diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/BaseLiaison.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/BaseLiaison.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5f94f0a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/BaseLiaison.java
@@ -0,0 +1,233 @@
+//
+// $Id$
+//
+// samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
+// Copyright (C) 2006-2007 Michael Bayne, Pär Winzell
+//
+// This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+// under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
+// by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+// License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+
+package com.samskivert.jdbc;
+
+import java.sql.Connection;
+import java.sql.PreparedStatement;
+import java.sql.ResultSet;
+import java.sql.SQLException;
+import java.sql.Statement;
+
+import com.samskivert.Log;
+import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
+
+/**
+ * A superclass to help with the shrinking subset of SQL our supported dialects can agree on,
+ * or when there is disagreement, implement the most standard-compliant version and let the
+ * dialectal sub-classes override.
+ */
+public abstract class BaseLiaison implements DatabaseLiaison
+{
+    public BaseLiaison ()
+    {
+        super();
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public boolean tableExists (Connection conn, String name) throws SQLException
+    {
+        ResultSet rs = conn.getMetaData().getTables("", "", name, null);
+        while (rs.next()) {
+            String tname = rs.getString("TABLE_NAME");
+            if (name.equals(tname)) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public boolean tableContainsColumn (Connection conn, String table, String column)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        ResultSet rs = conn.getMetaData().getColumns("", "", table, column);
+        while (rs.next()) {
+            String tname = rs.getString("TABLE_NAME");
+            String cname = rs.getString("COLUMN_NAME");
+            if (tname.equals(table) && cname.equals(column)) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public boolean tableContainsIndex (Connection conn, String table, String index)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        ResultSet rs = conn.getMetaData().getIndexInfo("", "", table, false, true);
+        while (rs.next()) {
+            String tname = rs.getString("TABLE_NAME");
+            String iname = rs.getString("INDEX_NAME");
+            if (tname.equals(table) && index.equals(iname)) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public boolean addIndexToTable (Connection conn, String table, String[] columns, String ixName)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        if (tableContainsIndex(conn, table, ixName)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        ixName = (ixName != null ? ixName : StringUtil.join(columns, "_"));
+
+        StringBuilder update = new StringBuilder("CREATE INDEX ").append(indexSQL(ixName)).
+            append(" on ").append(tableSQL(table)).append(" (");
+        for (int ii = 0; ii < columns.length; ii ++) {
+            if (ii > 0) {
+                update.append(", ");
+            }
+            update.append(columnSQL(columns[ii]));
+        }
+        update.append(")");
+
+        PreparedStatement stmt = null;
+        try {
+            stmt = conn.prepareStatement(update.toString());
+            stmt.executeUpdate();
+        } finally {
+            JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
+        }
+
+        Log.info("Database index '" + ixName + "' added to table '" + table + "'");
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public boolean changeColumn (Connection conn, String table, String column, String definition)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        PreparedStatement stmt = null;
+        try {
+            stmt = conn.prepareStatement(
+                "ALTER TABLE " + tableSQL(table) + " CHANGE " + columnSQL(column) +
+                " " + column + " " + definition);
+            stmt.executeUpdate();
+        } finally {
+            JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
+        }
+
+        Log.info("Database column '" + column + "' of table '" + table +
+                 "' modified to have definition '" + definition + "'.");
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public boolean renameColumn (Connection conn, String table, String from, String to)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        PreparedStatement stmt = null;
+        try {
+            stmt = conn.prepareStatement(
+                "ALTER TABLE " + tableSQL(table) + " RENAME COLUMN " + columnSQL(from) +
+                " TO " + columnSQL(to));
+            if (stmt.executeUpdate() == 1) {
+                Log.info("Renamed column '" + from + "' on table '" + table + "' to '" + to + "'");
+            }
+        } finally {
+            JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public boolean dropColumn (Connection conn, String table, String column) throws SQLException
+    {
+        if (!tableContainsColumn(conn, table, column)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        PreparedStatement stmt = null;
+        try {
+            stmt = conn.prepareStatement(
+                "ALTER TABLE " + tableSQL(table) + " DROP COLUMN " + columnSQL(column));
+            if (stmt.executeUpdate() == 1) {
+                Log.info("Database index '" + column + "' removed from table '" + table + "'.");
+            }
+        } finally {
+            JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public boolean createTableIfMissing (
+        Connection conn, String table, String[] columns, String[] definitions,
+        String[][] uniqueConstraintColumns, String[] primaryKeyColumns)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        if (tableExists(conn, table)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        if (columns.length != definitions.length) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Column name and definition number mismatch");
+        }
+
+        StringBuilder builder =
+            new StringBuilder("CREATE TABLE ").append(tableSQL(table)).append(" (");
+        for (int ii = 0; ii < columns.length; ii ++) {
+            if (ii > 0) {
+                builder.append(", ");
+            }
+            builder.append(columnSQL(columns[ii])).append(" ").append(definitions[ii]);
+        }
+
+        if (uniqueConstraintColumns != null && uniqueConstraintColumns.length > 0) {
+            for (String[] uCols : uniqueConstraintColumns) {
+                builder.append(", UNIQUE (");
+                for (int ii = 0; ii < uCols.length; ii ++) {
+                    if (ii > 0) {
+                        builder.append(", ");
+                    }
+                    builder.append(columnSQL(uCols[ii]));
+                }
+                builder.append(")");
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (primaryKeyColumns != null && primaryKeyColumns.length > 0) {
+            builder.append(", PRIMARY KEY (");
+            for (int ii = 0; ii < primaryKeyColumns.length; ii ++) {
+                if (ii > 0) {
+                    builder.append(", ");
+                }
+                builder.append(columnSQL(primaryKeyColumns[ii]));
+            }
+            builder.append(")");
+        }
+
+        builder.append(")");
+
+        Statement stmt = conn.createStatement();
+        try {
+            stmt.executeUpdate(builder.toString());
+        } finally {
+            JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
+        }
+
+        Log.info("Database table '" + table + "' created.");
+        return true;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/ConnectionProvider.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/ConnectionProvider.java
index 8ff7e609..019ce2b5 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/ConnectionProvider.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/ConnectionProvider.java
@@ -25,69 +25,65 @@ import java.sql.*;
 import com.samskivert.io.PersistenceException;
 
 /**
- * As the repository aims to interface with whatever database pooling
- * services a project cares to use, it obtains all of its database
- * connections through a connection provider. The connection provider
- * provides connections based on a database identifier (a string) which
- * identifies a particular connection to a particular database. A user of
- * these services would then coordinate the database identifier (or
- * identifiers) used to invoke a database operation with the database
- * connections that are returned by the connection provider that they
- * provided to the repository at construct time.
+ * As the repository aims to interface with whatever database pooling services a project cares to
+ * use, it obtains all of its database connections through a connection provider. The connection
+ * provider provides connections based on a database identifier (a string) which identifies a
+ * particular connection to a particular database. A user of these services would then coordinate
+ * the database identifier (or identifiers) used to invoke a database operation with the database
+ * connections that are returned by the connection provider that they provided to the repository at
+ * construct time.
  */
 public interface ConnectionProvider
 {
     /**
-     * Obtains a database connection based on the supplied database
-     * identifier. The repository expects to have exclusive use of this
-     * connection instance until it releases it. This connection will be
-     * released subsequently with a call to {@link #releaseConnection} or
-     * {@link #connectionFailed} depending on the circumstances of the
-     * release. <code>close()</code> <em>will not</em> be called on the
-     * connection. It is up to the connection provider to close the
-     * connection when it is released if appropriate.
+     * Obtains a database connection based on the supplied database identifier. The repository
+     * expects to have exclusive use of this connection instance until it releases it. This
+     * connection will be released subsequently with a call to {@link #releaseConnection} or {@link
+     * #connectionFailed} depending on the circumstances of the release. <code>close()</code>
+     * <em>will not</em> be called on the connection. It is up to the connection provider to close
+     * the connection when it is released if appropriate.
      *
      * @param ident the database connection identifier.
-     * @param readOnly whether or not the connection may be to a read-only
-     * mirror of the repository.
+     * @param readOnly whether or not the connection may be to a read-only mirror of the
+     * repository.
      *
-     * @return an active JDBC connection (which may have come from a
-     * connection pool).
+     * @return an active JDBC connection (which may have come from a connection pool).
      *
-     * @exception PersistenceException thrown if a problem occurs trying
-     * to open the requested connection.
+     * @exception PersistenceException thrown if a problem occurs trying to open the requested
+     * connection.
      */
     public Connection getConnection (String ident, boolean readOnly)
         throws PersistenceException;
 
     /**
-     * Releases a database connection when it is no longer needed by the
-     * repository.
+     * Releases a database connection when it is no longer needed by the repository.
      *
-     * @param ident the database identifier used when obtaining this
+     * @param ident the database identifier used when obtaining this connection.
+     * @param readOnly the same value that was passed to {@link #getConnection} to obtain this
      * connection.
-     * @param readOnly the same value that was passed to {@link #getConnection}
-     * to obtain this connection.
-     * @param conn the connection to release (back into the pool or to be
-     * closed if pooling is not going on).
+     * @param conn the connection to release (back into the pool or to be closed if pooling is not
+     * going on).
      */
-    public void releaseConnection (String ident, boolean readOnly,
-                                   Connection conn);
+    public void releaseConnection (String ident, boolean readOnly, Connection conn);
 
     /**
-     * Called by the repository if a failure occurred on the connection.
-     * It is expected that the connection will be disposed of and
-     * subsequent calls to <code>getConnection</code> will return a
-     * freshly established connection to the database.
+     * Called by the repository if a failure occurred on the connection.  It is expected that the
+     * connection will be disposed of and subsequent calls to <code>getConnection</code> will
+     * return a freshly established connection to the database.
      *
-     * @param ident the database identifier used when obtaining this
+     * @param ident the database identifier used when obtaining this connection.
+     * @param readOnly the same value that was passed to {@link #getConnection} to obtain this
      * connection.
-     * @param readOnly the same value that was passed to {@link #getConnection}
-     * to obtain this connection.
      * @param conn the connection that failed.
-     * @param error the error thrown by the connection (which may be used
-     * to determine if the connection should be closed or can be reused).
+     * @param error the error thrown by the connection (which may be used to determine if the
+     * connection should be closed or can be reused).
      */
-    public void connectionFailed (String ident, boolean readOnly,
-                                  Connection conn, SQLException error);
+    public void connectionFailed (String ident, boolean readOnly, Connection conn,
+                                  SQLException error);
+    
+    /**
+     * Returns the URL associated with this database identifier. This should be the same value that
+     * would be used if {@link #getConnection} were called.
+     */
+    public String getURL (String ident);
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/DatabaseLiaison.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/DatabaseLiaison.java
index 102eb647..9b59fa4f 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/DatabaseLiaison.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/DatabaseLiaison.java
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 //
 // samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
 // Copyright (C) 2001-2007 Michael Bayne
-// 
+//
 // This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
 // under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
 // by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
@@ -24,52 +24,144 @@ import java.sql.Connection;
 import java.sql.SQLException;
 
 /**
- * Despite good intentions, JDBC and SQL do not provide a unified
- * interface to all databases. There remain idiosyncrasies that must be
- * worked around when making code interact with different database
- * servers. The database liaison encapsulates the code needed to
- * straighten out the curves and curve out the straights.
+ * Despite good intentions, JDBC and SQL do not provide a unified interface to all databases. There
+ * remain idiosyncrasies that must be worked around when making code interact with different
+ * database servers. The database liaison encapsulates the code needed to straighten out the curves
+ * and curve out the straights.
  */
 public interface DatabaseLiaison
 {
     /**
-     * Indicates whether or not this database liaison is the proper
-     * liaison for the specified database URL.
+     * Indicates whether or not this database liaison is the proper liaison for the specified
+     * database URL.
      *
-     * @return true if we should use this liaison for connections created
-     * with the supplied URL, false if we should not.
+     * @return true if we should use this liaison for connections created with the supplied URL,
+     * false if we should not.
      */
     public boolean matchesURL (String url);
 
     /**
-     * Determines whether or not the supplied SQL exception was caused by
-     * a duplicate row being inserted into a table with a unique key.
+     * Determines whether or not the supplied SQL exception was caused by a duplicate row being
+     * inserted into a table with a unique key.
      *
-     * @return true if the exception was caused by the insertion of a
-     * duplicate row, false if not.
+     * @return true if the exception was caused by the insertion of a duplicate row, false if not.
      */
     public boolean isDuplicateRowException (SQLException sqe);
 
     /**
-     * Determines whether or not the supplied SQL exception is a transient
-     * failure, meaning one that is not related to the SQL being executed,
-     * but instead to the environment at the time of execution, like the
-     * connection to the database having been lost.
+     * Determines whether or not the supplied SQL exception is a transient failure, meaning one
+     * that is not related to the SQL being executed, but instead to the environment at the time of
+     * execution, like the connection to the database having been lost.
      *
-     * @return true if the exception was thrown due to a transient
-     * failure, false if not.
+     * @return true if the exception was thrown due to a transient failure, false if not.
      */
     public boolean isTransientException (SQLException sqe);
 
     /**
-     * Returns the value of an <code>AUTO_INCREMENT</code> column for the
-     * last row insertion. This is MySQL specific, but exists here for now
-     * until we sort out a general purpose mechanism for assigning unique
-     * ids.
+     * Returns the value of an <code>AUTO_INCREMENT</code> column for the last row insertion. This
+     * is MySQL specific, but exists here for now until we sort out a general purpose mechanism for
+     * assigning unique ids.
      *
-     * @return the most recent ID generated by an insert into an
-     * <code>AUTO_INCREMENT</code> table or -1 if it could not be
-     * obtained.
+     * Note: More general purpose: {@link #lastInsertedId(Connection, String, String)
+     *
+     * @return the most recent ID generated by an insert into an <code>AUTO_INCREMENT</code> table
+     * or -1 if it could not be obtained.
      */
-    public int lastInsertedId (Connection conn) throws SQLException;
+    @Deprecated
+    public int lastInsertedId (Connection conn)
+        throws SQLException;
+
+    /**
+     * This method initializes the column value auto-generator described in {@link
+     * #lastInsertedId(Connection, String, String)}.
+     */
+    public void initializeGenerator (
+        Connection conn, String table, String column, int first, int step)
+        throws SQLException;
+
+    /**
+     * This method attempts as dialect-agnostic an interface as possible to the ability of certain
+     * databases to auto-generated numerical values for i.e. key columns; there is MySQL's
+     * AUTO_INCREMENT and PostgreSQL's DEFAULT nextval(sequence), for example.
+     */
+    public int lastInsertedId (Connection conn, String table, String column)
+        throws SQLException;
+
+    /**
+     * Drops the given column from the given table. Returns true or false if the database did or
+     * did not report a schema modification.
+     */
+    public boolean dropColumn (Connection conn, String table, String column)
+        throws SQLException;
+
+    /**
+     * Adds a named index to a table on the given columns. Returns true or false if the database
+     * did or did not report a schema modification.
+     */
+    public boolean addIndexToTable (Connection conn, String table, String[] columns, String index)
+        throws SQLException;
+
+    /**
+     * Alter the name, but not the definition, of a given column on a given table. Returns true or
+     * false if the database did or did not report a schema modification.
+     */
+    public boolean renameColumn (Connection conn, String table, String oldColumn, String newColumn)
+        throws SQLException;
+
+    /**
+     * Alter the definition, but not the name, of a given column on a given table. Returns true or
+     * false if the database did or did not report a schema modification.
+     *
+     * TODO: We may wish to further split column definitions into type, nullability, etc.
+     */
+    public boolean changeColumn (
+        Connection conn, String table, String column, String definition)
+        throws SQLException;
+
+    /**
+     * Created a new table of the given name with the given column names and column definitions;
+     * the given set of unique constraints (or null) and the given primary key columns (or null).
+     * Returns true if the table was successfully created, false if it already existed.
+     */
+    public boolean createTableIfMissing (
+        Connection conn, String table, String[] columns, String[] definitions,
+        String[][] uniqueConstraintColumns, String[] primaryKeyColumns)
+        throws SQLException;
+
+    /**
+     * Returns true if the specified table exists and contains an index of the specified name;
+     * false if either conditions does not hold true. <em>Note:</em> the names are case sensitive.
+     */
+    public boolean tableContainsIndex (Connection conn, String table, String index)
+        throws SQLException;
+
+    /**
+     * Returns true if the specified table exists and contains a column with the specified name;
+     * false if either condition does not hold true. <em>Note:</em> the names are case sensitive.
+     */
+    public boolean tableContainsColumn (Connection conn, String table, String column)
+        throws SQLException;
+
+    /**
+     * Returns true if the table with the specified name exists, false if it does not.
+     * <em>Note:</em> the table name is case sensitive.
+     */
+    public boolean tableExists (Connection conn, String name) throws SQLException;
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the proper SQL to identify a table. Some databases require table names to be quoted.
+     */
+    public String tableSQL (String table);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the proper SQL to identify a column. Some databases require columns names to be
+     * quoted.
+     */
+    public String columnSQL (String column);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the proper SQL to identify an index. Some databases require index names to be
+     * quoted.
+     */
+    public String indexSQL (String index);
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/DefaultLiaison.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/DefaultLiaison.java
index 748658d7..369e5823 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/DefaultLiaison.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/DefaultLiaison.java
@@ -24,33 +24,65 @@ import java.sql.Connection;
 import java.sql.SQLException;
 
 /**
- * The default liaison is used if no other liaison could be matched for a
- * particular database connection. It isn't very smart or useful but we
- * need something.
+ * The default liaison is used if no other liaison could be matched for a particular database
+ * connection. It isn't very smart or useful but we need something.
  */
-public class DefaultLiaison implements DatabaseLiaison
+public class DefaultLiaison extends BaseLiaison
 {
-    // documentation inherited
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
     public boolean matchesURL (String url)
     {
         return true;
     }
 
-    // documentation inherited
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
     public boolean isDuplicateRowException (SQLException sqe)
     {
         return false;
     }
 
-    // documentation inherited
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
     public boolean isTransientException (SQLException sqe)
     {
         return false;
     }
 
-    // documentation inherited
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
     public int lastInsertedId (Connection conn) throws SQLException
     {
         return -1;
     }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public void initializeGenerator (
+        Connection conn, String table, String column, int value, int size)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        // nothing doing
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public int lastInsertedId (Connection conn, String table, String column)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public String columnSQL (String column)
+    {
+        return column;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public String tableSQL (String table)
+    {
+        return table;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public String indexSQL (String index)
+    {
+        return index;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JDBCUtil.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JDBCUtil.java
index 7d8d1bf5..7364f21f 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JDBCUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JDBCUtil.java
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 
 package com.samskivert.jdbc;
 
-import java.io.InputStream;
 import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Iterator;
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/LiaisonRegistry.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/LiaisonRegistry.java
index f9641980..023848d8 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/LiaisonRegistry.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/LiaisonRegistry.java
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 //
 // samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
 // Copyright (C) 2001-2007 Michael Bayne
-// 
+//
 // This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
 // under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
 // by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
@@ -23,30 +23,24 @@ package com.samskivert.jdbc;
 import java.sql.*;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 
 import com.samskivert.Log;
 
 /**
- * The liaison registry provides access to the appropriate database
- * liaison implementation for a particular database connection.
+ * The liaison registry provides access to the appropriate database liaison implementation for a
+ * particular database connection.
  */
 public class LiaisonRegistry
 {
     /**
-     * Fetch the appropriate database liaison for the supplied database
-     * connection.
+     * Fetch the appropriate database liaison for the supplied URL, which should be the same string
+     * that would be used to configure a connection to the database.
      */
-    public static DatabaseLiaison getLiaison (Connection conn)
-        throws SQLException
+    public static DatabaseLiaison getLiaison (String url)
     {
-        DatabaseMetaData dmd = conn.getMetaData();
-        String url = dmd.getURL();
-
         // see if we already have a liaison mapped for this connection
         DatabaseLiaison liaison = _mappings.get(url);
-
         if (liaison == null) {
             // scan the list looking for a matching liaison
             for (DatabaseLiaison candidate : _liaisons) {
@@ -58,8 +52,8 @@ public class LiaisonRegistry
 
             // if we didn't find a matching liaison, use the default
             if (liaison == null) {
-                Log.warning("Unable to match liaison for database " +
-                            "[url=" + url + "]. Using default.");
+                Log.warning("Unable to match liaison for database [url=" + url + "]. " +
+                            "Using default.");
                 liaison = new DefaultLiaison();
             }
 
@@ -70,25 +64,34 @@ public class LiaisonRegistry
         return liaison;
     }
 
-    protected static void registerLiaisonClass (
-        Class<? extends DatabaseLiaison> lclass)
+    /**
+     * Fetch the appropriate database liaison for the supplied database connection.
+     */
+    public static DatabaseLiaison getLiaison (Connection conn)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        return getLiaison(conn.getMetaData().getURL());
+
+    }
+
+    protected static void registerLiaisonClass (Class<? extends DatabaseLiaison> lclass)
     {
         // create a new instance and stick it on our list
         try {
             _liaisons.add(lclass.newInstance());
         } catch (Exception e) {
-            Log.warning("Unable to instantiate liaison " +
-                        "[class=" + lclass.getName() + ", error=" + e + "].");
+            Log.warning("Unable to instantiate liaison [class=" + lclass.getName() +
+                        ", error=" + e + "].");
         }
     }
 
-    protected static ArrayList<DatabaseLiaison> _liaisons =
-        new ArrayList<DatabaseLiaison>();
+    protected static ArrayList<DatabaseLiaison> _liaisons = new ArrayList<DatabaseLiaison>();
     protected static HashMap<String,DatabaseLiaison> _mappings =
         new HashMap<String,DatabaseLiaison>();
 
     // register our liaison classes
     static {
         registerLiaisonClass(MySQLLiaison.class);
+        registerLiaisonClass(PostgreSQLLiaison.class);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/MySQLLiaison.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/MySQLLiaison.java
index 7be3286f..66e21c86 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/MySQLLiaison.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/MySQLLiaison.java
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 //
 // samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
 // Copyright (C) 2001-2007 Michael Bayne
-// 
+//
 // This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
 // under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
 // by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
@@ -22,25 +22,28 @@ package com.samskivert.jdbc;
 
 import java.sql.*;
 
+import com.samskivert.Log;
+import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
+
 /**
  * A database liaison for the MySQL database.
  */
-public class MySQLLiaison implements DatabaseLiaison
+public class MySQLLiaison extends BaseLiaison
 {
-    // documentation inherited
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
     public boolean matchesURL (String url)
     {
         return url.startsWith("jdbc:mysql");
     }
 
-    // documentation inherited
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
     public boolean isDuplicateRowException (SQLException sqe)
     {
 	String msg = sqe.getMessage();
 	return (msg != null && msg.indexOf("Duplicate entry") != -1);
     }
 
-    // documentation inherited
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
     public boolean isTransientException (SQLException sqe)
     {
 	String msg = sqe.getMessage();
@@ -50,23 +53,84 @@ public class MySQLLiaison implements DatabaseLiaison
                  msg.indexOf("Broken pipe") != -1));
     }
 
-    // documentation inherited
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
     public int lastInsertedId (Connection conn) throws SQLException
     {
-        Statement stmt = null;
+        return lastInsertedId(conn, null, null);
+    }
 
-	// we have to do this by hand. alas all is not roses.
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public void initializeGenerator (
+        Connection conn, String table, String column, int first, int step)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        // AUTO_INCREMENT does not allow this kind of control
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public int lastInsertedId (Connection conn, String table, String column) throws SQLException
+    {
+        // MySQL does not keep track of per-table-and-column insertion data, so we are pretty much
+        // going on blind faith here that we're fetching the right ID. In the overwhelming number
+        // of cases that will be so, but it's still not pretty.
+        Statement stmt = null;
         try {
             stmt = conn.createStatement();
             ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery("select LAST_INSERT_ID()");
-            if (rs.next()) {
-                return rs.getInt(1);
-            } else {
-                return -1;
-            }
-
+            return rs.next() ? rs.getInt(1) : -1;
         } finally {
             JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
         }
     }
+
+    @Override // from BaseLiaison
+    public boolean addIndexToTable (Connection conn, String table, String[] columns, String ixName)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        if (tableContainsIndex(conn, table, ixName)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        ixName = (ixName != null ? ixName : StringUtil.join(columns, "_"));
+
+        // MySQL's "CREATE INDEX" is buggy, it actually changes the case of the table names you're
+        // working with. Luckily (?) ALTER TABLE ADD INDEX works, so we do that here.
+        StringBuilder update = new StringBuilder("ALTER TABLE ").append(table).
+            append(" ADD INDEX ").append(indexSQL(ixName)).append(" (");
+        for (int ii = 0; ii < columns.length; ii ++) {
+            if (ii > 0) {
+                update.append(", ");
+            }
+            update.append(columnSQL(columns[ii]));
+        }
+        update.append(")");
+
+        PreparedStatement stmt = null;
+        try {
+            stmt = conn.prepareStatement(update.toString());
+            stmt.executeUpdate();
+        } finally {
+            JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
+        }
+
+        Log.info("Database index '" + ixName + "' added to table '" + table + "'");
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public String columnSQL (String column)
+    {
+        return column;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public String tableSQL (String table)
+    {
+        return table;
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public String indexSQL (String index)
+    {
+        return index;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/PostgreSQLLiaison.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/PostgreSQLLiaison.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..413027eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/PostgreSQLLiaison.java
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+//
+// $Id$
+//
+// samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
+// Copyright (C) 2001 Michael Bayne
+//
+// This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+// under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
+// by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+// License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+
+package com.samskivert.jdbc;
+
+import java.sql.*;
+
+/**
+ * A database liaison for the MySQL database.
+ */
+public class PostgreSQLLiaison extends BaseLiaison
+{
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public boolean matchesURL (String url)
+    {
+        return url.startsWith("jdbc:postgresql");
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public boolean isDuplicateRowException (SQLException sqe)
+    {
+	String msg = sqe.getMessage();
+        return (msg != null && msg.indexOf("duplicate key") != -1);
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public boolean isTransientException (SQLException sqe)
+    {
+        // TODO: Add more error messages here as we encounter them.
+	String msg = sqe.getMessage();
+	return (msg != null &&
+                msg.indexOf("An I/O error occured while sending to the backend") != -1);
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public int lastInsertedId (Connection conn) throws SQLException
+    {
+        throw new SQLException(
+            "No backwards-compatible lastInsertedId() support for PostgreSQL in this code.");
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public int lastInsertedId (Connection conn, String table, String column) throws SQLException
+    {
+        // PostgreSQL's support for auto-generated ID's comes in the form of appropriately named
+        // sequences and DEFAULT nextval(sequence) modifiers in the ID columns. To get the next ID,
+        // we use the currval() method which is set in a database sessions when any given sequence
+        // is incremented.
+        Statement stmt = null;
+
+        try {
+            stmt = conn.createStatement();
+            ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery(
+                "select currval('\"" + table + "_" + column + "_seq\"')");
+            if (rs.next()) {
+                return rs.getInt(1);
+            } else {
+                return -1;
+            }
+
+        } finally {
+            JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void initializeGenerator (
+        Connection conn, String table, String column, int first, int step)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        Statement stmt = conn.createStatement();
+        try {
+            stmt.executeUpdate("alter sequence \"" + table + "_" + column + "_seq\" " +
+                               " restart with " + first + " increment " + step);
+        } finally {
+            JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public String columnSQL (String column)
+    {
+        return "\"" + column + "\"";
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public String tableSQL (String table)
+    {
+        return "\"" + table + "\"";
+    }
+
+    // from DatabaseLiaison
+    public String indexSQL (String index)
+    {
+        return "\"" + index + "\"";
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java
index 90b9ff16..71fda3d1 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java
@@ -27,9 +27,8 @@ import com.samskivert.io.PersistenceException;
 import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
 
 /**
- * The simple repository should be used for a repository that only needs
- * access to a single JDBC connection instance to perform its persistence
- * services.
+ * The simple repository should be used for a repository that only needs access to a single JDBC
+ * connection instance to perform its persistence services.
  */
 public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
 {
@@ -41,12 +40,10 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     /**
-     * Configures an operation that will be invoked prior to the execution
-     * of every database operation to validate whether some pre-condition
-     * is met. This mainly exists for systems that wish to ensure that all
-     * database operations take place on a particular thread (or not on a
-     * particular thread) as database operations are generally slow and
-     * blocking.
+     * Configures an operation that will be invoked prior to the execution of every database
+     * operation to validate whether some pre-condition is met. This mainly exists for systems that
+     * wish to ensure that all database operations take place on a particular thread (or not on a
+     * particular thread) as database operations are generally slow and blocking.
      */
     public static void setExecutePreCondition (PreCondition condition)
     {
@@ -54,14 +51,13 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     /**
-     * Creates and initializes a simple repository which will access the
-     * database identified by the supplied database identifier.
+     * Creates and initializes a simple repository which will access the database identified by the
+     * supplied database identifier.
      *
-     * @param provider the connection provider which will be used to
-     * obtain our database connection.
-     * @param dbident the identifier of the database that will be accessed by
-     * this repository or null if the derived class will call {@link
-     * #configureDatabaseIdent} by hand later.
+     * @param provider the connection provider which will be used to obtain our database
+     * connection.
+     * @param dbident the identifier of the database that will be accessed by this repository or
+     * null if the derived class will call {@link #configureDatabaseIdent} by hand later.
      */
     public SimpleRepository (ConnectionProvider provider, String dbident)
     {
@@ -73,18 +69,17 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     /**
-     * This is called automatically if a dbident is provided at construct time,
-     * but a derived class can pass null to its constructor and then call this
-     * method itself later if it wishes to obtain its database identifier from
-     * an overridable method which could not otherwise be called at construct
-     * time.
+     * This is called automatically if a dbident is provided at construct time, but a derived class
+     * can pass null to its constructor and then call this method itself later if it wishes to
+     * obtain its database identifier from an overridable method which could not otherwise be
+     * called at construct time.
      */
     protected void configureDatabaseIdent (String dbident)
     {
         _dbident = dbident;
 
-        // give the repository a chance to do any schema migration before
-        // things get further underway
+        // give the repository a chance to do any schema migration before things get further
+        // underway
         try {
             executeUpdate(new Operation<Object>() {
                 public Object invoke (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison liaison)
@@ -101,9 +96,8 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     /**
-     * Executes the supplied read-only operation. In the event of a transient
-     * failure, the repository will attempt to reestablish the database
-     * connection and try the operation again.
+     * Executes the supplied read-only operation. In the event of a transient failure, the
+     * repository will attempt to reestablish the database connection and try the operation again.
      *
      * @return whatever value is returned by the invoked operation.
      */
@@ -114,9 +108,8 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     /**
-     * Executes the supplied read-write operation. In the event of a transient
-     * failure, the repository will attempt to reestablish the database
-     * connection and try the operation again.
+     * Executes the supplied read-write operation. In the event of a transient failure, the
+     * repository will attempt to reestablish the database connection and try the operation again.
      *
      * @return whatever value is returned by the invoked operation.
      */
@@ -127,22 +120,18 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     /**
-     * Executes the supplied operation followed by a call to
-     * <code>commit()</code> on the connection unless a
-     * <code>PersistenceException</code> or runtime error occurs, in which
-     * case a call to <code>rollback()</code> is executed on the
-     * connection.
+     * Executes the supplied operation followed by a call to <code>commit()</code> on the
+     * connection unless a <code>PersistenceException</code> or runtime error occurs, in which case
+     * a call to <code>rollback()</code> is executed on the connection.
      *
-     * @param retryOnTransientFailure if true and the operation fails due to a
-     * transient failure (like losing the connection to the database or
-     * deadlock detection), the connection to the database will be
-     * reestablished (if necessary) and the operation attempted once more.
+     * @param retryOnTransientFailure if true and the operation fails due to a transient failure
+     * (like losing the connection to the database or deadlock detection), the connection to the
+     * database will be reestablished (if necessary) and the operation attempted once more.
      * @param readOnly whether or not to request a read-only connection.
      *
      * @return whatever value is returned by the invoked operation.
      */
-    protected <V> V execute (Operation<V> op, boolean retryOnTransientFailure,
-                             boolean readOnly)
+    protected <V> V execute (Operation<V> op, boolean retryOnTransientFailure, boolean readOnly)
 	throws PersistenceException
     {
         Connection conn = null;
@@ -153,16 +142,16 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
 
         // check our pre-condition
         if (_precond != null && !_precond.validate(_dbident, op)) {
-            Log.warning("Repository operation failed pre-condition check! " +
-                        "[dbident=" + _dbident + ", op=" + op + "].");
+            Log.warning("Repository operation failed pre-condition check! [dbident=" + _dbident +
+                        ", op=" + op + "].");
             Thread.dumpStack();
         }
 
         // obtain our database connection and associated goodies
         conn = _provider.getConnection(_dbident, readOnly);
 
-        // make sure that no one else performs a database operation using the
-        // same connection until we're done
+        // make sure that no one else performs a database operation using the same connection until
+        // we're done
         synchronized (conn) {
             try {
                 liaison = LiaisonRegistry.getLiaison(conn);
@@ -193,15 +182,15 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
 
             } catch (SQLException sqe) {
                 if (attemptedOperation) {
-                    // back out our changes if something got hosed (but not if
-                    // the hosage was a result of losing our connection)
+                    // back out our changes if something got hosed (but not if the hosage was a
+                    // result of losing our connection)
                     try {
                         if (supportsTransactions && !conn.isClosed()) {
                             conn.rollback();
                         }
                     } catch (SQLException rbe) {
-                        Log.warning("Unable to roll back operation " +
-                                    "[err=" + sqe + ", rberr=" + rbe + "].");
+                        Log.warning("Unable to roll back operation [err=" + sqe +
+                                    ", rberr=" + rbe + "].");
                     }
                 }
 
@@ -218,13 +207,11 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
                     throw new PersistenceException(err, sqe);
                 }
 
-                // the MySQL JDBC driver has the annoying habit of including
-                // the embedded exception stack trace in the message of their
-                // outer exception; if I want a fucking stack trace, I'll call
-                // printStackTrace() thanksverymuch
+                // the MySQL JDBC driver has the annoying habit of including the embedded exception
+                // stack trace in the message of their outer exception; if I want a fucking stack
+                // trace, I'll call printStackTrace() thanksverymuch
                 String msg = StringUtil.split("" + sqe, "\n")[0];
-                Log.info("Transient failure executing operation, " +
-                         "retrying [error=" + msg + "].");
+                Log.info("Transient failure executing operation, retrying [error=" + msg + "].");
 
             } catch (PersistenceException pe) {
                 // back out our changes if something got hosed
@@ -233,8 +220,8 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
                         conn.rollback();
                     }
                 } catch (SQLException rbe) {
-                    Log.warning("Unable to roll back operation " +
-                                "[origerr=" + pe + ", rberr=" + rbe + "].");
+                    Log.warning("Unable to roll back operation [origerr=" + pe +
+                                ", rberr=" + rbe + "].");
                 }
                 throw pe;
 
@@ -246,8 +233,8 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
                         conn.rollback();
                     }
                 } catch (SQLException rbe) {
-                    Log.warning("Unable to roll back operation " +
-                                "[origerr=" + rte + ", rberr=" + rbe + "].");
+                    Log.warning("Unable to roll back operation [origerr=" + rte +
+                                ", rberr=" + rbe + "].");
                 }
                 throw rte;
 
@@ -259,15 +246,15 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
             }
         }
 
-        // we'll only fall through here if the above code failed due to a
-        // transient exception (the connection was closed for being idle, for
-        // example) and we've been asked to retry; so let's do so
+        // we'll only fall through here if the above code failed due to a transient exception (the
+        // connection was closed for being idle, for example) and we've been asked to retry; so
+        // let's do so
         return execute(op, false, readOnly);
     }
 
     /**
-     * Executes the supplied update query in this repository, returning
-     * the number of rows modified.
+     * Executes the supplied update query in this repository, returning the number of rows
+     * modified.
      */
     protected int update (final String query)
         throws PersistenceException
@@ -288,9 +275,8 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     /**
-     * Executes the supplied update query in this repository, throwing an
-     * exception if the modification count is not equal to the specified
-     * count.
+     * Executes the supplied update query in this repository, throwing an exception if the
+     * modification count is not equal to the specified count.
      */
     protected void checkedUpdate (final String query, final int count)
         throws PersistenceException
@@ -312,8 +298,8 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     /**
-     * Executes the supplied update query in this repository, logging a warning
-     * if the modification count is not equal to the specified count.
+     * Executes the supplied update query in this repository, logging a warning if the modification
+     * count is not equal to the specified count.
      */
     protected void warnedUpdate (final String query, final int count)
         throws PersistenceException
@@ -335,15 +321,12 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     /**
-     * Instructs MySQL to perform table maintenance on the specified
-     * table.
+     * Instructs MySQL to perform table maintenance on the specified table.
      *
-     * @param action <code>analyze</code> recomputes the distribution of
-     * the keys for the specified table. This can help certain joins to be
-     * performed more efficiently. <code>optimize</code> instructs MySQL
-     * to coalesce fragmented records and reclaim space left by deleted
-     * records. This can improve a tables efficiency but can take a long
-     * time to run on large tables.
+     * @param action <code>analyze</code> recomputes the distribution of the keys for the specified
+     * table. This can help certain joins to be performed more efficiently. <code>optimize</code>
+     * instructs MySQL to coalesce fragmented records and reclaim space left by deleted records.
+     * This can improve a tables efficiency but can take a long time to run on large tables.
      */
     protected void maintenance (final String action, final String table)
         throws PersistenceException
@@ -355,15 +338,12 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
                 Statement stmt = null;
                 try {
                     stmt = conn.createStatement();
-                    ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery(
-                        action + " table " + table);
+                    ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery(action + " table " + table);
                     while (rs.next()) {
                         String result = rs.getString("Msg_text");
                         if (result == null ||
-                            result.indexOf("up to date") == -1 &&
-                            !result.equals("OK")) {
-                            Log.info("Table maintenance [" +
-                                     SimpleRepository.toString(rs) + "].");
+                            (result.indexOf("up to date") == -1 && !result.equals("OK"))) {
+                            Log.info("Table maintenance [" + SimpleRepository.toString(rs) + "].");
                         }
                     }
 
@@ -376,12 +356,10 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     /**
-     * Derived classes can override this method and perform any schema
-     * migration they might need (using the idempotent {@link JDBCUtil} schema
-     * migration methods). This is called during the repository's constructor
-     * and will thus take place before derived classes (like the {@link
-     * JORARepository} introspect on the schema to match it up to associated
-     * Java classes).
+     * Derived classes can override this method and perform any schema migration they might need
+     * (using the idempotent {@link JDBCUtil} schema migration methods). This is called during the
+     * repository's constructor and will thus take place before derived classes (like the {@link
+     * JORARepository} introspect on the schema to match it up to associated Java classes).
      */
     protected void migrateSchema (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison liaison)
         throws SQLException, PersistenceException
@@ -389,17 +367,17 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     /**
-     * Called when we fetch a connection from the provider. This gives
-     * derived classes an opportunity to configure whatever internals they
-     * might be using with the connection that was fetched.
+     * Called when we fetch a connection from the provider. This gives derived classes an
+     * opportunity to configure whatever internals they might be using with the connection that was
+     * fetched.
      */
     protected void gotConnection (Connection conn)
     {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Converts a row of a result set to a string, prepending each column
-     * with the column name from the result set metadata.
+     * Converts a row of a result set to a string, prepending each column with the column name from
+     * the result set metadata.
      */
     protected static String toString (ResultSet rs)
         throws SQLException
@@ -418,5 +396,6 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
     }
 
     protected String _dbident;
+
     protected static PreCondition _precond;
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/StaticConnectionProvider.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/StaticConnectionProvider.java
index 1ac9dcd9..4d77d967 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/StaticConnectionProvider.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/StaticConnectionProvider.java
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 //
 // samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
 // Copyright (C) 2001-2007 Michael Bayne
-// 
+//
 // This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
 // under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
 // by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
@@ -31,15 +31,12 @@ import com.samskivert.util.PropertiesUtil;
 import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
 
 /**
- * The static connection provider generates JDBC connections based on
- * configuration information provided via a properties file. It does no
- * connection pooling and always returns the same connection for a
- * particular identifier (unless that connection need be closed because of
- * a connection failure, in which case it opens a new one the next time
- * the connection is requested).
+ * The static connection provider generates JDBC connections based on configuration information
+ * provided via a properties file. It does no connection pooling and always returns the same
+ * connection for a particular identifier (unless that connection need be closed because of a
+ * connection failure, in which case it opens a new one the next time the connection is requested).
  *
- * <p> The configuration properties file should contain the following
- * information:
+ * <p> The configuration properties file should contain the following information:
  *
  * <pre>
  * IDENT.driver=[jdbc driver class]
@@ -50,14 +47,13 @@ import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
  * [...]
  * </pre>
  *
- * Where <code>IDENT</code> is the database identifier for a particular
- * database connection. When a particular database identifier is
- * requested, the configuration information will be fetched from the
- * properties.
+ * Where <code>IDENT</code> is the database identifier for a particular database connection. When a
+ * particular database identifier is requested, the configuration information will be fetched from
+ * the properties.
  *
- * <p> Additionally, a default set of properties can be provided using the
- * identifier <code>default</code>. Values not provided for a specific
- * identifier will be sought from the defaults. For example:
+ * <p> Additionally, a default set of properties can be provided using the identifier
+ * <code>default</code>. Values not provided for a specific identifier will be sought from the
+ * defaults. For example:
  *
  * <pre>
  * default.driver=[jdbc driver class]
@@ -75,15 +71,15 @@ import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
 public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
 {
     /**
-     * Constructs a static connection provider which will load its
-     * configuration from a properties file accessible via the classpath
-     * of the running application and identified by the specified path.
+     * Constructs a static connection provider which will load its configuration from a properties
+     * file accessible via the classpath of the running application and identified by the specified
+     * path.
      *
-     * @param propPath the path (relative to the classpath) to the
-     * properties file that will be used for configuration information.
+     * @param propPath the path (relative to the classpath) to the properties file that will be
+     * used for configuration information.
      *
-     * @exception IOException thrown if an error occurs locating or
-     * loading the specified properties file.
+     * @exception IOException thrown if an error occurs locating or loading the specified
+     * properties file.
      */
     public StaticConnectionProvider (String propPath)
         throws IOException
@@ -92,8 +88,8 @@ public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
     }
 
     /**
-     * Constructs a static connection provider which will fetch its
-     * configuration information from the specified properties object.
+     * Constructs a static connection provider which will fetch its configuration information from
+     * the specified properties object.
      *
      * @param props the configuration for this connection provider.
      */
@@ -103,8 +99,7 @@ public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
     }
 
     /**
-     * Closes all of the open database connections in preparation for
-     * shutting down.
+     * Closes all of the open database connections in preparation for shutting down.
      */
     public void shutdown ()
     {
@@ -112,12 +107,11 @@ public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
         Iterator iter = _keys.keySet().iterator();
         while (iter.hasNext()) {
             String key = (String)iter.next();
-            Mapping conmap = (Mapping)_keys.get(key);
+            Mapping conmap = _keys.get(key);
             try {
                 conmap.connection.close();
             } catch (SQLException sqe) {
-                Log.warning("Error shutting down connection " +
-                            "[key=" + key + ", err=" + sqe + "].");
+                Log.warning("Error shutting down connection [key=" + key + ", err=" + sqe + "].");
             }
         }
 
@@ -126,6 +120,13 @@ public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
         _idents.clear();
     }
 
+    // from ConnectionProvider
+    public String getURL (String ident)
+    {
+        Properties props = PropertiesUtil.getSubProperties(_props, ident, DEFAULTS_KEY);
+        return props.getProperty("url");
+    }
+
     // documentation inherited
     public Connection getConnection (String ident, boolean readOnly)
         throws PersistenceException
@@ -135,9 +136,7 @@ public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
 
         // open the connection if we haven't already
         if (conmap == null) {
-            String[] defaults;
-            Properties props =
-                PropertiesUtil.getSubProperties(_props, ident, DEFAULTS_KEY);
+            Properties props = PropertiesUtil.getSubProperties(_props, ident, DEFAULTS_KEY);
 
             // get the JDBC configuration info
             String err = "No driver class specified [ident=" + ident + "].";
@@ -149,33 +148,30 @@ public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
             err = "No driver password specified [ident=" + ident + "].";
             String password = requireProp(props, "password", err);
 
-            // if this is a read-only connection,
-
-            // we cache connections by username+url+readOnly to avoid making
-            // more that one connection to a particular database server
+            // if this is a read-only connection, we cache connections by username+url+readOnly to
+            // avoid making more that one connection to a particular database server
             String key = username + "@" + url + ":" + readOnly;
             conmap = _keys.get(key);
             if (conmap == null) {
                 Log.debug("Creating " + key + " for " + ident + ".");
                 conmap = new Mapping();
                 conmap.key = key;
-                conmap.connection =
-                    openConnection(driver, url, username, password);
+                conmap.connection = openConnection(driver, url, username, password);
 
-                // make the connection read-only to let the JDBC driver know
-                // that it can and should use the read-only mirror(s)
+                // make the connection read-only to let the JDBC driver know that it can and should
+                // use the read-only mirror(s)
                 if (readOnly) {
                     try {
                         conmap.connection.setReadOnly(true);
                     } catch (SQLException sqe) {
                         closeConnection(ident, conmap.connection);
-                        err = "Failed to make connection read-only " +
-                            "[key=" + key + ", ident=" + ident + "].";
+                        err = "Failed to make connection read-only [key=" + key +
+                            ", ident=" + ident + "].";
                         throw new PersistenceException(err, sqe);
                     }
                 }
-
                 _keys.put(key, conmap);
+
             } else {
                 Log.debug("Reusing " + key + " for " + ident + ".");
             }
@@ -185,19 +181,25 @@ public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
             _idents.put(mapkey, conmap);
         }
 
+        // in case the previous user turned off auto-commit we have to make sure here it's on
+        try {
+            conmap.connection.setAutoCommit(true);
+        } catch (SQLException e) {
+            throw new PersistenceException("Failed to turn on connection auto-commit", e);
+        }
+
         return conmap.connection;
     }
 
     // documentation inherited
-    public void releaseConnection (String ident, boolean readOnly,
-                                   Connection conn)
+    public void releaseConnection (String ident, boolean readOnly, Connection conn)
     {
         // nothing to do here, all is well
     }
 
     // documentation inherited
-    public void connectionFailed (String ident, boolean readOnly,
-                                  Connection conn, SQLException error)
+    public void connectionFailed (
+        String ident, boolean readOnly, Connection conn, SQLException error)
     {
         String mapkey = ident + ":" + readOnly;
         Mapping conmap = _idents.get(mapkey);
@@ -216,8 +218,7 @@ public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
         _keys.remove(conmap.key);
     }
 
-    protected Connection openConnection (
-        String driver, String url, String username, String password)
+    protected Connection openConnection (String driver, String url, String username, String passwd)
         throws PersistenceException
     {
         // create an instance of the driver
@@ -233,11 +234,11 @@ public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
         try {
             Properties props = new Properties();
             props.put("user", username);
-            props.put("password", password);
+            props.put("password", passwd);
             return jdriver.connect(url, props);
+
         } catch (SQLException sqe) {
-            String err = "Error creating database connection " +
-                "[driver=" + driver + ", url=" + url +
+            String err = "Error creating database connection [driver=" + driver + ", url=" + url +
                 ", username=" + username + "].";
             throw new PersistenceException(err, sqe);
         }
@@ -253,25 +254,23 @@ public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
         }
     }
 
-    protected static String requireProp (
-        Properties props, String name, String errmsg)
+    protected static String requireProp (Properties props, String name, String errmsg)
 	throws PersistenceException
     {
 	String value = props.getProperty(name);
 	if (StringUtil.isBlank(value)) {
-            // augment the error message
-            errmsg = "Unable to get connection. " + errmsg;
+            errmsg = "Unable to get connection. " + errmsg; // augment the error message
 	    throw new PersistenceException(errmsg);
 	}
 	return value;
     }
 
-    /** Contains information on a particular connection to which any
-     * number of database identifiers can be mapped. */
+    /** Contains information on a particular connection to which any number of database identifiers
+     * can be mapped. */
     protected static class Mapping
     {
-        /** The combination of username and JDBC url that uniquely
-         * identifies our database connection. */
+        /** The combination of username and JDBC url that uniquely identifies our database
+         * connection. */
         public String key;
 
         /** The connection itself. */
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/TransitionRepository.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/TransitionRepository.java
index 55b99592..b8ac406d 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/TransitionRepository.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/TransitionRepository.java
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 //
 // samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
 // Copyright (C) 2001-2007 Michael Bayne
-// 
+//
 // This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
 // under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
 // by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@ import java.sql.SQLException;
 import com.samskivert.io.PersistenceException;
 
 /**
- * Used to note that transitionary code has been run to migrate persistent
- * data. The TransitionRepository is especially useful for data that
- * one cannot examine to determine if it's been transitioned.
+ * Used to note that transitionary code has been run to migrate persistent data. This is especially
+ * useful for data that one cannot examine to determine if it's been transitioned.
  */
 public class TransitionRepository extends SimpleRepository
 {
@@ -81,18 +80,20 @@ public class TransitionRepository extends SimpleRepository
             public Boolean invoke (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison liaison)
                 throws SQLException, PersistenceException
             {
-                Object found = null;
                 PreparedStatement stmt = null;
                 try {
-                    stmt = conn.prepareStatement("select NAME " +
-                        "from TRANSITIONS where CLASS=? and NAME=?");
+                    stmt = conn.prepareStatement(
+                        " select " + liaison.columnSQL("NAME") +
+                        "   from " + liaison.tableSQL("TRANSITIONS") +
+                        "  where " + liaison.columnSQL("CLASS") + "=?" +
+                        "    and " + liaison.columnSQL("NAME") + "=?");
                     stmt.setString(1, cname);
                     stmt.setString(2, name);
                     ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery();
                     if (rs.next()) {
-                        while (rs.next()); // is this really necessary?
                         return true;
                     }
+
                 } finally {
                     JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
                 }
@@ -114,12 +115,14 @@ public class TransitionRepository extends SimpleRepository
             {
                 PreparedStatement stmt = null;
                 try {
-                    stmt = conn.prepareStatement("insert into TRANSITIONS " +
-                        "(CLASS, NAME) values (?, ?)");
+                    stmt = conn.prepareStatement(
+                        "insert into " + liaison.tableSQL("TRANSITIONS") + " (" +
+                        liaison.columnSQL("CLASS") + ", " + liaison.columnSQL("NAME") +
+                        ") values (?, ?)");
                     stmt.setString(1, cname);
                     stmt.setString(2, name);
-
                     JDBCUtil.checkedUpdate(stmt, 1);
+
                 } finally {
                     JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
                 }
@@ -141,8 +144,10 @@ public class TransitionRepository extends SimpleRepository
             {
                 PreparedStatement stmt = null;
                 try {
-                    stmt = conn.prepareStatement("delete from TRANSITIONS " +
-                        "where CLASS=? and NAME=?");
+                    stmt = conn.prepareStatement(
+                        " delete from " + liaison.tableSQL("TRANSITIONS") +
+                        "       where " + liaison.columnSQL("CLASS") + "=? " +
+                        "         and " + liaison.columnSQL("NAME") + "=?");
                     stmt.setString(1, cname);
                     stmt.setString(2, name);
 
@@ -160,10 +165,12 @@ public class TransitionRepository extends SimpleRepository
     protected void migrateSchema (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison liaison)
         throws SQLException, PersistenceException
     {
-        JDBCUtil.createTableIfMissing(conn, "TRANSITIONS", new String[] {
-            "CLASS varchar(200) not null",
-            "NAME varchar(50) not null",
-            "APPLIED timestamp not null",
-            "primary key (CLASS, NAME)" }, "");
+        liaison.createTableIfMissing(
+            conn,
+            "TRANSITIONS",
+            new String[] { "CLASS", "NAME", "APPLIED" },
+            new String[] { "VARCHAR(200)", "VARCHAR(50)", "TIMESTAMP NOT NULL" },
+            null,
+            new String[] { "CLASS", "NAME" });
     }
 }