Monotouch - Attach Sqlite database in monotouch project and deploy to iPad

Question

All the code samples I found so far regarding using a Sqlite database in an iPad/iPhone app use scripts to create the database once the app is deployed.

But is it possible to create a database in monotouch, build the structure, even pre-populate it with data and deploy it along with iPad app?

If so, what is the location of the database, How do I build the Sqlite Connection? At the moment I use the following:

new SqliteConnection("Data Source=" + DatabasePath);

Where

public static String DatabasePath {
    get {
        string documents = Environment.GetFolderPath (Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal);
        return Path.Combine (documents, "MyDB.db");
    }
}

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:31

2

You could pre-build your database, copy it into the app bundle, and (as long as it is read-only) you could access it directly from your app's bundle whenever you want. If you need write access you could copy your pre-built file to a different directory and then modify it from there.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:31

Community

1
1

answered May 27 '11 at 20:34

slycrel

4,275
2
30
30

+1 - I'm doing exactly this in a project now and it works perfectly. – Eric Petroelje May 27 '11 at 20:36
Ok fair enough. I don't quite like the fact to have to move it to write to the db, but I guess that's the way it is. – Julien Pierre May 27 '11 at 20:48
What's the best location to put it into to write to the db? – Julien Pierre May 27 '11 at 20:49
1

I'd put it in the library directory myself, unless you want the user to ahve access, then in the documents directory. – slycrel May 27 '11 at 22:01

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:15

For people using Monotouch, this is how I sorted this issue:

Created the Sqlite database with sqliteman
In monodevelop, right-click on the Project > Add > Add Files
Choose the sqlite db created and click Open
Click on Copy on the warning dialog
Right click on the database you've just added > Build Action > Content

Then all you have to do is to create a simple method to copy the database to a destination folder, like Documents:

public static void CopyDatabase(String destinationPath)
{
    String path = NSBundle.MainBundle.PathForResource("MyDB", "db");
    File.Copy(path, destinationPath);
}

Where destinationPath in my case is the path specified above in the question: Here . Obviously, in production you'd have to have some sort of mechanism to check whether the db does not already exists, so that you don't overwrite the database file.

Hope it helps.

Monotouch - Attach Sqlite database in monotouch project and deploy to iPad

2 Answers2