embed MS Access database with runnable jar

[ppreeti]

So my aim is to make a runnable jar. I've made a program using swings which uses MS Access database to fetch records. So, I've used an absolute path to refer to the database for connection. Now, I intend to distribute this runnable jar to other people as well. So I guess the best option would be to embed the MS Access database as well in the jar file. But I don't know how to do that. Where should I keep the database in my Project Explorer ? Should I use a relative path etc. Any form of help would be appreciable.

This is my code:-

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.sql.*;
import java.util.Vector;

import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.table.DefaultTableModel;

public class r_search extends JFrame implements ActionListener {

    JFrame frame1;
    JLabel l0, l1, l2;
    JComboBox c1;
    JButton b1;
    Connection con;
    ResultSet rs, rs1;
    Statement st, st1;
    PreparedStatement pst;
    String ids;
    static JTable table;
    String[] columnNames = {"SECTION NAME", "REPORT NAME", "CONTACT", "LINK"};
    String from;

 r_search() {

        l0 = new JLabel("Fetching Search Results...");
        l0.setForeground(Color.blue);
        l0.setFont(new Font("Serif", Font.BOLD, 20));
        l1 = new JLabel("Search");
        b1 = new JButton("submit");

        l0.setBounds(100, 50, 350, 40);
        l1.setBounds(75, 110, 75, 20);
        b1.setBounds(150, 150, 150, 20);
        b1.addActionListener(this);

        setTitle("Search Executive Reports :) ");
        setLayout(null);
        //setVisible(true);
        setSize(500, 500);
        setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

        add(l0);
        add(l1);;
        add(b1);
        try {
            Vector v = new Vector();
            String url="jdbc:odbc:Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb, *.accdb)};DBQ=" + "C:\\users\\ppreeti\\executive_db.accdb";
            Class.forName("sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver");
            con=DriverManager.getConnection(url,"","");
            st = con.createStatement();
            rs = st.executeQuery("select index_name from Index1");
           // Vector v = new Vector();
            while (rs.next()) {
                ids = rs.getString(1);
                v.add(ids);
            }
            c1 = new JComboBox(v);
            c1.setBounds(150, 110, 150, 20);

            add(c1);
            st.close();
            rs.close();
        } catch (Exception e) {
        }
        setVisible(true);
    }

    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {
        if (ae.getSource() == b1) {
            showTableData();
        }

    }

    public void showTableData() {

        frame1 = new JFrame("Database Search Result");
        frame1.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        frame1.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
//TableModel tm = new TableModel();
        DefaultTableModel model = new DefaultTableModel();
        model.setColumnIdentifiers(columnNames);
//DefaultTableModel model = new DefaultTableModel(tm.getData1(), tm.getColumnNames());
//table = new JTable(model);
        table = new JTable();
        table.setModel(model);
        table.setAutoResizeMode(JTable.AUTO_RESIZE_ALL_COLUMNS);
        table.setFillsViewportHeight(true);
        JScrollPane scroll = new JScrollPane(table);
        scroll.setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(
                JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED);
        scroll.setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(
                JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED);
        from = (String) c1.getSelectedItem();
//String textvalue = textbox.getText();
        String uname = "";
        String email = "";
        String pass = "";
        String cou = "";

        try {
         
             pst = con.prepareStatement("select distinct Section.Section_Name,Report.Report_Name,Report.Link,Contact.Contact_Name "
                        + "FROM (( Section INNER JOIN Report ON Report.Section_ID=Section.Section_ID ) INNER JOIN Contact ON Contact.Contact_ID=Report.Contact_ID )  LEFT JOIN Metrics ON Metrics.Report_ID=Report.Report_ID  "
                        + " WHERE Section.Section_Name LIKE '%"+from+"%' OR Report.Report_Name LIKE '%"+from+"%' OR Metrics.Metric_Name LIKE '%"+from+"%' OR Contact.Contact_Name LIKE '%"+from+"%' ");
            ResultSet rs = pst.executeQuery();
            int i = 0;
            while (rs.next()) {
                uname = rs.getString("Section_Name");
                email = rs.getString("Report_Name");
                pass = rs.getString("Contact_Name");
                cou = rs.getString("Link");
                model.addRow(new Object[]{uname, email, pass, cou});
                i++;
            }
            if (i < 1) {
                JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "No Record Found", "Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            }
            if (i == 1) {
                System.out.println(i + " Record Found");
            } else {
                System.out.println(i + " Records Found");
            }
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, ex.getMessage(), "Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
        }
        frame1.add(scroll);
        frame1.setVisible(true);
        frame1.setSize(1000, 400);
    }

    public static void main(String args[]) {
        new r_search();
    }
}

[Norm]

I don't think putting a DB in the jar file will work. The DB file will need to be a separate file.

BTW All catch blocks should have a call to the printStackTrace() method so messages are printed when there is an exception.

[ppreeti]

Okay..I understand that. but tell me one thing ! My requirement is to send this to clients as well. So is it the best way to send the database to them as well ? Are there any other alternatives given my requirement ? And suppose I do so, then how to set the path to the database in relative mode ? (considering that when I send the database to them too supplying an absolute path to database wouldn't work) Any suggestions in this regard ?

[Norm]

Try using the current directory. Its value is returned by: System.getProperty("user.dir")