# General DB — Full-fledged SQL Database > Flexible SQLite database app for personal and business data management. (iPhone/iPad app by Portable Databases.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/general-db/id333398125 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Portable Databases](https://appshunter.io/developer/333398128) - Category: Business, Productivity - Price: $4.99 - Rating: 4.60/5 from 21 App Store ratings · 43 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 17+ - Requires: iOS 9.0 · 21 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2009-10-16 - Data updated: 2026-08-21 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/general-db/id333398125/reviews.md ## What is General DB? General DB is a general-purpose database app that lets you record information quickly and easily. Try our FREE Private DB app to get a feel for General DB before you buy. For example, if you have a bottle collection, you could make a table with these fields: Date Acquired, Bottle Type, Bottle Origin, Shape, Notes. Then whenever you add a new bottle to your collection, you can add a row to the table describing it. If you want to track visits to different vacation sites, you can make a table with fields for the Date Visited, Location, Description, and Attraction. As you visit the sites, you can add corresponding rows to your table. After you add rows to your tables, they will be: * Searchable * Sortable * Selectable Many apps are too specific to a subject, but General DB is flexible enough to handle many, many needs, such as: - Inventories - Customer info - Membership lists - Tracking Logs - Accounts - and many more ! No database knowledge is required to use this app, but you will pick some up as you go! For power users: General DB allows easy data entry into a full-fledged SQLite database. To do so, it enhances it with field formats. The field formats supported are Text, Number, Date, Time, Duration, Location, Photo, Barcode, Raw, Picker, and Lookup Table. There are convenient buttons next to some fields for easier input. For administrators or IT manager, you can create a master database of reference information that you don't want your users to modify. This master database can be published on the internet and either the Private DB app or General DB can download and view it. Some more powerful features: - Download files from the web or Dropbox - Import text files into tables - Execute SQL files - Extract .zip or .gz files - Manage your image files and create thumbnails - Preview all the lines in a file before importing it - Custom picker types to select values from a list - Add your own image files from you computer using iTunes - SQL Console for executing SQL statements - Mark SQL statements as favorites - See and execute past SQL statements in the History - Built-in web browser to download files from - Save websites in the Bookmarks - Easily create a SQL VIEW (subsets of fields from a table) - JOIN 2 or more tables or views for relational capabilities - Export selected rows from your tables to a file - Email your files to others - Share your database via Email or Dropbox - Create databases - And much more! If you have any questions, or if you need your business database customized for your iPhone or iPad, feel free to contact us on our website. ## Key features - Customizable tables and fields - Multiple data field formats - Searchable and sortable data - SQL console for advanced users - Data import and export - Relational database capabilities - Cloud and file sharing options ## Recent user reviews (10 of 43) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/general-db/id333398125/reviews.md ### 4/5 — Capable Database Viewer and Editor *2024-03-01* My original mistaken review is below; as can perhaps be seen, the developers wrote back, letting me know I overlooked the option to get the database back out. __________ In limited testing with a small database. . . If you have an older iPad/iOS, this is a good app to view and edit your SQLite database files. Definitely try the free Private DB first to get a feel for how it works. It’s not quite as intuitive as I’d like, none of the icons are labeled, so one must experiment by tapping on them to find out what they do, which is potentially dangerous with databases. Figuring out how to adjust the column widths took longer than I wanted. Updating a record is troublesome when the field is low on the screen, the keyboard entirely covers it, so you can’t see what you’re typing. Moving through the columns isn’t a matter of swiping, as with rows. But the app hasn’t crashed yet. __________ Original Mistaken Subject: Exports/Shares as a text file only, not a .db I mistakenly thought I could get my database back out as a SQLite .db, which is how it got in. But the Share button only allows for sharing selected rows, or exporting the whole db as a .txt file which then can only be imported, apparently through iTunes. **Developer response:** You can share your database as well without exporting to text files. Just tap on the Files tab then tap the Database tab then tap the row of the database file you want to share, such as general.db which is the name of the default database file. Then tap the share icon button in the toolbar. Please contact us on our website if you have any issues with that. Thank you for updating your review and rating. We will get to work on those other issues you mentioned. ### 1/5 — Exports/Shares as a text file only, not a .db *2024-02-27* I mistakenly thought I could get my database back out as a SQLite .db, which is how it got in. But the Share button only allows for sharing selected rows, or exporting the whole db as a .txt file which then can only be imported, apparently through iTunes. **Developer response:** You can share your database as well without exporting to text files. Just tap on the Files tab then tap the Database tab then tap the row of the database file you want to share, such as general.db which is the name of the default database file. Then tap the share icon button in the toolbar. Please contact us on our website if you have any issues with that. ### 5/5 — Just awesome! *2022-04-01* I find this app to be perfect. Very easy to use, handy, helpful, powerful and long overdue. Wish I had found this years ago. Love it! ### 5/5 — Support *2021-06-16* I added GeneralDB to my iPadPro and could not make it operate even though I’ve been using this app on my iPhone for years. Once I contacted Tom for a little support, I got a bunch of support; almost instantly. The problem was solved by that afternoon, and a reset of my iPad got me back into the app. +1 for support of this useful tool. **Developer response:** Thanks for the kind words Paul! ### 5/5 — PalmOS で JFile を使ってた人は最適？ *2020-07-15, version 5.8.1* 表題の通りです． Private バージョンでは，他のツールで作ったテクストファイルもこれに関連付けされてしまって，テクストファイルをクリックするとPrivate バージョンが立ち上がってしまい困ってましたが，General バージョンでは改善されてて快適です． ### 5/5 — Using this to collect field data on an ipad *2020-01-25* success! ### 4/5 — thanks for an SQLite DB mgr; on iOS 13 howto ... *2019-09-29* How do I turn on ‘dark mode’ for General DB to take advantage of this new iOS feature? **Developer response:** Working on it. Thank you for the review! ### 5/5 — データがサクサク作れる *2018-11-18, version 5.1.2* 操作性にちょっとクセありますが、慣れるとサクサクデータ作れて快適です。 これで作成したデータをcsv形式ファイルで書き出してExcelに取り込むなどして活用しています。 ### 5/5 — Awesome App *2016-07-18* This app is awesome. The current version resolved a memory leak issue causing import problems with very large files. Customer service has been fantastic! Quick responses and follow ups. Also willing to spend the time in helping me with the import issue. This app allows me to carry large amounts of data that I can easily access. In app searches are very quick. ### 5/5 — Great for keeping track *2015-12-01* I have used this app for a while now, to track all of my 35mm film. It allows me to see at a glance how much is in the freezer, how much is in the fridge and how much is out. I don’t have to keep searching around and I can see when I need to re-stock. It’s simple and it works. The most recent update caused the row definitions to display nonsense (not the actual figures, thankfully - just the definitions) which gave me a good reason to trim down and improve my tables by re-defining. Yes, I could have marked down for this but I don’t agree with marking down for technical reasons in reviews, particularly as I didn’t even need to invoke support. It’s still great and it does what I need it to do. ## Frequently asked questions about General DB ### What is General DB? General DB is a versatile database application designed for both personal and business use. It allows you to create custom databases to record and manage information efficiently. You can define tables with specific fields and input data in various formats, making it suitable for tracking collections, customer information, inventories, and much more. ### What are the key features of General DB? Key features include the ability to create custom tables with various field formats (Text, Number, Date, Location, Photo, Barcode, etc.), making data entry flexible. The app offers robust data management with searchable, sortable, and selectable data. For advanced users, it provides an SQL console, the ability to join tables, create views, and import/export data. It also supports sharing databases via email or cloud services. ### Is General DB free to use? The description mentions a 'FREE Private DB app' to try before buying General DB. This indicates that General DB itself is a paid application, likely offering a more comprehensive feature set than the free version. Users can explore the functionality with the free app before committing to a purchase. ### What devices is General DB compatible with? The description specifically mentions customization for 'your iPhone or iPad', suggesting that the app is designed for Apple's mobile operating systems. It is likely available on the iOS App Store and can be used on iPhones and iPads. ### What are some common use cases for General DB? General DB is highly flexible and can be used for a wide range of purposes. Common use cases include managing personal collections (like bottles or books), tracking customer information, maintaining membership lists, creating detailed tracking logs for various activities, managing accounts, and organizing inventories for businesses. Its adaptability makes it suitable for many data organization needs. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 5.12 — 2021-07-01 - Regular expressions in SQL, such as: SELECT * FROM Maintenance WHERE Description REGEXP '^Fixed' - SQLite 3.36.0 ### 5.11.1 — 2021-05-28 - If you open a database that has a field value that cannot be displayed as a text string, then a special string is displayed instead. This is to prevent unexpected behavior when binary data is in the field but the Raw field format is not selected. - Bug fixes - SQLite 3.35.5 ### 5.11 — 2021-04-06 SQLite 3.35.4: - Built-in math functions, such as sin() and log() - ALTER TABLE DROP COLUMN - Generalized UPSERT - RETURNING clause lets you see the values after an INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE. NOTE: This is a major release. If you have critical databases, you must back them up using iTunes or iCloud or Dropbox before updating this app! ### 5.10.1 — 2021-01-15 Fix for selecting field values in Date and Time formats in iOS 13.4 and above. ### 5.10 — 2021-01-06 - SQLite 3.34 - The generate_series() virtual table is now built in to this app. As an example, the SQL executed below would make a virtual table of 6 rows with even values starting from 0 up to 10: SELECT value FROM generate_series(0, 10, 2) - Bug fix for importing large files Note: Backing up your databases before a major software update is good practice and recommended. To backup your databases, sync your phone with iCloud or your computer, or go to the Files tab and Share your databases with another computer. ## Apps similar to General DB | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Database Manager for MS Access](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/database-manager-for-ms-access/id837019622) | 2.3 (3) | $9.99 | Business | | [Tap Forms Database Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-forms-database-pro/id1527890083) | 4.5 (67) | Free | Business | | [Data By Hatch It](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/data-by-hatch-it/id6444874795) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Business | ## More apps by Portable Databases - [Area Code Directory](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/area-code-directory/id357420195) - [Private DB](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-db/id406410237) - [Use By Date](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/use-by-date/id524192596) - [Antibiograms](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/antibiograms/id606986316) - [Antimicrobial Guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/antimicrobial-guide/id1032955474) All apps by Portable Databases: https://appshunter.io/developer/333398128 ## Related topics [portable databases](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/portable-databases) · [fledge](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fledge) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-21.*