JSP called database Bean - works in forte ide- not outside ide

Question

I am obtaining my Connection object from a Java bean so that I can change database connections (like development to production) by just changing the bean out. Inside forte for java 3.0 with its built in tomcat, it works fine. I have the same version of tomcat that I fire up outside of the ide. I used the ide to create a WAR file and I expand it under webapps so the external tomcat can see it. The initial jsp page works fine (so tomcat can see it fine).
Now when I click a button that performs a form method=get action=\"operation.jsp\"> ... , the operation.jsp executes the following code:
<jsp:useBean id="db" scope="request" class="dbConnectBean" />
<%
Connection adxcon = db.getDbConnection();
Statement adxstmt = adxcon.createStatement(ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE,ResultSet.CONCUR_UPDATABLE);
... %>
The dbConnectBean code looks like:
public class dbConnectBean extends Object implements java.io.Serializable {
public class dbConnectBean extends Object implements java.io.Serializable {
private PropertyChangeSupport propertySupport;
private Connection dbConnection;
public dbConnectBean() {
propertySupport = new PropertyChangeSupport ( this );
public Connection getDbConnection() {
setDbConnection();
return dbConnection;
public void setDbConnection() {
this.dbConnection = dbConnection;
try {
Class.forName("org.gjt.mm.mysql.Driver");
catch (Exception e) {
System.out.println("Can't load JDBC Driver");
return;
try {
dbConnection = DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/cs_dev?user=foo&password=bar");
catch (Exception e) {
System.out.println("Can't get connected: " + e.getMessage());
return;
return;
Outside of the ide, when I click to perform the form action above, I get:
Error: 500
Location: /AddressBook/operation.jsp
Internal Servlet Error:
javax.servlet.ServletException
     at org.apache.jasper.runtime.PageContextImpl.handlePageException(PageContextImpl.java:459)
     at _0002foperation_0002ejspoperation_jsp_3._jspService(_0002foperation_0002ejspoperation_jsp_3.java:140)
     at org.apache.jasper.runtime.HttpJspBase.service(HttpJspBase.java:119)
     at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:853)
     at org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet$JspServletWrapper.service(JspServlet.java:177)
     at org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet.serviceJspFile(JspServlet.java:318)
     at org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet.service(JspServlet.java:391)
     at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:853)
     at org.apache.tomcat.core.ServletWrapper.doService(ServletWrapper.java:404)
     at org.apache.tomcat.core.Handler.service(Handler.java:286)
     at org.apache.tomcat.core.ServletWrapper.service(ServletWrapper.java:372)
     at org.apache.tomcat.core.ContextManager.internalService(ContextManager.java:797)
     at org.apache.tomcat.core.ContextManager.service(ContextManager.java:743)
     at org.apache.tomcat.service.http.HttpConnectionHandler.processConnection(HttpConnectionHandler.java:210)
     at org.apache.tomcat.service.TcpWorkerThread.runIt(PoolTcpEndpoint.java:416)
     at org.apache.tomcat.util.ThreadPool$ControlRunnable.run(ThreadPool.java:498)
     at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:484)
Any ideas??

Answer 1

Error 500 signifies the following;
"500 (Internal Server Error)
500 (SC_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR) is the generic 'server is confused' status code. It often results from CGI programs or (Heaven forbid!) servlets that crash or return improperly fromatted headers."
Check your headers.
I wouls suggest that you do not Run your Servlets and JSPs through the Forte IDE. Download and install Tomcat 4 on your desktop (if you havent already) and test them there. You only need to mount the directories for the particular web app.
You can use this guide on how to install and setup your Tomcat 4 and your development environment. http://www.moreservlets.com/Using-Tomcat-4.html
Hope this helps