# ij.database property

The `ij.database` property creates a connection to the database specified by the property when `ij` starts up.

You can specify the complete connection URL (including protocol) with this property, or you can specify just the database path name and URL attributes if you also specify `ij.protocol` on the command line. After it boots, `ij` displays the generated name of the connection made with this property.

## Syntax

    ij.database=databaseConnectionURL

The database path name value in the databaseConnectionURL can be either an absolute path name or a path name relative to derby.system.home. For example, `thisDB`, `databases/thisDB`, and `c:/databases/2014/january/thisDB` can all be valid values.

The path separator in the connection URL is a forward slash (`/`), even in Windows path names. The database name value cannot contain a colon (`:`), except for the colon after the drive name in a Windows path name.

When specified on the command line, the databaseConnectionURL should not be enclosed in single quotes. However, if the connection URL contains special characters (such as a space, or a semicolon on a UNIX system), it must be enclosed in double quotes.

## Example

    java -Dij.protocol=jdbc:derby: \
    -Dij.database="wombat;create=true" org.apache.derby.tools.ij
    ij version 10.17
    CONNECTION0* -  jdbc:derby:wombat
    * = current connection
    ij>

Parent topic: ij properties reference
Related reference
ij.connection.connectionName property
ij.dataSource property
ij.exceptionTrace property
ij.maximumDisplayWidth property
ij.outfile property
ij.password property
ij.protocol property
ij.protocol.protocolName property
ij.showErrorCode property
ij.showNoConnectionsAtStart property
ij.showNoCountForSelect property
ij.URLCheck property
ij.user property
derby.ui.codeset property
derby.ui.locale property