Get databases directory for my app programmatically

Question

I want to use a "pre loaded" database in my app. There are tons of questions about this and most point to this blog article here or similars.

So far so good. I just want to know if there is a better way to get the default databases directory so you don't have to use something like this:

private static String DB_PATH = "/data/data/YOUR_PACKAGE/databases/";

I mean, maybe that is changed in the future or maybe a device or rom could place it elsewhere... so is there a way to get this path programatically?

In Context exists a method to getDatabasePath(name), but you need to give it an existing db name and well... it doesn't exist yet, I want to move it there :P

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9109438/how-to-use-an-existing-database-with-an-android-application/9109728#9109728 — Yaqub Ahmad, Nov 13 '12 at 04:50
See here:[programatically get the database path](https://stackoverflow.com/a/55135337/8034839) — shizhen, Mar 13 '19 at 06:23

IG2013 · Answer 1 · 2013-05-20T21:26:49.587

11

I used...

String destPath = getFilesDir().getPath();
destPath = destPath.substring(0, destPath.lastIndexOf("/")) + "/databases";

edited May 20 '13 at 21:26

answered May 20 '13 at 20:28

IG2013

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What if the folder changes in a future release? – pablisco Mar 16 '17 at 16:32

score 10 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 04 '12 at 08:27

10

Create an empty DB, get the path with getDatabasePath(), then overwrite it with your own.

answered Oct 04 '12 at 08:27

Nikolay Elenkov

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I was already doing this... but sounds like a hack :D But well... it sure works. – Daniel López Lacalle Oct 04 '12 at 08:31
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Well, since there is no official API to import a ready-made DB file, putting your own file there is a hack too. At least you are making sure you are putting it in the right place. – Nikolay Elenkov Oct 04 '12 at 08:33
Do I need write permission for that? – Simon Nov 17 '15 at 01:36
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@Simon, no special permission is needed for getDatabasePath() – nibarius Nov 28 '15 at 20:51
See here:[programatically get the database path](https://stackoverflow.com/a/55135337/8034839) – shizhen Mar 13 '19 at 06:23

PearsonArtPhoto · Answer 3 · 2014-10-07T01:12:00.837

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Used by SQLiteAssetHelper:

 String path = mContext.getDatabasePath(mName).getPath();

At this time, the database doesn't exist. I think the String just takes the internal path and adds the appropriate modifiers. In fact, this seems to work just fine:

context.getDatabasePath("a").getParentFile()

Basically, you don't need to have a real database created, just ask it for one.

edited Oct 07 '14 at 01:12

answered Oct 07 '14 at 01:05

PearsonArtPhoto

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The database directory might not exist so before you write/copy any content to context.getDatabasePath("a") make sure to check that context.getDatabasePath("a").getParentFile() exists and if not create the directory. – nibarius Nov 28 '15 at 20:54

score 6 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 04 '12 at 08:27

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You can use the Method getFilesDir() or getDatabasePath in an Activity-Class to get this Folder.
More info here

answered Oct 04 '12 at 08:27

Thommy

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score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 18 '15 at 19:26

You can use getDatabasePath method in your Helper class:

public class MyDatabase extends SQLiteAssetHelper {

    private static final String DATABASE_NAME = "wl.db";
    private static final int DATABASE_VERSION = 1;  
    public String databasePath = "";    

    public MyDatabase(Context context) {
        super(context, DATABASE_NAME, null, DATABASE_VERSION);

        // you can use an alternate constructor to specify a database location
        // (such as a folder on the sd card)
        // you must ensure that this folder is available and you have permission
        // to write to it
        // super(context, DATABASE_NAME, context.getExternalFilesDir(null).getAbsolutePath(), null, DATABASE_VERSION);

        databasePath = context.getDatabasePath("wl.db").getPath();
    }

Get databases directory for my app programmatically

5 Answers5

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