Introduction

SQLCipher is a standalone fork of SQLite that adds security features. It's frequently used in industries where offline data security matters.

If you're looking for the best possible way to manage it in an easy way, then you're reading the right and exact article needed to get the job done!

Available Solutions

Before heading to the topic I'd like to mention all the available solutions to manage the SQLCipher database:

• Use the CLI
• Using DB Browser for SQLite
• And Finally, Use DBeaver which I'll explain how to in this article.

Why DBeaver?

Well, alongside running queries against the database, inspect its data or check other DB objects like the Views, tables or Stored Procedure. you can also generate an ERD for the existing database which is too helpful when it comes to exploring the database from a high-level perspective!

Challenges

DBeaver has no GUI to support the configuration process for SQLCipher databases.

The Good NEWS we can make it work Out-of-the-box!

Instructions

• Download and Install DBeaver
• Getting the right driver
• Linking Everything together
• Add Your Database to DBeaver
• Further Support

1. Download and Install DBeaver

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1. head to dbeaver.io
2. download and install the one that suits your OS

2. Getting the right driver

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1. Open the following Link sqlite-jdbc-crypt and download the latest sqlite-jdbc-<version>.jar.
2. Copy that file in a safe place on your pc that you DON'T ACCIDENTALLY REMOVE!

   Personally, I prefer to place them in the %UserProfile%/Documents directory as no one care about it!

3. Create a custom driver for DBeaver

1. From Database Menu --> Open DriverManager
2. Hit New, and now let‘s configure it

3.1. Settings Tab

• Driver Name = SqlCipherV3 (or any name you’d like)
• Driver Type, Select Generic
• Class Name = org.sqlite.JDBC
• URL Template = jdbc:sqlite:{file}

The rest are not mandatory, feel free to set them up on your own!

3.2. Libraries Tab

Remember the .jar file that we’ve downloaded recently?

If your answer was no, please have a look Getting the right driver

If your answer was yes, Let‘s continue ...

• Click Add File and Select that .jar file
• Click Find Class and select org.sqlite.JDBC

3.3. Driver Prosperities

Here comes the most important part, make sure that you’ve configured that one properly!

We are targeting SQLCipherV3 since it's more common between developers but it's the same Idea once you grasp it!

To Add a property, Right-Click and press Add

There is one more PRAGMA which is called key and it is used to pass a passphrase that’s used to decrypt your Database, but we won’t set it here as it differs from one database to another!

For different version parameters of SqlCipher visit: utelle.github.io/SQLite3MultipleCiphers/doc.. and actually I’ve acquired the above one from there!

Note: -

• for n/a values don’t enter anything!
• v<x> indicates the SQLCipher Version!

4. Add Your Database to DBeaver

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• From Database Menu —> Select New Database Connection
• Search for SQLCipherV3 (the one we created recently) and press Next
• Click Browse and Select your SQLCipher Database file.
• In the Driver properties tab make sure that your defaults have been set correctly.
  • In Key Property double click the Value and Enter your Passphrase
• Test Connection, Voila!
• Press Finish

Further Support

If you encountered any problems, please feel free to comment below and I’ll gladly help!