Creating a Database

This document shows you how to create a database for Symbian SQL.

Working with databases is not possible until the database exists. In this tutorial you will learn how to create a simple database.

This tutorial uses code from the Basic SQL example application.

The SQL statement used for this tutorial is shown here:

CREATE DATABASE \\Basic_db.db

Declare a constant to hold the database handle: KDatabaseName will be used when creating and accessing the database.
```
_LIT(KDatabaseName, "\\Basic_db.db");
_LIT(KDatabaseMsg,"\nCreating a database\n");
RSqlDatabase db;
CConsoleBase* iConsole;
```
The objects and constants needed to create the database are now ready.
Create the database: You are telling Symbian SQL to execute the CREATE DATABASE command.
```
iConsole->Printf(KDatabaseMsg);
User::LeaveIfError(db.Create(KDatabaseName));
iConsole->Printf(KDatabaseName);
```
The database now exists. RSqlDatabase::Create() executes the SQL engine command that makes the actual database. You can look in the C:\ drive on the device to confirm that the database object exists.

The database now exists. You can perform all the standard SQL operations on the database including creating and populating a table, querying the database, editing records and deleting the database, to name a few.

Create database example

The following code snippet is from the example code used for this tutorial:

...
_LIT(KDatabaseName, "\\Basic_db.db");
_LIT(KDatabaseMsg,"\nCreating a database\n");
...
CConsoleBase* iConsole;
...
void CBasicSqlExample::CreateDatabaseL()
    {
    RSqlDatabase db;

    iConsole->Printf(KDatabaseMsg);
    //create the database
    User::LeaveIfError(db.Create(KDatabaseName));

    iConsole->Printf(KDatabaseName);
    CleanupClosePushL(db);
    ...
    }

Now that you have created a database you need to add a table and populate it with some data. The following will show you how:

Parent topic: SQL Tutorials

Related concepts

SQL Overview

Basic SQL Example Application