title: JavaFX - Background Thread for SQL Query
body: <p>I'm wondering if anybody can help me with a rather annoying problem regarding creating a background thread in JavaFX! I currently have several SQL queries that add data to the UI which currently run on the JavaFX Application Thread (see example below). However when each of these queries execute it freezes the UI because it isn't running on a background thread. I've looked at various examples that use Task and sort of understand them but I cannot get them to work when doing database queries, some of which take a few seconds to run.</p>
  
  <p>Here is one of the methods that executes a query:</p>
  
  <pre><code>public void getTopOrders() {
      customerOrders.clear();
      try {
          Connection con = DriverManager.getConnection(connectionUrl);
          //Get all records from table
          String SQL = "EXEC dbo.Get_Top_5_Customers_week";
          ResultSet rs;
          try (Statement stmt = con.createStatement();) {
              rs = stmt.executeQuery(SQL);
  
              while (rs.next()) {
                  double orderValue = Double.parseDouble(rs.getString(3));
                  customerOrders.add(new CustomerOrders(rs.getString(1),
                          rs.getString(2), "£" + formatter.format(orderValue),
                          rs.getString(4).substring(6, 8) + "/" + 
                          rs.getString(4).substring(4, 6) + "/" + 
                          rs.getString(4).substring(0, 4)));
              }
          }
  
      } catch (SQLException | NumberFormatException e) {
      }
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Each processed record is added to an ObservableList which is linked to a TableView, or graph or simply sets the text on a label (depends on the query). How can I execute the query on a background thread and still leave the interface free to use and be updated from the queries</p>
  
  <p>Thanks in advance</p>