# In a client/server environment

In a client/server environment, you must set the system properties for the server's system. That means when you are using the derby.properties file, the file exists in the server's derby.system.home directory. Client applications can set database-wide because they are set via SQL statements. Client applications can set dynamic system-wide properties in an SQL statement, as shown in the example in Using a properties object within an application or statement.

Table 1. Summary of ways to set properties
Type of property | How you set it
--- | ---

System-wide

- In derby.properties
- Programmatically (as a command-line option to the JVM when starting the application or within application code)

Database-wide | Using system procedures and functions in an SQL statement

Parent topic: Ways of setting Derby properties
Related concepts
System-wide properties
Database-wide properties
Dynamic or static changes to properties