code:     private boolean shutdownDB(String dbName) {
          boolean ok = true;
  
          boolean gotSQLExc = false;
          try {
              DerbyConnectionUtil.getDerbyConnection(dbName,
                      DerbyConnectionUtil.SHUTDOWN_DB_PROP);
          } catch (SQLException se) {
              gotSQLExc = true;
          }
  
          if (!gotSQLExc) {
              ok = false;
          }
  
          return ok;
      }
  
  