connect to sql server from android

Question

I'm currently developing a Field-Service application that stores data in the local sqlite database on an android device. At some point, usually after completing the data collection rounds, the local sqlite db is to be synchronized to a remote sql server db on the server, also i need to update some local table from sql server db.

Any suggestions as to how this could be achieved or engineered as a solution? Or even better, are there alternatives to synchronizing data in such an application?

Answer 1

I think that the best is using a intermediary like web services or your own TCP based logic layer for your application which would connect to SQL server and execute requests of your applicatation. Don't try to connect to your SQL server directly from Android. You can write some backend code on your server (or webservice) and then call those code methods from your android device using Http.

And also there are many themes in stackoverflow like your:

• How to connect Android to a database server
• Connecting android with MS SQL SERVER 2008

About how to write web services. It's a big question, and you must choose technology, there are very many libraries, frameworks and platforms that help you to simply write a web service. You must choose communicating protocol, it may be SOAP, WSDL or maybe remove calling procedure, it may be rest application. If you use java stack, there are some popular frameworks at the moment:

• Apache CXF
• Spring Web Services
• Axis2

You can start from reading what a web service is:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_service

Also some links which provide example of accessing web services from android:

• Step by step to access web service from android
• Android and soap web services
• Accessing restfull web service with android