VCL Backend: How to Use SQLite

• Jan 27, 2026
• 3 minutes to read

SQLite is a file-based relational database engine. You can connect TdxReport and TdxDashboardControl components to SQLite databases using the TdxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection component. The VCL Backend has built-in support for SQLite (no database provider assembly is required for application deployment).

Test SQLite Database

This guide uses the following SQLite database shipped with compiled VCL DevExpress demos:

Tip

%PUBLIC%\Documents\DevExpress VCL Demos\MegaDemos\Product Demos\ExpressReports\Data\devav.sqlite3

Download: Compiled VCL Demos

Configure & Build a RAD Studio App Project

Create a new project and place TdxDashboardControl and TdxBackendDataConnectionManager components on a form.

Double-click the TdxBackendDataConnectionManager component on the form to open the Collection Editor dialog, click the Add button, and select the Database (SQL) option to create a TdxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection component:

Configure the SQL Connection Component

The previously added TdxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection component connects to the source Firebird database using a connection string. To configure this component and specify a valid connection string, add a TcxButton component to a form and handle the component’s OnClick event as demonstrated in the following code example:

Delphi

uses
  dxDashboard.Control,  // Declares the TdxDashboardControl component
  dxBackend.ConnectionString.SQL;  // Declares the TdxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection component
// ...

procedure TMyForm.cxButton1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  dxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection1.Active := False;  // Terminates the current connection (if one exists)
  // Specify a user-friendly data connection name (for end-user dialogs) and a valid connection string
  dxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection1.DisplayName := 'SQLite Database Connection';
  dxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection1.ConnectionString :=

    'XpoProvider=SQLite;' +  // Specifies the database engine type
    'Data Source=C:\Users\Public\Documents\DevExpress VCL Demos\MegaDemos\' +
    'Product Demos\ExpressReports\Data\devav.sqlite3';

  dxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection1.Active := True;  // Connects to the "devav.sqlite3" database
  dxDashboardControl1.ShowDesigner;  // Displays the Dashboard Designer dialog
end;

C++

#include "dxDashboard.Control.hpp"  // Declares the TdxDashboardControl component
#include "dxBackend.ConnectionString.SQL.hpp"  // Declares the TdxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection component

// Add the following linker directives to the corresponding CPP source file:
#pragma link "dxDashboard.Control"  // Required to use dxDashboard.Control.hpp declarations
#if defined(_WIN64)  // Required to use dxBackend.ConnectionString.SQL.hpp declarations
  #pragma link "dxBackend.ConnectionString.SQL.o"
#else
  #pragma link "dxBackend.ConnectionString.SQL.obj"
#endif
// ...

void __fastcall TMyForm::cxButton1Click(TObject *Sender)
{
  dxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection1->Active = false;  // Terminates the current connection (if one exists)
  // Specify a user-friendly data connection name (for end-user dialogs) and a valid connection string
  dxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection1->DisplayName = "SQLite Database Connection";
  dxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection1->ConnectionString =

    L"XpoProvider=SQLite;"  // Specifies the database engine type
    L"Data Source=C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\DevExpress VCL Demos\\MegaDemos\\"
    L"Product Demos\\ExpressReports\\Data\\devav.sqlite3";

  dxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection1->Active = true;  // Connects to the "devav.sqlite3" database
  dxDashboardControl1->ShowDesigner();  // Displays the Dashboard Designer dialog
}

Build & Run the Test App

Build the project and place the WebView2Loader.dll file from the EdgeView2 SDK GetIt package into the project folder containing the built executable file.

Run the built executable and click the previously added button to display the DevExpress Dashboard Designer dialog.

Run App & Test Database Connection

Run the built executable file and click the previously added button to display the DevExpress Dashboard Designer dialog. Click the hamburger button, select the Data Sources item, and click the Add link in the DATA SOURCES pane:

Click the Create data source… link in the Add Data Source modal dialog:

Select Database in the Dashboard Data Source Wizard modal dialog and click Next:

The wizard displays the created data connection component using its display name defined in the following topic section: Configure the SQL Connection Component.

Click Next and use the Run Query Builder… option:

Expand the AVAILABLE TABLES AND VIEWS node to browse tables from the connected database:

If the AVAILABLE TABLES AND VIEWS node contains a list of tables from the sample devav.sqlite3 database, the created SQLite connection is successful.