Why wont my driver load?

Question

I quote the docs that come iwth the mysql driver: "The name of the class that implements java.sql.Driver in MySQL Connector/J is 'com.mysql.jdbc.Driver'. The 'org.gjt.mm.mysql.Driver' class name is also usable to remain backwards-compatible with MM.MySQL. You should use this class name when registering the driver, or when otherwise configuring software to use MySQL Connector/J."
I'm compileing with this command:
javac Select.java -classpath C:\;C:\mysql-connector-java-3.0.16-ga-bin.jar
But it keeps saying "Failed to load mySQL driver." What's wrong? My hairs going grey :(
import java.sql.*;
public class Select {
     public static void main(String[] args){
     String url = "jdbc:mysql://database.dcs.aber.ac.uk/cha2";
     Connection con = null;
     try {
          String driver = "com.mysql.jdbc.Driver";
          Class.forName(driver).newInstance();
          catch ( Exception e ) {
               System.out.println("Failed to load mySQL driver.");
               return;
          try{
               con=DriverManager.getConnection(url, "cha2", "mightymouse");
               Statement select = con.createStatement();
               ResultSet result = select.executeQuery("SELECT chaz FROM cha2");
               System.out.println("Got result");
          catch (Exception e){
               System.out.println("driver loaded(?), connection wrong(?)");
               e.printStackTrace();
          finally {
               if(con !=null) {
                    try{ con.close(); }
                    catch (Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); }
}

Answer 1

I'm compileing with this command:
javac Select.java -classpath
C:\;C:\mysql-connector-java-3.0.16-ga-bin.jarI don't believe you need the JDBC JAR when you compile. You can compile like this:
javac -classpath Select.java
However, you absolutely need that JAR file when you run. Do it like this:
java -classpath .;C:\mysql-connector-java-3.0.16-ga-bin.jar Select
I'd recommend moving your Java source and that JAR file into a project-specific location (e.g, c:\DatabaseStuff). Create a source directory under that and put your .java code in there. Create a lib directory and put your 3rd party JARs in there. Learn Ant to automate your builds.
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