android SQLite read access

Question

I want to read (only) records from data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db (I know no official API, etc. but since it lacks an official API I have to do it). I thought I can do it like written How to access an existing sqlite database in Android? in the last answer, just by

SQLiteDatabase db = SQLiteDatabase.openDatabase("data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db ", null, 0);

but the system is not able to open that DB file. Next I thought I might have to create a full blown DB Helper class

package com.test.dbaccess;


import android.content.Context;
import android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase;
import android.database.sqlite.SQLiteOpenHelper;

public class DbAdapterMms 
{
    private final Context ctx;
    private DatabaseHelper dbHelper;
    public SQLiteDatabase db;

    private  static class DatabaseHelper extends SQLiteOpenHelper 
    {
        private final Context ctx;

        DatabaseHelper(Context context) 
        {
            super(context, "data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db", null, 1);

            this.ctx = context;
        }

        @Override
        public void onCreate(SQLiteDatabase db) 
        {
            //do nothing, this should exist
        }

        @Override
        public void onUpgrade(SQLiteDatabase db, int oldVersion, int newVersion) 
        {
            //do nothing, reading only
        }


    }

    public DbAdapterMms(Context context) 
    {
        this.ctx = context;
    }

    public void open()
    {
        dbHelper = new DatabaseHelper(ctx);
        db = dbHelper.getReadableDatabase();
    }

    public void close() 
    {
        dbHelper.close();
    }
}

It still doesn't work, this time I think it might be an issue in the call super(); since there the DBVersion has to be given. The version I don't know, I just want to read the existing db. Can't be rocket sience...

Any help? Thanks, A.

Please do not mess up with other application's database. You may argue that you want only to read. But, your noble intention will NOT prevent others from having something else in mind which would leave the db corrupt. So, to prevent such actions (willingly or unwillingly), direct access to other app's is restricted. Though, You can root your phone and take the risk and responsibility — Sarwar Erfan, Mar 24 '11 at 10:11

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 24 '11 at 10:04

I think you cannot read the database of another app. As in Android every app has it's own storage location on the file system which cannot be accessed from other processes. The only exception is if it is defined in the manifest file that other applications are allowed to access the data. As you're trying to access the data of an application that you don't own, you cannot edit its manifest file to grant yourself access to the data.

The only way to read the database would be if you got a rooted phone. Then you can pull the database on you PC and push it back into the store of you app. But I think that's not what you're looking for.

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 24 '11 at 10:05

2

You can use something like this to open the smsmms database

Cursor cSys = getContentResolver().query("content://mms-sms",null, null, null,null);

Using this cursor you can manipulate the database.

getting list of mms

answered Mar 24 '11 at 10:05

vsvydenko

729
1
9
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03-24 11:35:09.454: ERROR/DatabaseUtils(133): java.lang.IllegalStateException: Unrecognized URI:content://mms-sms. I had to change your code to Cursor cSys = getContentResolver().query(Uri.parse("content://mms-sms"),null, null, null,null); Any idea to achieve this? – AndyAndroid Mar 24 '11 at 10:37

android SQLite read access

2 Answers2