Use the variable of a for loop in a property name - objective-c

Question

I want to use the variable of a for loop in a property name, example:
#interface
{
Player *rival1, *rival2, *rival3;
}
int number;
for (number=1; number<=3; number++){
rival+number = [[Player alloc] init]; //The compiler accepts this.
rival+number.name = #"";
//^This line gives the error: "use of undeclared identifier 'rival'"
//For the first loop, I want it work like: rival1.name = #"";
}

Answer 1

This isn't a particularly clean way of approaching this, but to answer the question as you've posed it:
- (void)generateRivals
{
for (int i = 1; i < 4; i++)
{
NSString *propertySetString = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"setRival%d", i];
Rival *rival = [[Rival alloc] init];
[self performSelector:#selector(NSSelectorFromString(propertySetString)) withObject:rival];
}
}
We create a selector (I haven't tested this, but it should work in theory) that corresponds to the getter for the property instance represented by i.
Based on comments you've added, it seems like what you really want is a variable number of players (perhaps not exceeding a certain number) with the ability to reference them individually.
Architecturally, rather than create properties pointing to each respective rival, put them all in an array (and keep it as a property on your class). So you'd create them like this:
- (void)generateRivals:(NSUInteger)numberOfRivals
{
NSMutableArray *rivalsArray = [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithCapacity:numberOfRivals];
for (int i = 0; i < numberOfRivals; i++)
{
Rival *rival = [[Rival alloc] init];
[rivalsArray insertObject:rival atIndex:i];
}
[self setRivalsArray:rivals];
}
Then, when you need to access a particular rival, call a method like this, which will return the rival at the index number you pass:
- (Rival *)rivalWithNumber:(NSUInteger)number
{
return [[self rivalsArray] objectAtIndex:number];
}

Answer 2

you cant create the properties variable names on the fly and use it, as the names get lost during compilation
you can put them in an array and enumerate over it
Player rival1 = [[Player alloc] init];
Player rival2 = [[Player alloc] init];
Player rival3 = [[Player alloc] init];
for (Player *p in #[rival1, rival2, rival3]) {
p.name = #"";
}
probably the best way would be to maintain the rivales in the array from the beginning
#interface …
#property(strong) NSArray *rivals;
#end
#implementation …
//in some useful method, like initializer
_rivals = [NSMutableArray array]
for (int i = 0; i < 3 ++i){
//create player and add to array
}
#end
You might want to look into Key Value Coding.
You need to create properties for your rivals
#interface …
#property(strong) Player *rival1;
#property(strong) Player *rival2;
#property(strong) Player *rival3;
#end
#implementation …
-(id)init…
{
if(self = [super init…]){
for (int i = 1; i < 4; ++i) {
Player *rival = [[Player alloc] init];
rival.name = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"rival%d", i];
[self setValue: rival forKey:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"rival%d", i]];
}
}
return self;
}
#end

Answer 3

Instead of running a for loop to set the names of the players to #"" just add the line
name = #"" in your init method of your Player class. It's faster and more practical than to write a for loop. You can also create a method like
-(id)initWithName:(NSString *)initName{
self = [super init];
if (self){
name = initNane;
}
return self;
}
to set the name of your player at the moment it's created. Although if you want absolutely a for loop, you can use the method posted by vikingosegundo previously.