I have tried every code sample for connecting that I find in several forums. I am a beginner with some know how with successfully running short code samples of my own. Have a working MySQL database and successfully created a small sample table to which I could perform SQL in both the MySQL workbench and from the Windows command line..just to describe my knowledge level. My goal has been to simply achieve a successful connection which has eluded me. Have tried to work with the CLASSPATH to the best of my knowledge. When I run >echo %CLASSPATH% at the command line I get C:\Program Files (x86)\MySQL\Connector J 8.0\mysql-connector-java-8.0.19.jar. in summary, I have relied strictly on code that I have cut and pasted to work with to make my connection since I am unfamiliar with writing the code on my own. Am usually able to troubleshoot from there, but in this case, I have given up. Any Ideas?? THanks