This section describes how to connect to a database when developing a JSP application in Dreamweaver.
The section assumes a JSP application server is running on a local or remote computer. For more information, see Setting Up a Web Application.
Before you can connect to a database, you must obtain a JDBC driver for your database. For more information, see Obtaining a JDBC driver for your database.
After you install the database driver, you can connect to the database through it. For instructions, see Creating a database connection for JSP.
Make sure you have a JDBC driver for your database before you try to create a database connection. Some common JDBC drivers include the Oracle Thin JDBC driver, the Oracle Java Driver, and the i-net JDBC drivers for Microsoft SQL Server.
Database system vendors such as Oracle often include drivers with their systems. You can also purchase drivers from third-party vendors. For example, you can obtain a JDBC driver for Microsoft SQL Server from i-net software at www.inetsoftware.de/products/jdbc/.
Sun also provides a searchable database of JDBC drivers and their vendors on its website at http://developers.sun.com/product/jdbc/drivers.
Once you have a JDBC driver for your database, you can create a database connection. For instructions, see Creating a database connection for JSP.
After you install an appropriate JDBC driver for your database on the computer running your application server (see Obtaining a JDBC driver for your database), you can create a database connection in Dreamweaver.
Dreamweaver displays the connections defined for the site.
If your driver is not listed, select Custom JDBC Connection.
A connection dialog box appears.
For more information, see JDBC connection parameters.
Macintosh users can ignore this step because all database connections use the application server.
Dreamweaver attempts to connect to the database. If the connection fails, double-check the the connection parameters. If the connection still fails, check the settings for the folder Dreamweaver uses to process dynamic pages (see Specifying where dynamic pages can be processed).
The new connection appears in the Databases panel.