JDBC and Struts - how?

Question

Hi, I am writing my first struts application. However despite all the great tutorials out there, I can't find any real examples on how to connect to a database using the <data-source> tags in the struts-config.xml file.
I know you provide details of the db as follows:
<data-sources>
<data-source
autoCommit="false"
description="MySql Database Configuration"
driverClass="org.gjt.mm.mysql.Driver"
maxCount="4"
minCount="2"
password="myPass"
url="jdbc:mysql://localhost:1526/myDB"
user="myUser"
/>
</data-source>
but then what?! Even if I can get this to work (which I can't!), how do I use the connection? What do I do with it then?
Many, many, thanks for any guidance.

Answer 1

The properties file is just used to store the data-source info as you have outlined.
<data-sources>
<data-source key="name" ... />
</data-sources>
Once you have defined all the parameters identifying your data source you need to retrieve it in the Action class or in the relevant model class - the later only works with Tomcat 4 and later, so check your web server, the first will (should?) work on all web servers.
//fetch the datasource
DataSource ds = servlet.findDataSource("name");
Once you have the DS you can create the connection where needed, if in the action class simple generate a connection object form the data source and do the JDBC required. Or as is preferable pass the data source to a model class and do it all there.
//pass DS to model
modelClass searchBean = new modelClass(ds);
Hopes this helps.