Backup/restore sqlite db in android

Question

Possible Duplicate:
Android backup/restore: how to backup an internal database?

I am developing an app in which there is SQL lite db. I need to give the user the ability to back up the database and restore it again. How can I do that? Sample code?

And in case my user saved the db, and then upgraded the app to a new DB version code, will restore work? How do I go about that?

Look at this post "Android backup/restore: how to backup an internal database?" [1]: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5282936/android-backup-restore-how-to-backup-an-internal-database — crbin1, Nov 21 '12 at 21:28

score 42 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 22 '12 at 01:39

42

In the folder "/data/data/'your.app.package'/databases/" you have a .db file that is your database. You can copy that file, save it, and then place it back there again.

One example on how to backup the database to the external storage:

    final String inFileName = "/data/data/<your.app.package>/databases/foo.db";
    File dbFile = new File(inFileName);
    FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(dbFile);

    String outFileName = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()+"/database_copy.db";

    // Open the empty db as the output stream
    OutputStream output = new FileOutputStream(outFileName);

    // Transfer bytes from the inputfile to the outputfile
    byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
    int length;
    while ((length = fis.read(buffer))>0){
        output.write(buffer, 0, length);
    }

    // Close the streams
    output.flush();
    output.close();
    fis.close();

answered Nov 22 '12 at 01:39

Pedro Lopes

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@Ramkiran it working or not pls tell me.. i have same requriment – CoronaPintu Aug 21 '13 at 08:19
How can i restore it? – Omid Omidi Apr 23 '14 at 21:28
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@OmidOmidi: to restore the db you just have to copy the .db file to /data/data//databases/foo.db . Was that your question? – Pedro Lopes Apr 24 '14 at 00:44
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In line 1, instead of hardcoding the path of db file, we can use this : final String inFileName = context.getDatabasePath("db_name").getPath(); – George Mathew K Aug 01 '14 at 09:57
That is more correct George. I think you can edit my answer as well, so feel free to correct it:) – Pedro Lopes Aug 02 '14 at 11:44
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This won't always work. Sqlite creates wal (write-ahead logging) files and therefore, your .db file might be stale. – ashishb Mar 30 '16 at 04:21

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 21 '12 at 22:06

Can you clarify what you mean by "back up"? SQLite doesn't have a specific backup method; you have to read rows from the db and save them somehow. Many developers use XML to do this.

If the user saves the db and you then move to a new DB version code, you have to decide how you'll do the restore. Again, you have to do the work to read the backup and put it back into the database; neither SQLite nor Android does this for you.

The package android.app.backup contains classes for working with the Android Backup Agent, but they implement a general framework. It's up to you to implement the specifics for each file or database you're backing up.

Really? https://www.sqlite.org/backup.html – Aleks N. Jan 23 '15 at 08:46 — Aleks N., Jan 23 '15 at 08:46

Backup/restore sqlite db in android

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