Looking at Exploring Database Connecting

Hey, I'm looking at learning how to work with Databasing to store large amounts of data that is unrealistic and inefficient to store in excel files. Specifically, connecting with Access Databases. I wanted to know if there was any special Libraries I needed to connect or if there were any tips anyone could provide for me. I've looked at JDBC briefly, but I still can't tell definitely if it comes standard with Java or if it is an external Library. If I do need to download a Library, does anyone know any that are fairly simple to use?

Any assistance is appreciated.

If you haven't yet, look through the Oracle JDBC tutorial: Trail: JDBC(TM) Database Access (The Java™ Tutorials). This will give you a general overview of database connectivity and how to access a database. Most notably you will need to get the driver for your specific database. Most database connectivity classes are located in the java.sql package (ships with jdk6 I believe), however to make direct quires to the database you also need to learn some basic SQL (selects, inserts, updates, joins, etc...). Things get a lot more complex should you wish to map java objects onto the database itself, either though enterprise beans, hibernate, etc...

So since those Tutorials are in Netbeans, i figured I'd give that a try. But there is a problem. The step for creating a Java Database in Netbeans (GetStartedwithJavaDB - NetBeans Wiki) I cant do. The first set of instructions are:

Quote:

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Go to Tools->Java DB Database and Start the Java DB server

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But, I dont have the option of Java DB Database under Tools...

Can anyone tell me how to set up a NetBeans DB?