+
+ /**
+ * Return an {@link URL} from this {@link String}, be it a file path or an
+ * actual {@link URL}.
+ *
+ * @param sourceString
+ * the source
+ *
+ * @return the corresponding {@link URL}
+ *
+ * @throws MalformedURLException
+ * if this is neither a file nor a conventional {@link URL}
+ */
+ public static URL getUrl(String sourceString) throws MalformedURLException {
+ if (sourceString == null || sourceString.isEmpty()) {
+ throw new MalformedURLException("Empty url");
+ }
+
+ URL source = null;
+ try {
+ source = new URL(sourceString);
+ } catch (MalformedURLException e) {
+ File sourceFile = new File(sourceString);
+ source = sourceFile.toURI().toURL();
+ }
+
+ return source;
+ }