Getting values when NSDictionary contains a list - objective-c

Question

I am being passed a dictionary:
aDictionary
When I log it out the dictionary has the following format:
{
value1 = "subValue1 {label=value1, info1=, info2=}";
value2 = "subValue2 {label=value2, info1=, info2=}";
value3 = "subValue3 {label=value2, info1=, info2=}";
}
I need to iterate over the dictionary and then determine if there is a value for value3 -> subValue3 -> info2.
I can do the initial iteration and I can make a subdictionary of the line:
"subValue3 {label=value2, info1=, info2=}"
But when I try to use it, say to get a count of the keys, I get -[subValue3 allKeys]: unrecognized selector sent to instance.
NSArray *keys;
int i, count;
id key, value;
keys = [aDictionary allKeys];
count = [keys count];
for (i = 0; i < count; i++)
{
key = [keys objectAtIndex:i];
value = [aDictionary objectForKey:key];
NSLog (#"Key: %# for value: %#", key, value);
NSDictionary *subDictionary = [aDictionary objectForKey:key];
if ([key isEqualToString:#"info2"]) {
DLog(#"subDictioanry = %#", subDictionary);
// Everything is fine up to here
NSArray *keys2;
int i2, count2;
id key2, value2;
keys2 = [subDictionary allKeys];
count = [keys2 count];
//
// Right here I get "-[subValue3 allKeys]: unrecognized selector sent to instance"
//
for (i2 = 0; i2 < count2; i2++) {
key2 = [keys2 objectAtIndex:i2];
value = [subDictionary objectForKey:key];
DLog (#"Key: %# for value: %#", key2, value2);
NSDictionary *subDictionary2 = [subDictionary objectForKey:key2];
DLog(#"subDictionary2 = %#", subDictionary2);
}
}
Questions:
I am not sure what the format of that second group of values is ("subValue3 {label=value2, info1=, info2=}"). Is it a set, an array, a dictionary?
How do I get that group into a dictionary (without failing on the key(?) "subValue3") so that I can check if the key info2 has any value?
Disclaimers:
I know there are more efficient ways to iterate over a dictionary, I'm just trying to be as clear as possible.
I'm sure there is just something basic I'm missing but I am not seeing the answer in the Apple docs on iteration or NSDictionary nor am I finding anything about the format in that second group.
Thanks!

Answer 1

right now "subValue1 {label=value1, info1=, info2=}"; is a NSString. So allKeys of a NSString will crash.
Infact does this "subValue1 {label=value1, info1=, info2=}"; look like a valid json. I dont think this is a valid JSON. Even jsonlint.com thinks so.
This is a valid json
{
"subValue1": {
"label": "value1",
"info1": "",
"info2": ""
}
}
After you construct json like so, then use NSJSONSerialization to convert -
NSError *e = nil;
NSDictionary *jsonDict = [NSJSONSerialization JSONObjectWithData:data options: NSJSONReadingMutableContainers error: &e];
if (!jsonDict)
{
NSLog(#"Error parsing JSON: %#", e);
} else
{
for(NSDictionary *item in jsonDict)
NSLog(#"Item: %#", item);
}