Download PointBase JDBC Driver

Download the PointBase JDBC driver, copy the JDBC URL into DbSchema, and start designing schemas with ER diagrams — free Community Edition.

About the PointBase JDBC driver

A JDBC driver is a Java .jar library that lets applications connect to PointBase. DbSchema uses JDBC to reverse engineer schemas, run SQL, and generate documentation. Driver files are usually published by the database vendor or an open-source project.

JDBC URL format

Host, port, database name, and SSL options are passed in a URL starting with jdbc:. Each PointBase driver uses its own syntax — see the connection details below.

The PointBase JDBC driver

PointBase is a pure Java relational database from DataMirror, designed for embedded and mobile application deployment. It is fully ANSI SQL-92 compliant and supports J2ME CDC and J2SE environments.

PointBase may run in two modes: embedded and server mode. In the embedded mode the database engine runs directly in the application's JVM.

PointBase Embedded Mode

• Required File(s): pbembedded.jar
• Java Driver Class: com.pointbase.jdbc.jdbcUniversalDriver
• JDBC URL: jdbc:pointbase:embedded:PBPUBLIC
• Website: PointBase

PointBase Server Mode

• Required File(s): pbclient.jar
• Java Driver Class: com.pointbase.jdbc.jdbcUniversalDriver
• JDBC URL: jdbc:pointbase:server://HOST:PORT/DB
• Website: PointBase

Embedded or Server Mode

PointBase uses one driver class for both modes, with the URL deciding which one you get. The Connection Mode combo has an entry for each.

1. Embedded. jdbc:pointbase:embedded://mydb runs the engine inside DbSchema, with no port and no firewall. The database files are resolved relative to the working directory unless the installation was configured otherwise, so an "unknown database" here usually means the path, not a missing file. One process at a time holds an embedded database.
2. Server. jdbc:pointbase:server://host:port/mydb connects to a PointBase server you start separately. The database name is resolved on the server. Check the port against that server's configuration rather than assuming a default.
3. Connect from DbSchema. In the Connection Dialog choose Remote computer or custom port, fill in the server host and the port, then press Test Connection to check that the server answers before you connect.

PointBase is no longer developed. Where the data still matters, moving it to a maintained engine removes a dependency that is getting harder to run on current Java versions.

DbSchema and PointBase

DbSchema connects to PointBase using the PointBase JDBC driver and renders tables and foreign keys in the schema diagram. Use DbSchema's SQL Editor to design and query PointBase schemas in both embedded and server modes.