Configuring SQL Explorer Plugin
We will configure the SQL Explorer Plug-in & connect to the database. I will be using MySql server. It will be almost the same for all the databases. If you have not yet installed the plug-in please see my post on Installing Eclipse SQL Explorer Plug-in.
- From the eclipse menu, select window->preferences
- In the preference dialog box, select the SQL Explorer node.
- Select the JDBC Drivers node.
- Select the Driver you want to configure. We will configure MySQL Driver. So select the MySQL Driver & click edit on the right hand side.
- Select the “extra class path” tab in the change dialog box.
- Add the MySQL Connector jar file by clicking on add button. You can download the connectors from MySQL site. You can download it directly from here.
- Once you added the jar file click on List Drivers on the right hand side. You can see all the loaded drivers. Select the one appropriate to you.
- Enter the URL of your MySQL Server in the Example URL text box. Something like this “jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/test”. Here “test” is the database name & enter the url without quotes.
- Click ok to finish the installation of the driver. You should be able to see a green tick mark for the driver we just installed.
Now we will connect to the database.
- From the eclipse menu, select window->Open Perspective->other.
- In the Open Perspective dialog box select SQL Explorer & click ok.
- Eclipse will be switched to SQL Explorer perspective.





very straightforward, was able to connect to mysql in eclipse sqlexplorer
Ann
June 1, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Thank you Ann
phani
October 8, 2008 at 5:54 am
Sometimes working with Eclipse is like wrestling with an elephant. But it is getting easier. Thanks for the great instructions.
Bob
December 22, 2008 at 9:02 pm
You’re welcome Bob.
phani
December 23, 2008 at 4:37 am
i am using mysql within xampp package, and i get error message: communication link failure. anyone can help? thank before
krisna
December 23, 2008 at 9:04 am
Krisna,
How you’re trying to connect to mysql?
This post will help you to connect to mysql using SQL Explorer plugin from with Eclipse IDE.
phani
December 23, 2008 at 9:16 am
yes, i am using eclipse 3.4.1 with sqlexplorer 3.0.0. when i try to connect, this error show up: communications link failure.
krisna
December 23, 2008 at 9:26 am
krisna,
Try these things and see if you succeed.
1) Try updating your sqlexplorer plugin
2) See if you’re using appropriate connectors
3) Are you on windows/Linux?
4) See if the mysql port is allowed to accept TCP/IP connections.
check this thread http://forums.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5350509
phani
December 23, 2008 at 9:43 am
finally, this is my problem:
4) See if the mysql port is allowed to accept TCP/IP connections.
i open my.cnf file and just insert comment on line ‘skip-networking’, then no error msg again when connect. btw, i am using mandriva 2008.
thanks phani…
krisna
December 23, 2008 at 10:06 am
Krisna,
Hope that solved your problem. I didn’t used mandrive.
You’re Welcome
Cheers
Phani.
phani
December 23, 2008 at 10:11 am
Thanks for the info, great help.
Juan
January 29, 2009 at 2:18 pm
The blog instructions at the top of this page worked perfectly for connecting the Eclipse SQL Explorer plugin ( in Aptana Studio ) & MySQL .
Thanks!
Bobby O
April 9, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Thanks for your comments Juan & Bobby
phani
April 10, 2009 at 4:45 am
Thank you so much!!!
Excellent info!
hookdump
April 30, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Ditto with Bob’s and hookdump comments above, was looking for these type of details for two days. Huge concern was possibly blowing up my ubuntu config. Some additional details/naming convention on where to put connector jar file could help. I put it in /usr/lib/eclipse/plugins/j_connect, is that OK?? I got the green check
Tom H
May 8, 2009 at 5:01 am
Hi Tom,
Thanks for your comments & suggestions, I will update and also try to put some screenshots.
About the connector jar file, you can place it any where you want they need not be under the eclipse folder but all the eclipse plugins should go under eclipse plugins folder. I would suggest the best place to put the connector jars is under your home directory with a folder name as “connectors”. Since if you happen to uninstall or delete eclipse you don’t loose your connector jar files( if they are out of the eclipse folder). Later While adding the connector you can browse for the jars where you’ve placed.
Thanks Tom & hookdump for your comments
phani
May 8, 2009 at 5:16 am
I usually use the shell, but in this case, needed to use SQL Explorer. The article helped. Thanks.
John
November 5, 2009 at 5:11 am
Welcome John
phani
November 12, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Thanks a lot. I am able to install and configure the eclipse plugin to view my Oracle DB tables via Oracle thin driver.
Bhuvana
February 28, 2012 at 12:30 pm