You can setup ODBC data sources that point to Excel spread sheets or
even CSV files.  The JDBC/ODBC bridge can pick those up.

Personally, I would get a real database... it will be ultimately less
frustrating, and JDBC doesn't care if your using ODBC or not.  My
personal favorite is MySQL:

http://www.mysql.com/

//Nathan

Try http://hsqldb.sourceforge.net. It is a very nice java database.
You can use it  embedded in your application. No need for an external
process.

/Fredrik

Christian:
If you have choose Windows that's entirely your fault.
And it means that you have to work with Windows.
So, at least, create ODBC source (you can do it even for Excel *.xls
files (first row is collumn's names (if I'm not mistaken)))  :)))
register it with ODBC manager (for example with name EXCEL) and use
standard Java code like this:

import java.sql.*;

public class a {
      public static void main(String ar[]){
      // Load the JDBC-ODBC bridge driver

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

      // setup the properties
      java.util.Properties prop = new java.util.Properties();
      //prop.put("charSet", "Big5");
      prop.put("user", "");
      prop.put("password", "");

      // Connect to the database quikdata
      Connection con =
DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:odbc:EXCEL;UID=;PWD=", prop);
      System.out.println(con);

                Statement stmt = con.createStatement();
                if (stmt == null)
                    System.out.println ("ERROR: DBAccess: statement is null!");

            ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT first_name, last_name, age
FROM users");
            while (rs.next()) {
                System.out.println(" " + rs.getString(1)+" " + rs.getString(2)+" "
+ rs.getString(3));
            }
            rs.close();

            stmt.executeUpdate("INSERT INTO users (first_name, last_name, age)
values ('Alex', 'Kizub', '99')");

       con.close();

        } catch (Exception ex) {
            System.out.println( ex.getMessage());
        }

      }
}

Even MS has more database like sources (like Access *.mdb or *.dbf)
it's better use more real like databases. But, of course, ODBC is good
too. Especially when you like to strugle with MS database
implementations :)

Alex Kizub.