if I have an executable JAR that needs to read and write from a text file so that users can customize the program, can I put the text file or any kind of database inside the JAR or does it have to go outside. Also, what is the best way to store such data, in a database or in a text file?
> if I have an executable JAR that needs to read and
> write from a text file so that users can customize
> the program, can I put the text file or any kind of
> database inside the JAR or does it have to go
> outside.
I think it's safe to say that you'd need to create a folder to keep your files in. i.e. the Jar won't get updated.
> Also, what is the best way to store such
> data, in a database or in a text file?
Depends, a small amount of simple data should go in a flat file, .txt is fine, whatever. If you have lots of (possibly complex) data and relationships between the data, etc. then you'd likely use a database.
what is the simplest database that java can deal with? can it use an access, or open office database?
> what is the simplest database that java can deal
> with? can it use an access, or open office database?
Access, oh, puhlease! Check out hsqldb, the 100% Java database:
http://hsqldb.org/
thanks Hippolyte, but just for heck of it, does java provide support for access in its API?
> thanks Hippolyte, but just for heck of it, does java
> provide support for access in its API?
Yes, through the JDBC, if you have an appropriate driver.
I've used some simple object databases (like Cloudscape) that are really simple. I'd personally use MySQL.
