NSString parsing for specific values - objective-c

Question

I have an NSString that returns a list of values like this:
test_1=value_1
test/2=value_2
test3=value_3 value_4
test_4=value_5/value_6
...
More realistic result values:
inameX=vlan2
hname=server
lanipaddr=192.168.1.1
lannetmask=255.255.255.0
islan=0
islwan=0
dhcplease=604800
dhcplease_1=302400
ct_tcp_timeout=0 1200 40 30 60 60 5 30 15 0
ct_timeout=10 10
ct_udp_timeout=25 60
ctf_disable=1
ddnsx0=
cifs2=0<\\192.168.1.5
and so on...
If I do:
for (id key in dict) {
NSLog(#"key: %#, value: %#", [dict objectForKey:key], key);
}
it outputs:
key: inameX, value: vlan2
key: hname value: server
key: lanipaddr value: 192.168.1.1
key: lannetmask value: 255.255.255.0
This list is stored in one NSString *result. Not sure if I should put it in an array for this but I need to be able to call a function or command that will return a specific value_X based on the argument to match the variable. For example, get value of test_1 variable then it would return value_1. Or get test_4 then it would return value_5/value_6
Any idea how I can do that?
I appreciate your help. Thanks!

Answer 1

You probably want the method in NSString called componentsSeparatedByCharactersInSet: to split up that one string into an array. Since your values are separated by '=' and new line characters ('\n'), you want the set to include those two characters:
NSArray *strings = [NSString componentsSeparatedByCharactersInSet:
[NSCharacterSet characterSetWithCharactersInString:#"=\n"]];
And then you can make this into a dictionary with NSDictoinary's dictionaryWithObjects: AndKeys: But first, you need to split that array into two arrays; one with objects, one with keys:
NSMutableArray *keys = [NSMutableArray new];
NSMutableArray *values = [NSMutableArray new];
for (int i = 0; i < strings.count; i++) {
if (i % 2 == 0) { // if i is even
[keys addObject:strings[i]];
}
else {
[values addObject:strings[i]];
}
}
Then you put them into an NSDictonary
NSDictionary *dict = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjects:values forKeys:keys];
NSLog(#"%#", dict[#"test_1"]) // This should print out 'value_1'
Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Use an NSDicationary. NSDictionaries are key value stores. In other words, there are a list of keys. Each key is unique. Each key has an associated value. The value can be any data type and the key has to conform to the NSCopying protocol (typically an NSString). If you try to access the value for a key that doesn't exist in your NSDictionary, the return value will be nil.
//create the dictionary and populate it
NSMutableDictionary *dict = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc] init];
[dict setObject:#"value_1" forKey:#"key_1"];
[dict setObject:#"value_2" forKey:#"key_2"];
[dict setObject:#"value_3" forKey:#"key_3"];
[dict setObject:#"value_4" forKey:#"key_4"];
NSString *stringInput = [self getStringInput];//however you find out your input
//find your string value based on the key passed in
NSString *strValue = [dict objectForKey:stringInput];

Answer 3

You can use a NSScanner to make this work.
Scan for the string for which you want the value, and then scan the string until you encounter \n and then use it for your requirement.
NSScanner *scan =[NSScanner scannerWithString:theString];
[scan scanString:keyString inToString:nil];
[scan setScanLocation:[scan scanLocation]+1];
[scan scanString:#"\n" inToString:requiredString];
So requiredString is the string which you want.