How to detect what class a parameter is from - objective-c

I have two classes, Class A and Class B. They can both call the same method in a controller. The method they call takes in a CGPoint. Is there any way I can determine which class the argument came from?
I have tried using the following:
if ([point isKindOfClass:[_territoryPaths class]])
{
NSMutableDictionary *territoryPaths = [_territoryPaths territoryPaths];
}
if ([piont class] == [_territoryPaths class])
{
NSMutableDictionary *territoryPaths = [_territoryPaths territoryPaths];
}
point is the CGPoint that the method takes in.

The best way to deal with this situation if you want to use this method in a class that is not ClassA or ClassB would be to modify your method so that it accepts a sender and do the isKindOfClass on the sender value.
For example:
- (void)someMethod:(id)sender withPoint:(CGPoint)point
{
if ([sender isKindOfClass:[ClassA class]])
{
// Do class A stuff
}
else if ([sender isKindOfClass:[ClassB class]])
{
// Do class B stuff
}
else
{
// Unknown class
}
}

Related

Factory methods in Objective-C

I make class factories like so,
#implementation Universe {
NSString *foo;
}
+ (instancetype)universeWithMeaning:(NSString *)meaning
{
return [[self alloc] initUniverseWithMeaning:meaning];
}
- (id)initUniverseWithMeaning:(NSString *)meaning
{
if (self = [super init]) {
foo = meaning;
}
return self;
}
- (void)showMeaning
{
NSLog(#"%#", foo);
}
#end
And create object like this,
Universe *universe = [Universe universeWithMeaning:#"42"];
[universe showMeaning]; // Prints 42
This works great, but the method signature of initUniverseWithMeaning: is the same as that of universeWithMeaning:, except that it's an instance method which allows it to save instance variables to the created object.
Is there a way to this without having to implement the initUniverseWithMeaning: instance method?
I know its necessary to be inside of an instance method to be able to access instance variables, so I've been experimenting with blocks. My idea was to pass a block containing instance variable assignations to the class method which would somehow execute it in the instance context.
Implementation,
#implementation Cat {
NSString *lives;
}
+ (Cat *)newCat:(void(^)(void))cat
{
cat(); // **Problem 1**
}
- (void)showLives
{
NSLog(#"%#", lives);
}
#end
Usage,
Cat *cat = [Cat newCat:^void (void) {
self.lives = 9; // **Problem 2**
}];
[cat showLives]; // I'd like this to print 9
Problem 1: How to create a Cat object and execute cat() inside it?
Problem 2: How to make self refer to the object in the block's execution environment?
Anyway, this is more of a curiosity than anything else, it's would only be practically useful to save me from writing alloc (I would just need to include a method prototype for initUniverseWithMeaning: in the .h file.)
For your problem 1 and 2, you can try this
#interface Cat ()
#property (strong) NSString *lives;
#end
#implementation Cat
+ (Cat *)newCat:(void(^)(Cat *me))cat
{
Cat *newcat = [[self alloc] init];
cat(newcat);
return newcat;
}
- (void)showLives
{
NSLog(#"%#", lives);
}
#end
Cat *cat = [Cat newCat:^(Cat *me) {
me.lives = 9;
}];
[cat showLives]; // print 9
but I can't see much use of it... Isn't this simpler?
Cat *cat = [Cat new];
cat.lives = 9;
[cat showLives];
For your real problem
Is there a way to this without having to implement the initUniverseWithMeaning: instance method?
+ (instancetype)universeWithMeaning:(NSString *)meaning
{
Universe *universe = [[self alloc] init];
if (universe) universe->foo = meaning;
return universe;
}
The first example you've posted is the correct way of creating Objective-C factory methods.
An Objective-C factory method is nothing more than a class method wrapper around an instance level init method. Generally speaking, every factory method should have a paired init method that takes the same number and type of arguments.
fooWithBar:(NSString *)bar should be paired with initWithBar:(NSString *)bar, etc.
An exception might come in when you have an init method that takes arguments, but you've create a handful of factory methods with default arguments for this method. For example:
- (instancetype)initWithString:(NSString *)string;
+ (instancetype)fooWithString:(NSString *)string {
return [[self alloc] initWithString:string];
}
+ (instancetype)fooWithBar {
return [[self alloc] initWithString:#"bar"];
}
Now, you can create the object with in the method, then modify it, and return the modified object.
For example:
+ (instancetype)fooWithString:(NSString *)string {
Foo *f = [[self alloc] init];
f.str = string;
return f;
}
But honestly, it's just better to have an initWithString: method.
Every class should have a designated initializer and every object of that class should go through the designated initializer.

How do I allow a custom item to be copied?

I have a custom class that I want to be able to put on the pasteboard.
Here is the code I have so far
- (NSArray *)writableTypesForPasteboard:(NSPasteboard *)pasteboard {
static NSArray *writableTypes = nil;
if (!writableTypes) {
writableTypes=[NSArray arrayWithObjects:(NSString *)kUTTypeXML, nil];
}
return writableTypes;
}
- (id)pasteboardPropertyListForType:(NSString *)type {
return [NSKeyedArchiver archivedDataWithRootObject:[MyClass class]];
}
This part isn't right:
- (id)pasteboardPropertyListForType:(NSString *)type {
return [NSKeyedArchiver archivedDataWithRootObject:[MyClass class]];
}
It looks like you're trying to archive the actual MyClass class, where you should actually be archiving the MyClass object, i.e. a specific instance of MyClass rather than the class itself. Also, you should probably be checking the type that's passed in to make sure that you're offering the data for the right thing. So, it should look something like:
- (id)pasteboardPropertyListForType:(NSString *)type {
if ([type isEqualToString:kUTTypeXML]) {
return [NSKeyedArchiver archivedDataWithRootObject:self.someInstanceOfMyClass];
}
return nil;
}
Finally, make sure that MyClass implements the NSCoding protocol so that you can create an archive containing the object's data.

passing in a method in Objective C

In C# you can create a delegate method, assign it to a variable or pass it into a method as if it were a variable. For example:
public delegate int Lookup(String s);
//...
public static int Evaluate(String exp, Lookup variableEvaluator)
{
//...
}
I heard that in C you can create a pointer to any method and then pass that pointer to a method.
Can anyone give me a simple example of doing that in Objective-C? Of course, I can create an object with a singe method and pass that object into a method. But I am curious if there is a way of doing that similar to that of C# or C.
Lots of ways.
One: the good. Use blocks (closures, lambda calculus, however you call it):
typedef void (^MyCallback)();
- (void)callTheCallback:(MyCallback)blockToInvoke
{
blockToInvoke();
}
MyCallback cb = ^{
NSLog(#"I was called! :D");
};
[self callTheCallback:cb];
Two: the bad. Grab a pointer to the method function itself and call that. (Warning: if you use this approach, I'll sue you.)
- (void)callTheCallback:(IMP)funcPtrToCall withObject:(id)obj selector:(SEL)sel
{
funcPtrToCall(obj, sel);
}
- (void)someCallbackMethod
{
NSLog(#"I was called! :D");
}
IMP implemt = [[self class] instanceMethodForSelector:#selector(someCallbackMethod)];
[self callTheCallback:implemt withObject:self selector:#selector(someCallbackMethod)];
Three: the ugly. Use a delegate:
- (void)delegateMethodOfSomeObject:(SomeObject *)obj
{
NSLog(#"I was called! :D");
}
SomeObject *obj = [[SomeObject alloc] init];
obj.delegate = self;
[obj makeThisObjectSomehowCallItsDelegateThatIsCurrentlySelf];
Two quick thoughts come to mind.
The short answer is called "blocks", but it's lower level than is probably recommended for what you need.
The "cleaner" solution (read: higher level) is to pass two params: and object (called "target") and a selector (called "action"). This is a very common pattern in Objective-C, so I'll only demonstrate this one. If you are interested in the blocks idea, check out this doc.
Essentially, the object should be passed as an id, and the selector as a SEL, for which we have the handy #selector() construct:
-(void) doThingWithTarget:(id) targetObj action:(SEL) actionSel {
if([targetObj respondsToSelector:actionSel]) {
[targetObj performSelector:actionSel withObject:self];
}
}
// ...
[thatOtherObject doThingWithTarget:self action:#selector(myMethod:)];
// ... where
-(void) myMethod:(id) sender {
// sender is the calling object, or should be by contract.
}
Objective C uses selectors. http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/cocoa/conceptual/objectivec/Chapters/ocSelectors.html

Singleton in iOS 5?

Hi I had an implementation previous versions of iOS for a singleton as follows:
.h file
#interface CartSingleton : NSObject
{
}
+(CartSingleton *) getSingleton;
.m file
#implementation CartSingleton
static CartSingleton *sharedSingleton = nil;
+(CartSingleton *) getSingleton
{
if (sharedSingleton !=nil)
{
NSLog(#"Cart has already been created.....");
return sharedSingleton;
}
#synchronized(self)
{
if (sharedSingleton == nil)
{
sharedSingleton = [[self alloc]init];
NSLog(#"Created a new Cart");
}
}
return sharedSingleton;
}
//==============================================================================
+(id)alloc
{
#synchronized([CartSingleton class])
{
NSLog(#"inside alloc");
NSAssert(sharedSingleton == nil, #"Attempted to allocate a second instance of a singleton.");
sharedSingleton = [super alloc];
return sharedSingleton;
}
return nil;
}
//==============================================================================
-(id)init
{
self = [super init];
}
However on the web I see people have implemented the Singleton design pattern using this code:
+ (id)sharedInstance
{
static dispatch_once_t pred = 0;
__strong static id _sharedObject = nil;
dispatch_once(&pred, ^{
_sharedObject = [[self alloc] init]; // or some other init method
});
return _sharedObject;
}
Could someone who is experience please guide me.
Im a newbie and thoroughly confused between the old iOS implementation of the Singleton and the new one and which is the correct one?
Thanks a lot
Strictly speaking, you must use:
+ (MySingleton*) instance {
static dispatch_once_t _singletonPredicate;
static MySingleton *_singleton = nil;
dispatch_once(&_singletonPredicate, ^{
_singleton = [[super allocWithZone:nil] init];
});
return _singleton;
}
+ (id) allocWithZone:(NSZone *)zone {
return [self instance];
}
Now you guarantee that one cannot call alloc/init and create another instance.
Explanation: The instance method is at the class level and is your main access method to get a reference to the singleton. The method simply uses the dispatch_once() built-in queue that will only execute a block once. How does the runtime guarantee that the block is only executed once? Using the predicate you supply (of type dispatch_once_t). This low-level call will guarantee that even if there are multiple threads trying to call it, only one succeeds, the others wait until the first one is done and then returns.
The reason we override allocWithZone is because alloc calls allocWithZone passing nil as the zone (for the default zone). To prevent rogue code from allocating and init-ializing another instance we override allocWithZone so that the instance passed back is the already initialized singleton. This prevents one from creating a second instance.
The dispatch_once snippet is functionally identical to other one. You can read about it at http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/Darwin/Reference/Manpages/man3/dispatch_once.3.html.
This is what I use for singletons:
+ (MySingleton*) getOne {
static MySingleton* _one = nil;
#synchronized( self ) {
if( _one == nil ) {
_one = [[ MySingleton alloc ] init ];
}
}
return _one;
}
NOTE: In most cases, you do not even need to use #synchronized (but it is safe this way).
A singleton is a special kind of class where only one instance of the class exists for the current process. (In the case of an iPhone app, the one instance is shared across the entire app.) Some examples in UIKit are [UIApplication sharedApplication] (which returns the sole instance of the application itself), and [NSFileManager defaultManager] (which returns the file manager instance). Singletons can be an easy way to share data and common methods across your entire app.
Rather than create instances of the singleton class using alloc/init, you'll call a class method that will return the singleton object. You can name the class method anything, but common practice is to call it sharedName or defaultName.
Please check a link with best answer
:http://www.idev101.com/code/Objective-C/singletons.html

Which is better- [obj propName] or [obj valueForKey:#"propName"] when using an id pointer?

I have some code that assigns an object to a generic id variable and then does various things depending on the class to which said object belongs (assume that each class has the appropriate property defined and implemented correctly):
id obj = #<this could be one of several things>#
id result;
if ([obj class] == [MyClass1 class])
{
result = [obj myProp1];
}
else if ([obj class] == [MyClass2 class])
{
result = [obj valueForKey:#"myProp2"];
}
else if ([obj class] == [MyClass3 class])
{
result = obj.myProp3; // this doesn't compile!
}
else
{
result = nil;
}
Regarding the MyClass1 and MyClass2 snippets, is using KVC considered more proper or better than just sending the message to the object directly in non-dynamic cases (name of property is constant)? Does using the KVC technique involve more overhead, thus should it only be used when the name of the property that gets invoked is dynamic? I would like to get a feel for when it is a good idea to use KVC.
Regarding the snippet with MyClass3- why does using the dot syntax cause a compilation error? Isn't this essentially just sending the getter accessor a message, similar to the the MyClass1 example?
No, KVC is not considered more proper. The ideal way to do this is to cast your object to the class type once you know what it is. You're also testing the class wrong. You should be using -isKindOfClass: instead. Your class test right now is roughly equivalent to using -isMemberOfClass:.
id obj = getObj();
id result = nil;
if ([obj isKindOfClass:[MyClass1 class]]) {
result = [(MyClass1 *)obj myProp1];
} else if ([obj isKindOfClass:[MyClass2 class]]) {
result = [(MyClass2 *)obj myProp2];
} else if ([obj isKindOfClass:[MyClass3 class]]) {
result = ((MyClass3 *)obj).myProp3;
}