import java.io.*; try { File f = new File( basedir, "child2/target/child2-1-bin/child1/assembly-resources/test.txt" ); BufferedReader r = new BufferedReader( new FileReader( f ) ); if ( r.readLine().equals( "Project Version: 1" ) ) { return true; } } catch( IOException e ) { e.printStackTrace(); } return false;