Java, Eclipse and Web programming Tutorials
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Eclipse Data Tools Platform (DTP) - Tutorial

Lars Vogel

Version 0.9

25.01.2010

Revision History
Revision 0.1 - 0.517.01.2008Lars Vogel
Created Article
Revision 0.605.01.2009Lars Vogel
Corrections, added ij handling of derby
Revision 0.720.01.2009Lars Vogel
Moved Derby description to own article
Revision 0.824.06.2009Lars Vogel
Upgrade to Eclipse 3.5 (Galileo)
Revision 0.925.01.2010Lars Vogel
General rework

Eclipse Data tools Platform

The Eclipse Data Tools Platform (DTP) provides tools to simplify the handling of databases. This article demonstrates the usage of the Eclipse DTP.

This article is based on Eclipse Galileo (Eclipse 3.5).


Table of Contents

1. Introduction
1.1. Eclipse Data Tools Platform
1.2. Derby - Java DB
2. Installation
2.1. Installation of DTP
2.2. Download Apache Derby
3. Project
4. Configuration
5. Working with Databases
5.1. Create a new Databases Connection
5.2. Create a new Databases Connection
6. Using SQL Statements
7. Maintaining data in a table
8. Thank you
9. Questions and Discussion
10. Links and Literature
10.1. Other Resources

1. Introduction

1.1. Eclipse Data Tools Platform

The Eclipse DTP project provide tools for performing database tasks. For example the project provides an editor for SQL statements or a database browser.

1.2. Derby - Java DB

In this article Apache Derby is used as the example database but Eclipse DTP contains connectors for lots of other databases, e.g. MySQL, PostgreSQL, HSQLDB.

Derby is an open-source, freely available, pure Java database. See Apache Derby Tutorial to learn more about Apache Derby.

2. Installation

2.1. Installation of DTP

Install the Data Tools Platform via the Eclipse update manager . Install "Data Tools Platform Enablement Extender SDK"

Please see Using the Eclipse Update Manager for information on the Eclipse update manager.

2.2. Download Apache Derby

Download the latest Derby version from the Apache website http://db.apache.org/derby/ . Choose the binary distribution.

3. Project

We will create a project to contain the SQL files.

If you have problems with the following please see Eclipse Java IDE Tutorial .

Create a new General Project "de.vogella.dtp.example" via File-> New -> Other -> General -> Project.

Add a folder "lib" to your project. Copy the file derby.jar from your Derby download into this folder.

The result should look like the following.

4. Configuration

The following will create a connection for an embedded Derby.

Define the driver for the derby access. Go to Window-> Preferences and select "Data Management" -> Connectivity -> Driver Definition. Press Add. Select Derby and the version you want to use. If your Derby version is not listed selected the highest number displayed.

Select then the tab jar press "Add" and select the derby.jar from your project folder "lib".

5. Working with Databases

5.1. Create a new Databases Connection

Switch to the perspective "Database Development". Please see Eclipse Perspective to see how to switch a perspective.

Select "Database Connections", right mouse click and select new.

Select Derby.

Maintain a Database location where the new database should be stored on your file system. The flag "Create database (if required)" should be selected. Maintain user and password and press finish.

Congratulation! You have created a new database.

5.2. Create a new Databases Connection

Now your folder Database should have an additional entry. Right it and select connect (if you not connected).

Open then tree to see the content of your new database.

Congratulation. You have connected yourself to the new database.

Tip

Sometimes you have to disconnect and connect again to see the changes you did. For example if you create a new database schema.

6. Using SQL Statements

Switch back to the Java perspective. Create a folder "scripts". Right click on it, select New -> Other and SQL Development and SQL File.

Maintain the folder "scripts" as a target, name the file "myscript.sql" and maintain the connection you have created earlier.

Maintain a SQL statement, e.g. the creation of a Database schema, right click and select "Execute all". After running the script you see the result in the "SQL Results" view.

Switch back to "Database development" perspective, right click on your database and select refresh to see your new schema. You could continue now writing SQL statements to create your database, e.g. creating a table via SQL.

7. Maintaining data in a table

Create a table with the following coding.

			
CREATE TABLE MYKILLERAPP.MyTabelle (
		ID INTEGER NOT NULL,
		MyKey INTEGER NOT NULL,
		Content VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL,
		PRIMARY KEY (ID)
	);
		

Put in some data via SQL

			
insert into MYKILLERAPP.MyTabelle values (1,1,'Hallo');
		

Refresh your database and select your new table, right click on your table and select Data->Edit. Now you can edit the data.

Also note that Eclipse Data Tools Platform allows you to upload / download the data and also to see a sample of the content.

8. Thank you

Thank you for practicing with this tutorial.

Please note that I maintain this website in my private time. If you like the information I'm providing please help me by donating.

9. Questions and Discussion

For questions and discussion around this article please use the www.vogella.de Google Group. Also if you note an error in this article please post the error and if possible the correction to the Group.

I believe the following is a very good guideline for asking questions in general and also for the Google group How To Ask Questions The Smart Way.

10. Links and Literature