Include a data file with my Android app

Question

I'm creating an app that I want to seed with a data file the app will use as its initial state. In the Eclipse project structure, where do I add the data file so that when the app is deployed to the device (and emulator) the data file is deployed with it?

Answer 1

It will be helpful it you can the data file type and the purpose. If you are looking to initalize certain settings you can do it through:

Describe preferences in xml --- store in RES/XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<PreferenceScreen xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"&gt;
    <PreferenceCategory >
        <CheckBoxPreference  />
    </PreferenceCategory>
</PreferenceScreen>

Load for sure onCreate():

/* Loading default preferences the first time application is run */
        PreferenceManager.setDefaultValues(getApplicationContext(),
                R.xml.generalsettings, false);

Else,

You can hardcode data and store in the db:

String sql = "CREATE TABLE ..." + "INSERT VALUES ... INTO ... ";
db.ExecSQL(sql);

Else you can store this file in the Assets folder and use getAssets() to retrieve the file:

        getAssets().open(fileName)

Eg. using raw data file. In case of assets replace with above command:

      InputStream is = context.getResources().openRawResource(R.raw.artoodict);
    BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));
    String readLine = null;

    try {
        while ((readLine = br.readLine()) != null) {

            }
        }
    } catch (IOException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }