Database Middleware: Why It’s Important - The Data Access - page 68

Using the JDBC Driver Manager

One way to connect to a database is through the JDBC Driver Manager by using
the DriverManager.getConnection method. This method uses a string con-
taining a connection URL. The following code fragment shows an example of
using the JDBC Driver Manager to connect to Microsoft SQL Server:

Connection conn = DriverManager.getConnection
("jdbc:datadirect:sqlserver://server1:1433;User=test;
Password=secret");

R EGISTERING THE JDBC D RIVER Registering the DataDirect JDBC drivers with
the JDBC Driver Manager allows the JDBC Driver Manager to load them. To
register a JDBC driver with the JDBC Driver Manager, you must specify the
name of the driver. Note that if you are using Java SE 6, you do not need to regis-
ter the drivers. Java SE 6 automatically registers the drivers with the JDBC
Driver Manager.
You can register the DataDirect JDBC drivers with the JDBC Driver Manager
using any of the following methods:

• Method 1 —Set the Java system property jdbc.drivers using the Java -D

option. The jdbc.drivers property is defined as a colon-separated list of
driver class names. For example:

java -Djdbc.drivers=com.ddtek.jdbc.db2.DB2Driver:
com.ddtek.jdbc.sqlserver.SQLServerDriver

registers the DataDirect JDBC DB2 driver and the DataDirect JDBC
Microsoft SQL Server driver.

• Method 2 —Set the Java property jdbc.drivers from within your Java

application or applet. To do this, include the following code fragment in
your Java application or applet, and call DriverManager.

getConnection :

Properties p = System.getProperties();
p.put ("jdbc.drivers",
"com.ddtek.jdbc.sqlserver.SQLServerDriver");
System.setProperties (p);

• Method 3 —Explicitly load the driver class using the standard Class.

forName method. To do this, include the following code fragment in your
application or applet and call DriverManager.getConnection :

Class.forName("com.ddtek.jdbc.sqlserver.SQLServerDriver");