NSDictionary multiple values with same key? - objective-c

Question

I'm trying to create an NSDictionary that looks like it has duplicate keys, but the values are different.
The reason for this is due tot he web service that I am sending that data it - it accepts a multi-form post message and needs values like this:
SomeKey: value1
SomeKey: value2
SomeKey value 3
And not like this:
SomeKey: value1, value2, value 3...
I have the values in an NSArray - however I am not sure how to get them into an NSDictionary that looks like the above - maybe some sort of object?
Edit
So, here is how I make a web service request to our main server.
Networking Library: AFNetworking 2.0
From viewControllerA
This code runs after a previous web service request has been made:
NSDictionary *results = [[BBDataStore sharedDataStore]fetchuserIdResult];
BBSeller *seller = [[BBSeller alloc]init];
seller.alias = results[#"userAlias"];
seller.userId = results[#"userid"];
[self.sellerListIds addObject:seller.userId];
[self.sellerListAliases addObject:seller];
This splits the data into two arrays:
self.sellerListIds
Is for the userId which I am really interested in. Its just a NSString
self.sellerListAliases
Is just to display the username on screen to the user - nothing more, really. The web service I need to send this data to, only looks at userIds.
Right - then I call a method
[self setupSearchParameters:seller.userId];
Which looks like this:
-(void)setupSearchParameters: (NSString *)userId
{
self.sellerListidString = userId;
[self.parameters setObject:self.sellerListidString forKey:self.typeOfSellerSearch];
}
This allows one userId for the key: self.typeOfSellerSearch
Now, when the user presses confirm button to execute the web service search it calls a method in my data start with the self.parameters dictionary and adds other values to an existing dictionary - which include other search keywords.
Finally, it calls the network request method - which looks like this:
-(void)fetch:(NSDictionary *)urlParameters
{
if (!self.webService.isBusy){
BBWebService *webService = [[BBWebService alloc]initWithURL:self.url RequestType:GET_REQUEST UrlParameters:urlParameters];
self.webService = webService;
self.webService.webServiceId = wsID;
[self.webService setDelegate:self];
}
}
That calls this method:
-(instancetype)initWithURL:(NSString *)url RequestType:(NSString *)requestType UrlParameters:(NSDictionary *)urlParameters
{
[self getSessionManager];
if ([requestType isEqualToString:#"GET"]){
self.isBusy = YES;
[self.manager GET:url parameters:urlParameters
success:^(NSURLSessionDataTask *task, id responseObject){
NSHTTPURLResponse *response = (NSHTTPURLResponse *)task.response;
int statusCode = (int)response.statusCode;
[self requestDone:responseObject StatusCode:statusCode];
}failure:^(NSURLSessionDataTask *task, NSError *error){
NSHTTPURLResponse *response = (NSHTTPURLResponse *)task.response;
int statusCode = (int)response.statusCode;
[self requestFailed:error StatusCode:statusCode];
}];
return self;
}
From there AFNetworking 2.0 takes care of constructing the parameters into the URL and makes the request. When it comes back successful, I take the data and parse it.
Right now -this works. However, I need it to work with more than one key / value pair.
If I try #Selvin's code the web service doesn't work correctly. I spoke with the Java Develeopers and they say the web service expects this:
Key / value 1
Key / Value 2
Key / Value 3
.....
it won't work with this:
key / value1, value2, value 3///
Nor does it seem to work with this:
key2 / some random value -> key / value1
As it does't know what key2 is so it ignores it.

Answer 1

NSArray *paramsArray = #[#{#"SomeKey": #"value1"},
#{#"SomeKey": #"value2"},
#{#"SomeKey": #"value3"},
#{#"OtherKey": #"value4"}];
[paramsArray enumerateObjectsUsingBlock:^(NSDictionary *paramDict, NSUInteger idx, BOOL *stop){
[paramDict enumerateKeysAndObjectsUsingBlock:^(NSString *key,NSString *value, BOOL *stop){
//apply the key and value on the HTTP request
}];
}];
The framework you are using accepts the NSDictionary format. You need to edit the framework to suit your needs.
Edit
You need to edit the AFNetworking code where it applies the parameters. Your initWithURL method takes urlParameters as NSDictionary. But according to my answer you need to pass NSArray with collection of NSDIctionary elements.
What needs to be done inorder to get this work is, in AFNetworking code the urlParameters has to be checked and handled. if urlParameters is NSDictionary then let the code behave as it is. If its NSArray then you need to do the "Applying HTTP parameters" yourself.

Answer 2

Can you make it in such a way that the NSDictionary is inside the array?
For example:
[
{SomeKey:value1},
{SomeKey:value2},
{SomeKey:value3}
]