Processing 1.0 - Processing Discourse - Database access using ADO

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Database access using ADO (Read 3227 times)

MKD

Database access using ADO
Apr 29^th, 2008, 12:39am

I am very new to Processing, I stumbled upon it just the other day and I am intrigued. I work for a large Architecture/Engineering firm and I typically use VBA scripts with Bentley Microstation to generate geometry. I have been looking for something Java-like for use in visualizing data from our structural analysis programs. I am able to export results from our analysis packages to Access Databases. I am familiar with ADO interaction with the database for importing and parsing data. I was wondering if it is possible to utilize ADO to access and import data into processing applets. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

antiplastik YaBB Moderator Offline Posts: 699 France	Re: Database access using ADO Reply #1 - May 2^nd, 2008, 4:57pm In Java, you can access Access databases (and many others) via JDBC. Try to goole JDBC and you should find what you want. If you need more help, I can upload a script example of a JDBC connection to an Access database.

hal9000 YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 3	Re: Database access using ADO Reply #2 - Sep 26^th, 2008, 12:55am Hi, i am also very interested in the connection of ADO (I am also using MicroStation Generative Components) to Processing. It would be very appreciated if you could upload a script example of a JDBC connection to an Access database. looking forward to further discussion on this issue. Cheers!

jeffg

Re: Database access using ADO
Reply #3 - Jun 8^th, 2009, 6:06am

If someone has some examples on this, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to follow Ben's example in his book, which uses MYSQL, but it's not working for MS ACCESS. Searching on the web, it states to use "sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver" but I get "java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver". So I guess I don't have this library installed. Anyone know where to get this library and how connect via ADO?

PhiLho

Re: Database access using ADO
Reply #4 - Jun 8^th, 2009, 8:03am

That class lives in rt.jar which is shipped in every JRE, so you should have it!

On my Windows XP machine, if I type: Code:

sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver jod = new sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver();

in the PDE and run that, I have no errors. Idem if I do instead: Code:

import sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver;
JdbcOdbcDriver jod = new JdbcOdbcDriver();

Perhaps you forgot the import statement?

jeffg Senior Member Offline Posts: 472	Re: Database access using ADO Reply #5 - Jun 8^th, 2009, 8:15am I was only importing java.sql.*, but I tried to import as you stated "import sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver;" but it says that the package sun.jdbc does not exist. I also tried "com.sun.jdbc..." but no go. I'm running a MacBook, so I would think this would all be installed.

jeffg

Re: Database access using ADO
Reply #6 - Jun 8^th, 2009, 8:57am

Here is my problem... maybe it can be solved another way. I want something portable. I currently have my data in MS Access and created some nice forms, but also use Oracle to hold data. My plan was to "link" MS Access to Oracle when needed. I didn't want to hard code an Oracle or MySQL connection as I won't always have access to a "running" database. Taking a look at Java DB and SQLite.. maybe these would work? Access would be preferred but I'd also like it to be portable.

PhiLho

Re: Database access using ADO
Reply #7 - Jun 8^th, 2009, 9:06am

You are using Access on a MacBook! I know MS Office is (was) available on Macs, but still the idea is... exotic!

Knowing that Java on Macs is made by Apple, I don't know if they took the trouble to implement this Sun-specific API. You can find the rt.jar in your JRE (in the lib folder), open it with an archive explorer and see if there is the sun/jdbc/odbc folders in it, with the JdbcOdbcDriver.class file.

A quick search shown that ODBC is supported on Mac (see Mac ODBC Help for example) but maybe you need to find a driver yourself.

jeffg

Re: Database access using ADO
Reply #8 - Jun 8^th, 2009, 10:52am

I copied an rt.jar file over from a windows box, since mac doesn't have one (uses classes.jar and ui.jar), but the duplication of classes made everything ambiguous. Not sure how to copy those specific packages out of the jar file.

I don't have Access installed on my Mac (it's not part of Office for Mac), but this is what is currently being used on other machines. I just happen to be developing on the Mac.

PhiLho

Re: Database access using ADO
Reply #9 - Jun 9^th, 2009, 3:53am

Quote:

I copied an rt.jar file over from a windows box

Bad idea, I think...

It is likely that in the end, the ODBC layer relies on native code (machine code depending on system).

I still don't understand how you work. Do you try to get data from a .mdb file or remotely from some Access installation?

In all cases, you are not taking the easy path, I fear... Wink

jeffg

Re: Database access using ADO
Reply #10 - Jun 9^th, 2009, 4:13am

I had created a portable local access database last year that people use to enter data (uses the forms built into Access). Flash forward and now I'm working with Processing on my Mac to build an app to visualize the data. I was hoping to create a direct ADO/DAO type connection into Access that could be platform independent, but would still allow people on their windows boxes to open up the Access forms and enter in new data. I also like the import capability of Access.

I have another person that is using Oracle as a back end for the data. So I'm trying to figure out the best way to allow people to import data, work with different database types (Access can do linked tables), be portable, and platform independent. Not an easy task... Undecided

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