JAR file including database connection

Question

Hello,
I made an application ( GUI ) which uses a MS acces Database.
I used Netbeans, so a JAR file is automatically created.
The only problem is that when I run the Jar file ,the application isn't able to find the connection with the database.
Very annoying, but I do not know how to include it in my JAR file.
Is it possible? Maybe not, because access is from windows, while JAR is independent of the running platform.
If not, is it possible to make it run independently in another way, for example 'exe-file'.
If yes, how?Any ideas...
I've been looking for a couple of weeks, but never found a satisfying solution...
I just want to be able to run the application without the need of netbeans.
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Thx for your quick replies!
First of all , I will give you more details how I made connection with access. Beneath you find my class 'Database".
Then, I made an object from that class and use it for example createStatements:
{code}Statement stmt = db.getDbConnection().createStatement();{code} (db = object from class Database )
{code}package database;
import java.sql.Connection;
import java.sql.DriverManager;
import java.sql.SQLException;
public class Database {
private Connection dbConnection;
public Database(String file) {
loadDriver();
connectDatabase(file);
private void loadDriver() {
try
Class.forName ("sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver");
catch (ClassNotFoundException err)
System.out.println("Could not load driver ");
System.exit(1);
private void connectDatabase(String dbFile) {
try
String protocol ="jdbc";
String subProtocol = "odbc";
String subName ="Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)};DBQ= "+dbFile;
String URL = protocol + ":" + subProtocol + ":" + subName;
     dbConnection = DriverManager.getConnection(URL);
catch(SQLException error)
System.err.println("Error connecting to database: " + error.toString());
public void closeConnection() {
try
dbConnection.close();
catch(SQLException error)
System.err.println("Cannot disconnect database");
public Connection getDbConnection(){
return dbConnection;
}{code}
You said that the resources have to exist when you run it...Okay. In netbeans that's easy because it's part of java language and netbeans loads everything he needs... But how can I realise it to run without netbeans?
Btw, it's no problem that the application is only runnable on windows. I was just wondering...
If you need some more information, just ask. It's not always easy for me to understand what information a specialist like you needs ;-)