How to convert NSString intoNSArray? - objective-c

Question

I have an NSString which is a mathematical expression. I have operators (+,-,*,/) and operands (digits from 0 to 9,integers,decimals etc). I want to convert this NSString into NSArray. For example if my NSString is "7.9999-1.234*-9.21". I want NSArray having elements 7.9999,-,1.234,*,-,9.21 in the same order. How can I accomplish this?
I have tried a code. It dosent work in all scenarios though. Here It is:
code:
NSString *str=#"7.9999-1.234*-9.21";
NSMutableArray *marray=[[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
for(i=0;i<6;i++)
{
[marray addObject:[NSNull null]];
}
NSMutableArray *operands=[[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithObjects:#"7.9999",#"1.234",#"9.21",nil];
NSMutableArray *operators=[[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithObjects:#"-",#"*",#"-",nil];
for(i=0,j=0,k=0,l=0;i<=([str length]-1),j<[operands count],k<[operators count],l<[marray count];i++)
{
NSString *element=[[NSString alloc] initWithFormat:#"%c",[str characterAtIndex:i]];
BOOL res=[element isEqualToString:#"+"]||[element isEqualToString:#"-"]||[element isEqualToString:#"*"]||[element isEqualToString:#"/"];
if(res==0)
{
[marray replaceObjectAtIndex:l withObject:[operands objectAtIndex:j]];
}
else
{
l++;
[marray replaceObjectAtIndex:l withObject:[operators objectAtIndex:k]];
k++,l++,j++;
}
}
for(i=0;i<6;i++)
{
NSLog(#"%#",[marray objectAtIndex:i]);
}
Here str is the string to be converted. My array is the array obtained by converting the string str. When I execute this code I get the following on console:
7.9999
-
1.234
*
<null>
-

Answer 1

You should use NSScanner, scanning up to your operator characters, then when you find one, save the scanned string and then save the operator into the array and skip the operator (setScanLocation:). Continue doing this till you get to the end of the string (in a loop, one iteration for each operator).

Answer 2

NSArray * marray = [str componentsSeparatedByCharactersInSet:
[NSCharacterSet characterSetWithCharactersInString:#"+-*/"]
];

Answer 3

ThankYou #Wain and #Hinata Hyuga.I figured out a code that would work to convert any string to array with the help of your suggestions.
Here is the code
NSMutableArray *convArray=[[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
NSScanner *scanner = [NSScanner scannerWithString:inputString];
NSCharacterSet *opSet=[NSCharacterSet characterSetWithCharactersInString:#"+-/*"];
[scanner setCharactersToBeSkipped:opSet];
int i;
for(i=0;i<[inputString length];)
{
if([inputString characterAtIndex:i]=='+'||[inputString characterAtIndex:i]=='-'||[inputString characterAtIndex:i]=='*'||[inputString characterAtIndex:i]=='/')
{
[convArray addObject:[[NSString alloc] initWithFormat:#"%c",[inputString characterAtIndex:i]]];
i++;
}
else
{
NSString *oprnd;
[scanner scanUpToCharactersFromSet:opSet intoString:&oprnd];
[convArray addObject:oprnd];
i=i+[inputString rangeOfString:oprnd].length;
}
}
return convArray;