Xamarin.

Android - SQLite Database

Introduction

In this article, I shall show you how to handle all database CRUD operations using SQLite. SQLite
is an open-source relational database used to perform database operations on Android devices
such as storing, manipulating, or retrieving persistent data from the database.

Prerequisites

 Visual Studio 2017

 SQLite.Net NuGet Package

The steps given below are required to be followed in order to create an SQLite operations app in
Xamarin.Android, using Visual Studio.

Step 1 - Create a Project

Open Visual Studio and go to New Project-> Templates-> Visual C#-> Android-> Blank app. Give
it a name, like SQLiteDB.

Step 2 - Install Sqlite.net Packages

Go to Solution Explorer-> Project Name-> References. Then, right-click to "Manage NuGet

Packages" and search for SQLite.Net. Install the sqlite.net package.

Step 3 - Writing Person Class

Before you go further, you need to write your Person class with all the getter and setter methods to
maintain single person as an object. Go to Solution Explorer-> Project Name and right-click. Select
Add -> New Item-> Class. Give it a name as Person.cs and write the following code.

(File Name: Person.cs)

C# Code

1. using SQLite;
2. namespace SQLiteDB.Resources.Model
3. {
4. public class Person
5. {
6. [PrimaryKey, AutoIncrement]
7. public int Id { get; set; }
8. public string Name { get; set; }
9. public string Department { get; set; }
10. public string Email { get; set; }
11. }
12. }

Step 4 - Design Layout

Open Solution Explorer-> Project Name-> Resources-> Layout-> Main.axml. Open this main
layout file and add the following code.

(File Name: Main.axml)

(Folder Name: Layout)

XML Code

1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

2. <LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"

3. android:orientation="vertical"
4. android:layout_width="match_parent"
5. android:layout_height="match_parent">
6. <EditText
7. android:hint="Enter your Name"
8. android:layout_width="match_parent"
9. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
10. android:id="@+id/edtName"/>
11. <EditText
12. android:hint="Enter your Department"
13. android:layout_width="match_parent"
14. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
15. android:id="@+id/edtDepart" />
16. <EditText
17. android:hint="Enter your Email"
18. android:layout_width="match_parent"
19. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
20. android:id="@+id/edtEmail"/>
21. <LinearLayout
22. android:layout_width="match_parent"
23. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
 24. android:orientation="horizontal">
25. <Button
26. android:id="@+id/btnAdd"
27. android:layout_width="wrap_content"
28. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
29. android:text="Add"
30. android:layout_weight="1"/>
31. <Button
32. android:id="@+id/btnEdit"
33. android:layout_width="wrap_content"
34. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
35. android:text="Update"
36. android:layout_weight="1"/>
37. <Button
38. android:id="@+id/btnRemove"
39. android:layout_width="wrap_content"
40. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
41. android:text="Remove"
42. android:layout_weight="1"/>
43. </LinearLayout>
44. <ListView
45. android:minWidth="25px"
46. android:minHeight="25px"
47. android:layout_width="match_parent"
48. android:layout_height="match_parent"
49. android:id="@+id/listView"/>
50. </LinearLayout>

Step 5

Next, add a new Layout, go to Solution Explorer-> Project Name-> Resources-> Layout-> Right
click to add a new item, select Layout, give it a name as list_view.axml. Open this layout file and
add the following code.

(File Name: list_view.axml)

(Folder Name: Layout)

XML Code

1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

2. <LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"

3. android:orientation="vertical"
4. android:layout_width="match_parent"
5. android:layout_height="match_parent">
6. <TextView
7. android:text="Name"
8. android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceLarge"
9. android:layout_width="match_parent"
10. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
11. android:id="@+id/txtView_Name" />
12. <TextView
13. android:text="Department"
 14. android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"

15. android:layout_width="match_parent"
16. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
17. android:id="@+id/txtView_Depart" />
18. <TextView
19. android:text="Email"
20. android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"

21. android:layout_width="match_parent"
22. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
23. android:id="@+id/txtView_Email" />
24. </LinearLayout>

Step 6 - Writing SQLite Database Handler Class

We need to write our own class to handle all database CRUD (Create, Read, Update, and Delete)
operations. Go to Solution Explorer-> Project Name and right-click. Select Add -> New Item->
Class. Give it a name as Database.cs and write the following code.

(File Name: Database.cs)

C# Code

1. using Android.Util;
2. using SQLite;
3. using SQLiteDB.Resources.Model;
4. using System.Collections.Generic;
5. using System.Linq;
6. namespace SQLiteDB.Resources.Helper
7. {
8. public class Database
9. {
10. string folder = System.Environment.GetFolderPath(System.Envi
ronment.SpecialFolder.Personal);
11. public bool createDatabase()
12. {
13. try
14. {
15. using (var connection = new SQLiteConnection(System.
IO.Path.Combine(folder, "Persons.db")))
16. {
17. connection.CreateTable<Person>();
18. return true;
19. }
20. }
21. catch(SQLiteException ex)
22. {
23. Log.Info("SQLiteEx", ex.Message);
24. return false;
25. }
26. }
27. //Add or Insert Operation
28.
29. public bool insertIntoTable(Person person)
30. {
31. try
32. {
33. using (var connection = new SQLiteConnection(System.
IO.Path.Combine(folder, "Persons.db")))
34. {
35. connection.Insert(person);
36. return true;
37. }
38. }
39. catch (SQLiteException ex)
40. {
41. Log.Info("SQLiteEx", ex.Message);
42. return false;
43. }
44. }
45. public List<Person> selectTable()
46. {
47. try
48. {
49. using (var connection = new SQLiteConnection(System.
IO.Path.Combine(folder, "Persons.db")))
50. {
51. return connection.Table<Person>().ToList();
52. }
53. }
54. catch (SQLiteException ex)
55. {
56. Log.Info("SQLiteEx", ex.Message);
57. return null;
58. }
59. }
60. //Edit Operation
61.
62. public bool updateTable(Person person)
63. {
64. try
65. {
66. using (var connection = new SQLiteConnection(System.
IO.Path.Combine(folder, "Persons.db")))
67. {
68. connection.Query<Person>("UPDATE Person set Name
=?, Department=?, Email=? Where Id=?",person.Name, person.Department, per
son.Email, person.Id);
69. return true;
70. }
71. }
72. catch (SQLiteException ex)
73. {
74. Log.Info("SQLiteEx", ex.Message);
75. return false;
76. }
77. }
78. //Delete Data Operation
 79.
80. public bool removeTable(Person person)
81. {
82. try
83. {
84. using (var connection = new SQLiteConnection(System.
IO.Path.Combine(folder, "Persons.db")))
85. {
86. connection.Delete(person);
87. return true;
88. }
89. }
90. catch (SQLiteException ex)
91. {
92. Log.Info("SQLiteEx", ex.Message);
93. return false;
94. }
95. }
96. //Select Operation
97.
98. public bool selectTable(int Id)
99. {
100. try
101. {
102. using (var connection = new SQLiteConnection(System.
IO.Path.Combine(folder, "Persons.db")))
103. {
104. connection.Query<Person>("SELECT * FROM Person W
here Id=?",Id);
105. return true;
106. }
107. }
108. catch (SQLiteException ex)
109. {
110. Log.Info("SQLiteEx", ex.Message);
111. return false;
112. }
113. }
114. }
115. }

Step 7 - List View Adapter

Next, add a new class. Go to Solution Explorer-> Project Name and right-click Add -> New Item->
Class. Give it a name like ListViewAdapter.cs, and write the following code.

(FileName: ListViewAdapter)

C# Code

1. using Android.App;
2. using Android.Views;
3. using Android.Widget;
4. using System.Collections.Generic;
 5. namespace SQLiteDB.Resources.Model
6. {
7. public class ViewHolder: Java.Lang.Object
8. {
9. public TextView txtName { get; set; }
10. public TextView txtDepartment { get; set; }
11. public TextView txtEmail { get; set; }
12. }
13. public class ListViewAdapter : BaseAdapter
14. {
15. private Activity activity;
16. private List<Person> listPerson;
17. public ListViewAdapter(Activity activity, List<Person> listP
erson)
18. {
19. this.activity = activity;
20. this.listPerson = listPerson;
21. }
22. public override int Count
23. {
24. get { return listPerson.Count;}
25. }
26. public override Java.Lang.Object GetItem(int position)
27. {
28. return null;
29. }
30. public override long GetItemId(int position)
31. {
32. return listPerson[position].Id;
33. }
34. public override View GetView(int position, View convertView,
ViewGroup parent)
35. {
36. var view = convertView ?? activity.LayoutInflater.Inflat
e(Resource.Layout.list_view, parent, false);
37. var txtName = view.FindViewById<TextView>(Resource.Id.tx
tView_Name);
38. var txtDepart = view.FindViewById<TextView>(Resource.Id.
txtView_Depart);
39. var txtEmail = view.FindViewById<TextView>(Resource.Id.t
xtView_Email);
40. txtName.Text = listPerson[position].Name;
41. txtDepart.Text = listPerson[position].Department;
42. txtEmail.Text = listPerson[position].Email;
43. return view;
44. }
45. }
46. }

Step 8 - Main Activity

Lastly, go to Solution Explorer-> Project Name-> MainActivity and add the following code to main
activity with appropriate namespaces.
(FileName: MainActivity)
C# Code

1. using Android.App;
2. using Android.OS;
3. using Android.Widget;
4. using SQLiteDB.Resources.Helper;
5. using SQLiteDB.Resources.Model;
6. using System.Collections.Generic;
7. namespace SQLiteDB
8. {
9. [Activity(Label = "SQLiteDB", MainLauncher = true)]
10. public class MainActivity : Activity
11. {
12. ListView lstViewData;
13. List<Person> listSource = new List<Person>();
14. Database db;
15. protected override void OnCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)

16. {
17. base.OnCreate(savedInstanceState);
18. // Set our view from the "main" layout resource
19. SetContentView(Resource.Layout.Main);
20. //Create Database
21. db = new Database();
22. db.createDatabase();
23. lstViewData = FindViewById<ListView>(Resource.Id.listVie
w);
24. var edtName = FindViewById<EditText>(Resource.Id.edtName
);
25. var edtDepart = FindViewById<EditText>(Resource.Id.edtDe
part);
26. var edtEmail = FindViewById<EditText>(Resource.Id.edtEma
il);
27. var btnAdd = FindViewById<Button>(Resource.Id.btnAdd);
28. var btnEdit = FindViewById<Button>(Resource.Id.btnEdit);

29. var btnRemove = FindViewById<Button>(Resource.Id.btnRemo

ve);
30. //Load Data
31. LoadData();
32. //Event
33. btnAdd.Click += delegate
34. {
35. Person person = new Person()
36. {
37. Name = edtName.Text,
38. Department = edtDepart.Text,
39. Email = edtEmail.Text
40. };
41. db.insertIntoTable(person);
42. LoadData();
43. };
44. btnEdit.Click += delegate
45. {
46. Person person = new Person()
47. {
48. Id = int.Parse(edtName.Tag.ToString()),
49. Name = edtName.Text,
50. Department = edtDepart.Text,
51. Email = edtEmail.Text
52. };
53. db.updateTable(person);
54. LoadData();
55. };
56. btnRemove.Click += delegate
57. {
58. Person person = new Person()
59. {
60. Id = int.Parse(edtName.Tag.ToString()),
61. Name = edtName.Text,
62. Department = edtDepart.Text,
63. Email = edtEmail.Text
64. };
65. db.removeTable(person);
66. LoadData();
67. };
68. lstViewData.ItemClick += (s,e) =>
69. {
70. //Set Backround for selected item
71. for (int i = 0; i < lstViewData.Count; i++)
72. {
73. if (e.Position == i)
74. lstViewData.GetChildAt(i).SetBackgroundColor
(Android.Graphics.Color.Black);
75. else
76. lstViewData.GetChildAt(i).SetBackgroundColor
(Android.Graphics.Color.Transparent);
77. }
78. //Binding Data
79. var txtName = e.View.FindViewById<TextView>(Resource
.Id.txtView_Name);
80. var txtDepart = e.View.FindViewById<TextView>(Resour
ce.Id.txtView_Depart);
81. var txtEmail = e.View.FindViewById<TextView>(Resourc
e.Id.txtView_Email);
82. edtEmail.Text = txtName.Text;
83. edtName.Tag = e.Id;
84. edtDepart.Text = txtDepart.Text;
85. edtEmail.Text = txtEmail.Text;
86. };
87. }
88. private void LoadData()
89. {
90. listSource = db.selectTable();
91. var adapter = new ListViewAdapter(this, listSource);
92. lstViewData.Adapter = adapter;
93. }
 94. }
95. }

Output