Android: Can rawQuery be used for a local search in Android apps?

Question

Hi everyone,

I am trying to implement a local applications search for my Android app and I'm having difficulties.

I've set up my searchable.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<searchable xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:label="@string/app_label"
    android:hint="@string/search_hint" >
</searchable>

I've set up my AndroidManifest:

<activity android:name=".SearchActivity"
        android:screenOrientation="portrait" >
     <intent-filter>
         <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEARCH" />
     </intent-filter>
     <meta-data android:name="android.app.searchable"
        android:resource="@xml/searchable" />
 </activity>
 <activity ...></activity>

 <meta-data android:name="android.app.default_searchable"
     android:value=".SearchActivity" />

My SearchActivity:

public class SearchActivity extends ListActivity {

    private mDbAdapter mDbHelper = new mDbAdapter(this);
    private TextView queryText;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState){
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.search_screen);

        queryText = (TextView)findViewById(R.id.queryString);

        final Intent intent = getIntent();

        if (Intent.ACTION_SEARCH.equals(intent.getAction())) {
            String query = intent.getStringExtra(SearchManager.QUERY);
            showResults(query);
        }

    }

    private void showResults(String query) {

        queryText.setText("\"" + query + "\"");

        Cursor c = mDbHelper.getSearchMatches(query);


        String[] from = new String[]{mDbAdapter.KEY_NAME, mDbAdapter.KEY_CATEGORIES};

        int[] to = new int[]{R.id.listName, R.id.listCats};

        SimpleCursorAdapter results = new SimpleCursorAdapter(this, R.layout.list_row, c, from, to);

        setListAdapter(results);
    }

And finally, my query:

public Cursor getSearchMatches(String query) {

        String sql = 
            "SELECT * FROM " + DB_TABLE_DATA + " WHERE " + KEY_NAME + " LIKE '%" + query + "%'";

        return mDb.rawQuery(sql, null);
    }

With a series of Logs, I find that the application fails when it runs the rawQuery. I get a "java.lang.NullPointerException" error. However, when I run this same rawQuery in any other scenario it works perfectly. It just seems to be this Search intent. I don't find the need to use a Content Provider because I don't want to include the data in global search, just local. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance! nickfm