Current Version: v1.11
(Use Menu... About from the main database view, to check your version
number)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q) How do I scroll horizontally in list view?
A) Swipe left and right with your finger.
Q) How do I scroll vertically in list view?
A) Use the track ball or the up/down buttons if your device has them.
Unfortunately, it's not possible on Android to scroll both vertically and
horizontally using the finger while maintaining a view such as the one provided
by the database application - the hardware buttons must be used for up/down. The
Droid/Milestone doesn't have hardware up down unless the keyboard is open.
Q) The data fades out at the end of a line. How can I
see all of the text?
A) Change the column width (from the menu) or tap on the text to view it in card
view.
Q) Where are the databases stored?
A) They are all stored in sdcard/database/
Q)
Why do I get a force close when I create my first database?
A) This was a asynchronous timing problem that occurred on a small number of
phones. It was fixed as of v1.3. Please upgrade to the latest version.
Q)
Why does the application need permission to access the Internet?
A) The application sends any fatal errors (force closes) to the author's server
for analysis so the application can be improved. This only sends the location of
the error in the code, your phone type and Android OS version. It doesn't send
any personal information or database data.
Q) Can I edit Android built in application databases (created by other Android
applications)?
A) No. This application is designed for creating your own databases and
importing those created on the PC.
Q) What is the database file type?
A) They are SQLite databases. This is the underlying database used by Android.
Q) Why do my databases have an _id field?
A) All Android databases must have the _id field in order to work correctly.
This column is automatically created when you create a new database.
Q) Can I hide the _id field?
A) Yes, set the column width (menu option from the database list view) to zero.
Q) Can I create databases on the PC?
A) Yes. You can use one of the many free
SQLite tools available. SQLite
Database Browser is recommended. Ensure the database has a .db (lower case) file
extension. Also ensure the table containing your data is called 'data' with an
INTEGER PRIMARY KEY column called _id. The easiest way to do this is to load
your data into Excel, add an initial _id column and fill with 1... n,
save as .csv then import into SQL Database Browser, change the
_id to be INTEGER PRIMARY KEY and then copy to the phone. Warning: Don't import this
.csv into the Database itself without removing the _id column (the app adds this
itself).
Q)
Why do I get blank fields in card view?
A) The _id field of the database you created on the PC must be INTEGER PRIMARY
KEY.
Q) Can I get databases or
.csv files on the PC onto my
phone?
A) The easiest way is to connect your phone to your PC via USB and copy the file
to the sdcard/database/ directory. Alternatively, you can remove the memory card
from your phone and insert it into a card reader on your PC.
Q) What file format do I need to import on the phone?
A) The files must be comma separated .csv files and placed in the sdcard/database/
directory. The first row must contain the column names that must not contain
spaces. The _id field must not included as this is added automatically. Columns
containing commas must themselves be enclosed in double quotes. Do not put
quotes around the column names in the first row. Import
via the Import Database menu option (from the main database list view).
Importing a large database will take a long time and it might be more convenient
to create it on the PC.
Q) Can I get the sample databases shown in the promotional literature?
A) Yes. The following databases are currently available to registered users:
Websters dictionary, Book sizes, First aid, Abbreviations, Aircraft Marks,
Birthstones, Chemical Elements, Country Telephone Codes, US State Capitals,
Thesaurus, UK Postcodes, US Zip Codes. Email the author (support@simonjudge.com) with your Google order number in order to receive them. Please allow 24hrs for a reply. The
databases are provided 'as is' with no guarantee of accuracy.
Q) Can I use indexes?
A) Yes and No. You can't yet create indexes in the phone application. However,
if these are created on the desktop, resultant databases will run faster with
search queries (using search from list view) using the 'Exact' search method.
Queries using 'Like' always have to look through all records and an index won't
improve performance. Also, indexes won't improve exact match query performance
unless you have over a few thousand rows. If you rename a column with an index,
the index will be lost because the application has to export all the data,
delete the table and recreate the table. Full index support may be provided in a
future version.
Q) How do I
use the Search LIKE?
A) The LIKE operator does a pattern matching comparison. A percent symbol ("%") in the LIKE pattern matches any sequence of zero or more characters in the string. An underscore ("_") in the LIKE pattern matches any single character in the string. Any other character matches itself or its lower/upper case equivalent (i.e. case-insensitive matching). (A bug: SQLite only understands upper/lower case for ASCII characters by default. The LIKE operator is case
insensitive for unicode characters that are within the ASCII range. For example, the expression 'a' LIKE 'A' is TRUE but 'æ' LIKE 'Æ' is FALSE.)
Q) Can I suggest a new feature?
A) Yes. Please email the author (support@simonjudge.com).
While I can't guarantee to reply to everyone nor implement every suggested
feature, your request will be seen as a vote for a new feature in a future version.
Q) Where can I get further support?
A) Please email the author (support@simonjudge.com) with your Google order
number, phone type and Android OS version.
Please allow 24hrs for a reply. Due to a number of pirated copies, you will
asked for your order number if you don't include it in your email. If you
are running a pirated version, please consider purchasing so that you can gain
access to the sample databases, technical support and automatic notification of
updates with bug fixes and new features.
Q) Why can't I find the application on the Android Market?
A) There's a bug in the Android Market application that prevents some phones
showing DRM protected applications. Please contact your phone provider and
report this as a fault.
Q) How can I purchase if I am not in a country supported by the Android Market?
A) Sorry, it's only available via the Android Market.
Q) Who wrote the application?
A) This application was created by Simon Judge, a freelance mobile developer in
the United Kingdom. You can learn more about me at www.simonjudge.com.
I also run a blog on android development at www.androidsoftwaredeveloper.com.
New in 1.11:
New in 1.10:
New in 1.9:
New in 1.8:
New in 1.7:
New in 1.6:
New in 1.5: