Argh... if anyone out there is attempting to use Liferay for Portlets with Hibernate I would like to know how to get around the previously loaded hibernate.cfg.xml embedded in Liferay (I still haven't found it but I'm guessing it's there somewhere). I've tried using the configure method when constructing a session factory to specify an alternate configuration file (renamed: 'stracker.hibernate.cfg.xml') but it seems to use the datasource configuration included in Liferay's hibernate mapping file regardless of the explicit session factory configuration. I've also followed the steps listed on Liferay's site to configure a datasource (i've tried defining the datasource in both conf/Catalina/localhost/liferay.xml and the tomcat server.xml files).

the exact code is as follows:

sessionFactory = new Configuration().configure("stracker.hibernate.cfg.xml").buildSessionFactory();

and after a suggestion from a friend, i've also tried:

sessionFactory = new Configuration().configure("/stracker.hibernate.cfg.xml").buildSessionFactory();

Both result in the stack trace listed below. This is frustrating... I'm going out later tonight and if I happen to come across some guy wearing a t-shirt with this stack trace printed on it then I think I might have to punch him in the face.

Hibernate version: 3.05

Hibernate config file:
...
<!-- Database connection settings -->
<property name="dialect">org.hibernate.dialect.PostgreSQLDialect</property>
<property name="connection.datasource">jdbc/StrackerPortletDS</property>
...


Abbreviated trace of any exception that occurs:
org.hibernate.HibernateException: Name LiferayPool is not bound in this Context
at com.liferay.util.dao.hibernate.DSConnectionProvider.configure(DSConnectionProvider.java:56)
at org.hibernate.connection.ConnectionProviderFactory.newConnectionProvider(ConnectionProviderFactory.java:80)
at org.hibernate.cfg.SettingsFactory.createConnectionProvider(SettingsFactory.java:362)
at org.hibernate.cfg.SettingsFactory.buildSettings(SettingsFactory.java:60)
at org.hibernate.cfg.Configuration.buildSettings(Configuration.java:1463)
at org.hibernate.cfg.Configuration.buildSessionFactory(Configuration.java:1004)
at org.dp.stracker.util.HibernateUtil.<clinit>(HibernateUtil.java:17)

Name and version of the database you are using: PostgreSQL

Liferay embeds its properties in a few different locations, so ur frustration is understandable. I would try a grep on their ext.ear folder and find out if there are any occurrences of LiferayPool embedded in there. Last I remember, there was a property file(in addition to hibernate.cfg.xml) that contained the Datasource information.
Sorry cant be of more help.

I would suggest a very thorough search of the classpath for any rogue copies of 'stracker.hibernate.cfg.xml' - or maybe a hibernate.properties .

I've resolved the problem in case anyone else comes across this...

I defined the datasource in a separate context configuration file under the liferay/conf/Catalina/localhost directory. For example, if your portlet war is named SamplePortlet.war then you can create a file named SamplePortlet.xml in this directory containing the following context definition


<Context path="/SamplePortlet" docBase="SamplePortlet" reloadable="true" crossContext="true">

<Resource name="jdbc/SamplePortletDS" ...>
</Resource>

</Context>


Thanks for your help...