Android Question SQLite file locations

SteveAuckland · Sep 10, 2013

Hi I have a problem testing an app I'm writing that uses an SQLite database. I want to be able to view what the app is doing to the database, and change values rerun test etc. However I cant find where the database is located. I am not talking about the location on my phone but when I'm using the emulator. I Created the database using a freeware SQLite application and copied it to the Files area for my app. Then the app copies it from DirAssets to DirInternal, never to be seen again. I can tell from my app that the database is being updated, but I can't find it.

I'm obviously doing something daft, so if someone could gently point me in the right direction I would be grateful.

Thanks

Steve

NJDude · Sep 10, 2013

DirInternal is just accessible by your app, file managers and alike won't be able to see it.

Harris · Sep 10, 2013

SteveAuckland said:
Hi I have a problem testing an app I'm writing that uses an SQLite database. I want to be able to view what the app is doing to the database, and change values rerun test etc. However I cant find where the database is located. I am not talking about the location on my phone but when I'm using the emulator. I Created the database using a freeware SQLite application and copied it to the Files area for my app. Then the app copies it from DirAssets to DirInternal, never to be seen again. I can tell from my app that the database is being updated, but I can't find it.

I'm obviously doing something daft, so if someone could gently point me in the right direction I would be grateful.

Thanks

Steve

Standard way to load and access a database...
DirDefaultExternal - is the answer to your question - after it is copied there from assets

B4X:

Sub LoadDB

    If File.Exists(File.DirDefaultExternal, "QInspect.db") = False Then
        File.Copy(File.DirAssets, "QInspect.db",File.DirDefaultExternal,"QInspect.db")
        Log(" Copying QInspect.db to SD card")
    End If

    If SQL1.IsInitialized = False Then
        SQL1.Initialize(File.DirDefaultExternal, "QInspect.db", False)
        Log(" ***** --- Initing QInspect.db if not already inited **********")
    End If

End Sub

SteveAuckland · Sep 11, 2013

Harris said:

Standard way to load and access a database...
DirDefaultExternal - is the answer to your question - after it is copied there from assets

B4X:

Sub LoadDB

    If File.Exists(File.DirDefaultExternal, "QInspect.db") = False Then
        File.Copy(File.DirAssets, "QInspect.db",File.DirDefaultExternal,"QInspect.db")
        Log(" Copying QInspect.db to SD card")
    End If

    If SQL1.IsInitialized = False Then
        SQL1.Initialize(File.DirDefaultExternal, "QInspect.db", False)
        Log(" ***** --- Initing QInspect.db if not already inited **********")
    End If

End Sub

Thanks for the reply, just need a bit more clarification if I could. To paraphrase the users guide, it says You cant access files in DirAssets so copy it to either DirInternal or DirRootExternal, can you explain the difference and also DirDefaultExternal, and will any of these directories be accessable in emulator mode on my PC?

Thanks for your patience

Steve

Eric H · Sep 11, 2013

http://www.b4x.com/android/wiki/index.php/Files#File_Locations has an explanation for them

SteveAuckland · Sep 11, 2013

Eric H said:
http://www.b4x.com/android/wiki/index.php/Files#File_Locations has an explanation for them

Thanks everyone for the help, onwards and upwards,

Regards

Steve

SteveAuckland · Sep 11, 2013

SteveAuckland said:
Thanks everyone for the help, onwards and upwards,

Regards

Steve

Sorry, I still have an issue, I have tried using DirDefaultExternal and also DirRootExternal and get the same compile error, ie
File not found exception mnt/sdcard/....... which implies you must have an sd card installed. However since this is running via the emulator this doesn't seem right!!

So my question is, is it possible to have an SQLite db in a file location where I can access it on my PC with a file explorer?

Thanks

Steve

Eric H · Sep 11, 2013

File.DirRootExternal is where I am currently storing my SQLite database and I just verified that I can view it in windows explorer when I am in MTP mode on my phone. File.DirRootExternal does not mean external SD card, it just means External in relation to the internal app storage that other apps cannot access. My windows explorer path to File.DirRootExternal is "SCH-I545\Phone" as opposed to "SCH-I545\Card". Can you post the current code you are having issues with?

SteveAuckland · Sep 11, 2013

Eric H said:
File.DirRootExternal is where I am currently storing my SQLite database and I just verified that I can view it in windows explorer when I am in MTP mode on my phone. File.DirRootExternal does not mean external SD card, it just means External in relation to the internal app storage that other apps cannot access. My windows explorer path to File.DirRootExternal is "SCH-I545\Phone" as opposed to "SCH-I545\Card". Can you post the current code you are having issues with?

This is the key part, the error message highlights the FileCopy Line,
Steve

B4X:

Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)
   
Activity.LoadLayout("Main")
If File.Exists(File.DirDefaultExternal,"CarbInsulin.sql")=False Then
    File.Copy(File.DirAssets,"CarbInsulin.sql",File.DirDefaultExternal,"CarbInsulin.sql")
End If
If SQL1.IsInitialized=False Then
    SQL1.Initialize(File.DirDefaultExternal,"CarbInsulin.sql",False)
End If
Activity.Title="Insulin Calculator"
DBLoad
End Sub

Eric H · Sep 11, 2013

Can you post the error text also?

Erel · Sep 11, 2013

Can you post the full error message from the logs?

klaus · Sep 11, 2013

Did you add the SD Card Support option when you defined the Emulator ?
To find the file on the PC have a look at chapter 6.4 Exchanging files with the PC in the Beginner's Guide.

Best regards.

Eric H · Sep 11, 2013

I didn't use dbutils to do it, but here is what I have for code in my project... maybe this will help you (even though I am not performing a copy):

B4X:

Sub Process_Globals
   
    Dim SQL1 As SQL

End Sub


Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)
   
    'create subdirectory 'ListDatabase' if it doesn't exist
    If File.Exists(File.DirRootExternal & "/ListDatabase/", "") = False Then
        File.MakeDir(File.DirRootExternal, "ListDatabase")
    End If
  
    'open database 'data.db' if it exists, create if necessary
    SQL1.Initialize(File.DirRootExternal & "/ListDatabase","data.db", True)
    Log("Database initialized? " & SQL1.IsInitialized)
          
    'create table 'list' to hold the list data if it doesn't exist
    SQL1.ExecNonQuery("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS list(ID INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, item BLOB, category TEXT, done BOOLEAN)")

End Sub

Edit: I just found out that File.MakeDir will only create a directory if it needs to (if it doesn't exist), so I guess I will try taking the 'If File.Exists' directory check out.

Source: http://www.b4x.com/android/wiki/index.php/Files#MakeDir_.28Parent_As_String.2C_Dir_As_String.29

Eric H · Sep 11, 2013

SteveAuckland said:

This is the key part, the error message highlights the FileCopy Line,
Steve

B4X:

Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)
  
Activity.LoadLayout("Main")
If File.Exists(File.DirDefaultExternal,"CarbInsulin.sql")=False Then
    File.Copy(File.DirAssets,"CarbInsulin.sql",File.DirDefaultExternal,"CarbInsulin.sql")
End If
If SQL1.IsInitialized=False Then
    SQL1.Initialize(File.DirDefaultExternal,"CarbInsulin.sql",False)
End If
Activity.Title="Insulin Calculator"
DBLoad
End Sub

see pic attached, it has a fix for a possible error you might see with your code.

SteveAuckland · Sep 11, 2013

Eric H said:
see pic attached, it has a fix for a possible error you might see with your code.

Thanks Eric, I think your onto it. I did add the file but, there's a typo in the name,
I'll fix it and give it another whirl,

Steve

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