ClassNotFoundException when trying to connect to .accdb file via JDBC-ODBC in Java 8

Question

I'm working in a project in Java in Eclipse EE IDE where I have to query a .accdb file. The problem is when I try to load the driver and then connect to the database it gives me an exception error.

My code:

try{
        String filePath = "//myfilepathtomydb/BLABLA/example.accdb"

        Class.forName("sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver");

        String url = "jdbc:odbc:Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb, *.accdb)};DBQ=" + filePath;

        Connection database = DriverManager.getConnection(url);

        System.out.println("Connection sucessful");

    } catch (ClassNotFoundException e){     
        System.err.println("Got an exception");
        System.err.println(e.getMessage());
        e.printStackTrace();
    } catch (SQLException sqle) {
        sqle.printStackTrace();
        // TODO: handle exception
    }

The exception:

Got an exception
sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver
java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver
    at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(URLClassLoader.java:372)
    at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(URLClassLoader.java:361)
    at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
    at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(URLClassLoader.java:360)
    at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:424)
    at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Launcher.java:308)
    at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:357)
    at java.lang.Class.forName0(Native Method)
    at java.lang.Class.forName(Class.java:259)
    at project.Main.main(Main.java:15)

I'm using 32-bit Eclipse in a 64-bit Windows and from what i've read this way of connecting to the database is not supported by a 64-bit JRE, so I'm using a chosen 32-bit JRE (jdk1.8.0_05) and in my run configurations I used the '-d32' argument in VM.

Apparently the JdbcOdbcDriver should be inside the rt.jar, but when i look for it i can't find the following package: sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver.

Would be appreciated if someone could shed light to my problem, any mistakes or stupid things i said fell free to correct me also.

Answer 1

According to this post the JDBC-ODBC Bridge was removed in Java8. You can use a JDBC Driver specifically for Access. I see a lot of people mentioning UCanAccess to connect to Access although I have not used it myself.

Answer 2

According to Oracle the JDBC-ODBC Bridge will no longer be included with JDK as of Java SE 8 and that

The ideal is "Pure Java": no native code, no platform dependent features.

that means looking for at least a JDBC type 3 or 4.

Lance Andersen wrote:

The JDBC-ODBC Bridge has always been considered transitional and a non-supported product that was only provided with select JDK bundles and not included with the JRE.

The JDBC-ODBC bridge provides limited support for JDBC 2.0 and does not support more recent versions of the JDBC specification.

You should either use any of third-part database drivers (as Microsoft doesn't provide for any) or use a previous version of java. Anyhow I suggest using a specific Driver, instead of the JDBC-ODBC one.

For that you could look at any of the following:

• EasySoft drivers
• UCanAccess

Answer 3

Oracle's (and Sun's) official position has long (since JDBC 1.0!) been that --

the [JVM-bundled] JDBC-ODBC Bridge should be considered a transitional solution [...] Oracle [was Sun] does not support the JDBC-ODBC Bridge.

However, my employer, OpenLink Software, has produced enterprise-grade commercial Type 1 Bridges between JDBC and ODBC since JVM 1.0, and current versions are fully compatible with the current JVM 1.8. You can learn more here --

• Single-Tier JDBC-ODBC Bridge Driver -- a JDBC driver for ODBC data sources
• Single-Tier ODBC-JDBC Bridge Driver -- an ODBC driver for JDBC data sources

Answer 4

ODBC Bridge might not exist in JRE rather than SUN's. Check your JRE.