Create empty sqlite db from command line

Question

Is it possible to create an empty sqlite3 database from the command line (e.g. sqlite3 <someoption> dbname) which would create a database file for me empty of any tables so that I can access it from a different SQL editor?

Currently, when I do sqlite3 dbname, I get a sqlite prompt from which I can do CREATE TABLE ... but if I don't, when I exit, no file is created. So I am looking for a single command which would create an empty database for me without a need to create at least one table within that step.

Answer 1

Use the VACUUM command to create a valid empty SQLite database file, including the root database page and the database header.

sqlite3 file.db "VACUUM;" 

Answer 2

I don't think there is a way to do that in just one statement.

In Linux I would workaround it this way:

sqlite3 aFile.db "create table aTable(field1 int); drop table aTable;" 

This will automatically create the needed file with the table in it and then drop it leaving the database file without tables. That's the closest thing I know.

Anyway, I think most editors will even accept an empty file too. Give that a try.