Get SpatiaLite Database path from Vector Layer in PyQGIS

Question

What if I would like to have the full SpatiaLite database path from a vector layer loaded in the TOC with PyQGIS?

With a very simple example, by storing active vector layer in a variable:

vl = iface.activeLayer()

one can retrieve the providerType and the dataSourceUri:

vl.providerType()
u'spatialite'
vl.dataProvider().dataSourceUri()
vl.dataProvider().dataSourceUri()
u'dbname=\'/home/matteo/myDataBase.sqlite\' table="river_layer" (geometry) sql='

Is there a simple method to get as a string, just the path of the database (so. /home/matteo/myDataBase.sqlite)?

• matteo: Thanks Joseph! Do you think (or know) if the method you suggest is also cross-platform? Great pythonic way to solve the problem ;)
• Joseph: Most welcome! Hmm I can't tell you for sure, I tested this on a Windows machine so if it works for you too then that's two platforms down ;)
• matteo: ehehe.. 2 down is good.. Thanks Joseph, if want you can copy and paste your comment as a question so I will accept it. Thanks again!

Answer 1

Similar to this question but if you only want to extract the path of the dataSourceUri() (and not u'dbname=\'/home/matteo/myDataBase.sqlite\'), you could use:

vl.dataProvider().dataSourceUri().split(' ')[0].replace('dbname=','').replace("'","")

Which should give:

u'/home/matteo/myDataBase.sqlite'

• YoLecomte: Question about that: Why don't you use vl.source() instead of vl.dataProvider().dataSourceUri()?
• Joseph: @YoLecomte - You're correct in that you could use vl.source() to extract the uri path which could shorten it to vl.source().split(' ')[0].replace('dbname=','').replace("'",""). But typically when using Spatialite (or PostGIS) databases, you use vl.dataProvider().dataSourceUri() to not only extract the uri information but also set up the connection parameters. I guess in the end, it's just personal preference :)
• Joseph: @YoLecomte - Most welcome =)