> How does one invoke creation of the Firebird database file.

for standalone server:

FBManager m = new FBManager();
m.setServer(host);
m.setPort(3050); //optional
m.start();
// recreate if db exists
m.setForceCreate(true);
m.createDatabase(path, user, password);
m.stop();

for embedded:

FBManager m = new FBManager("EMBEDDED");
m.start();
// recreate if db exists
m.setForceCreate(true);
m.createDatabase(path, user, password);
m.stop();