I get the following errors:

ERROR: unable to load demographics
java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: resource C:\test\modified_demographics.csv not found.
        at com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument(Preconditions.java:220)
        at com.google.common.io.Resources.getResource(Resources.java:198)
        at org.mitre.synthea.engine.Generator.init(Generator.java:226)
        at org.mitre.synthea.engine.Generator.<init>(Generator.java:208)
        at org.mitre.synthea.engine.Generator.<init>(Generator.java:184)
        at App.main(App.java:229)
Caused by: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: resource C:\test\modified_demographics.csv not found.
        at com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument(Preconditions.java:220)
        at com.google.common.io.Resources.getResource(Resources.java:198)
        at org.mitre.synthea.helpers.Utilities.readResource(Utilities.java:410)
        at org.mitre.synthea.world.geography.Demographics.load(Demographics.java:388)
        at org.mitre.synthea.world.geography.Location.<init>(Location.java:64)
        at org.mitre.synthea.engine.Generator.init(Generator.java:226)
        at org.mitre.synthea.engine.Generator.<init>(Generator.java:208)
        at org.mitre.synthea.engine.Generator.<init>(Generator.java:184)
        at App.main(App.java:229)
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.ExceptionInInitializerError
        at org.mitre.synthea.world.geography.Location.<init>(Location.java:102)
        at org.mitre.synthea.engine.Generator.init(Generator.java:226)
        at org.mitre.synthea.engine.Generator.<init>(Generator.java:208)
        at org.mitre.synthea.engine.Generator.<init>(Generator.java:184)
        at App.main(App.java:229)
Caused by: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: resource C:\test\modified_demographics.csv not found.
        at com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument(Preconditions.java:220)
        at com.google.common.io.Resources.getResource(Resources.java:198)
        at org.mitre.synthea.helpers.Utilities.readResource(Utilities.java:410)
        at org.mitre.synthea.world.geography.Demographics.load(Demographics.java:388)
        at org.mitre.synthea.world.geography.Location.<init>(Location.java:64)
        ... 4 more

I have tried adding the modified demographics files to the same folder as the jar file, switch the direction of the slashes, with and without quotes around the file path, etc. The wiki for common configurations doesn't include non-boolean examples and the examples for other geographic areas assume you have cloned the repo rather than use the jar file.

I am able to generate the correct files when I clone the full repo and modify the synthea.properties file.

Has anyone able to use modified demographic files with the jar download successfully?

[lhs-open]

Try to use \ in absolute file path and no double quote.
or use relative path in linux style, e.g. if you have the test directory in your current directory, then specify file in CLI like this:
--generate.demographics.default_file=test/modified_demographics.csv

[m-goggins]

@lhs-open Thanks, it seems that prior this PR it wasn't possible to do what I was suggesting. Fortunately, it has since been fixed so you can use a relative or absolute file path with the jar download!

[lhs-open]

Great to know the PR fixed it