How to replace existing sqlite database file with new database file in android

Question

Im doing an app which uses sqlite database There is an feature in my app having a button 'Update Database'.

When user clicks on the 'Update Database' button i need to upgrade the old db file with new db file from URL.

How to do this. the research tells me that we cant change a db as it gets place in an .apk file. Is there any solution to this. Please help me out. Thank you.

Solution 1

private void importDatabase(String inputFileName) throws IOException
{
    InputStream mInput = new FileInputStream(inputFileName);
    String outFileName = YOUR_DB_PATH_HERE;
    OutputStream mOutput = new FileOutputStream(outFileName);
    byte[] mBuffer = new byte[1024];
    int mLength;
    while ((mLength = mInput.read(mBuffer))>0)
    {
        mOutput.write(mBuffer, 0, mLength);
    }
    mOutput.flush();
    mOutput.close();
    mInput.close();
}

EDIT:

You may find it helpfull:

How to use an existing database with an Android application

Solution 2

Simply you could download the db file from URL using Download Manager and copy the file to this path

         /data/data/<YOUR PACKAGE NAME>/databases/

It will automatically update.I have used this and is working

Solution 3

At the first launch of your application, you should copy your database into external/internal storage, out of the apk file. When you need to update (with statements or by replacing the whole db) you can operate in the internal/external memory without problems. When you update your application (and maybe the new application has a new db inside), at the first launch of the new app, you should replace the db you stored in the internal/external memory.

Comments

[StarWind0]

He is saying to copy the data directly into the directory for the application. The foo.db file for your app is in the directory pattern above. However in my case, I do not have a rooted device so I will not be able to access the databse folder. You might be able to just make a new one. I solved it with simple IO, the the other answer.

[StarWind0]

Worked like a charm! Note for others. I allowed for restoration with the exact same code. Its a simple copy this file function after all.

[David Refoua]

Should I also do something with "<database>.db-journal" file in there, like remove it?

[Navdroid]

These are temporary files created . They will be deleted by itself.

[Jesus Almaral - Hackaprende]

The new db file acts as if it was empty but it is not, I cannot find any data on it

[Snake]

@Jesus , this issue started hapening recently, did you find a way around it