NSMutableArray replace content? - objective-c

I have a custom object and NSMutableArray as instance member.
I fill the array with some data after creation.
I need a method to replace the content of the array.
I tried:
-(void)replaceArr:(MyClass*) obj
{
[mList removeAllObjects];
NSMutableArray * tempArr=[obj mList];
mList=[NSMutableArray initWithArray:tempArr];
}
But it is failed on
mList=[NSMutableArray initWithArray:tempArr];

Instead of +alloc-initing another NSMutableArray, you could also just replace the contents of this one by first removing all the objects it contains, and then adding the new ones to it:
- (void)replaceArr:(MyClass *)obj {
[mList removeAllObjects];
[mList addObjectsFromArray:[obj mList]];
}

I think you mean [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithArray:tempArr];

Related

understanding mutable copy

Due to an example from Apress,for a search criteria,it has a soultion:it will firstly get a mutable copy and search the string and then will remove objects that are not in range of that string.
in the Mutable DeepCopy it has function as follow:
#implementation NSDictionary(MutableDeepCopy)
-(NSMutableDictionary *)mutableDeepCopy{
NSMutableDictionary *returnDict=[[NSMutableDictionary alloc]initWithCapacity:[self count]];
NSArray *keys=[self allKeys];
for(id key in keys)
{
id oneValue=[self valueForKey:key];
id oneCopy=nil;
if([oneValue respondsToSelector:#selector(mutableDeepCopy)])
oneCopy=[oneValue mutableDeepCopy];
else if([oneValue respondsToSelector:#selector(mutableCopy)])
oneCopy=[oneValue mutableCopy];
if(oneCopy==nil)
oneCopy=[oneValue copy];
[returnDict setValue:oneCopy forKey:key];
}
return returnDict;
}
#end
when I don't understand any code I will debug it,so I debugged it and in the beginnings when it wants to show the whole array,in the if statement it will go to oneCopy=[oneValue mutableCopy]; I want to know that why it will choose this selector and not the MutableDeep selector? I can't understand this function totally.what is the main purpose of this function?
for searching it has this function
-(void)handleSearchForTerm:(NSString *)searchTerm
{
NSMutableArray * sectionsToRemove=[[NSMutableArray alloc]init];
[self resetSearch];
for(NSString * key in self.keys)
{
NSMutableArray * array=[names valueForKey:key];
NSMutableArray *toRemove=[[NSMutableArray alloc]init];
for(NSString * name in array)
{
if([name rangeOfString:searchTerm options:NSCaseInsensitiveSearch].location==NSNotFound)
[toRemove addObject:name];
}
if([array count]==[toRemove count])
[sectionsToRemove addObject:key];
[array removeObjectsInArray:toRemove];
}
[self.keys removeObjectsInArray:sectionsToRemove];
[table reloadData];
}
and for reset the search and recovering whole it has this function below.
my problem is that in self.keys we removed objects with help of handleSearchForTerm but when we go to resetsearch it will return again those whole keys without any removal maybe my main problem is that I can't understand Mutablecopy and DeepMutableCopy.
-(void)resetSearch{
NSMutableDictionary *allNamesCopy=[self.allNames mutableDeepCopy];
self.names=allNamesCopy;
NSMutableArray *keyArray=[[NSMutableArray alloc]init];
[keyArray addObjectsFromArray:[[self.allNames allKeys]sortedArrayUsingSelector:#selector(compare:)]];
self.keys=keyArray;
}
They both have some compare & contrast features...
First comparing: Both are mutable, you can alter the object itself.
Second contrasting/differences:
MutableCopy: Similar to Call-by-Reference.
MutableDeepCopy: Similar to Call-by-Value.
A copy of a container (e.g. NSArray) copies only the pointers to objects and sends them retain.
A mutableCopy does the same thing, but the resulting container can be modified, i.e. Pointers can be added or removed.
A deep copy would also make copies of the individual elements.
Take for example an NSArray of NSMutableString instances. You cannot modify the array itself, but you can alter each mutable string. Now if you copy the array and modify one of the strings then the copied array also has the changes because it's pointers point to the same instances as the first array.
If you deep copy the array and alter a mutable string, then the new array elements are not modified. In fact copy always makes an immutable copy.

Updating values on NSArray

I'v run into such problem. I need to update the values in my NSArray. And don't know a way to do it. Here's my array
NSArray *arrayWithInfo = [[NSArray alloc] initWithObjects:AMLocalizedString(#"Status", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Call", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Location", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Control", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Sim", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Object", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Info", nil),nil];
self.dataArray = arrayWithInfo;
[arrayWithInfo release];
To be more specific I have tableview initialized with this array. There is a possibility for user to use different localized strings, so I have to update it. By using [tableview reloadData]; i'v got the table to update, but the values in NSArray stay the same as they were initialized in first place.
So how to make array look up at the strings once again and get their new values?
Use NSMutableArray instead of NSArray
NSMutableArray (and all other classes with Mutable in the name) can be modified.
You should be using an NSMutableArray. Doing so will allow you to change its values after instantiation.
Your array doesn't need to be mutable here as the array seems to be all or nothing. You dont mention the requirement to delete some objects and not others. NSMutableArray isn't needed. You want to write a lazy loading getter method for the array which reinstantiates it if the array doesnt exist.
-(NSArray *)dataArray{
if (_dataArray){
return _dataArray;
}
_dataArray = NSArray *arrayWithInfo = [[NSArray alloc] initWithObjects:AMLocalizedString(#"Status", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Call", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Location", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Control", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Sim", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Object", nil),AMLocalizedString(#"Info", nil),nil];
return _dataArray;
}
Then when you want to reload the tableView
self.dataArray = nil;
[tableView reloadData];
this destroys the old array, forcing it to be remade but with the new localisation.
EDIT:
The issue is the array isn't storing the statement AMLocalizedString(#"Status", nil) its storing the result of that statement, which is the localised string itself. There is no way to make the array re-evaluate that statement without either re-creating the whole array again or using an NSMutableArray and changing all the objects. The lazy loading getter method is more in the objective-c style.
You need to use the NSMutableArray. The NSArray is immutable.

Where do I create global variables for an iOS app?

Here is my code:
I want to be able to create a global NSMutableArray that can store Budget* objects that can then be written to a .pList file... I'm only learning what pLists are, and I am a bit hazy about how to implement them...
Where am I going wrong here?
- (IBAction)btnCreateBudget:(id)sender
{
Budget *budget = [[Budget alloc] init];
budget.name = self.txtFldBudgetName.text;
budget.amount = [self.txtFldBudgetAmount.text intValue];
// Write the data to the pList
NSMutableArray *anArray = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init]; // I want this to be a global variable for the entire app. Where do I put this?
[anArray addObject:budget];
[anArray writeToFile:[self dataFilePath] atomically:YES];
/* As you can see, below is where I test the code. Unfortunately,
every time I run this, I get only 1 element in the array. I'm assuming
that this is because everytime the button is pressed, I create a brand new
NSMutableArray *anArray. I want that to be global for the entire app. */
int i = 0;
for (Budget * b in anArray)
{
i++;
}
NSLog(#"There are %d items in anArray",i);
}
-(NSString *) dataFilePath
{
NSArray *path = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentDirectory = [path objectAtIndex:0];
return [documentDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"BudgetData.plist"];
}
edit: I'd like to add that I am creating the anArray array so that it can be accessible by other views. I understand that this can be done with NSNotification? or Should I do this the appDelegate classes? The end goal is to have the anArray object populate a UITableView that is in a separate View.
Just put the declaration outside the method instead of inside it.
NSMutableArray *anArray = nil;
- (IBAction)btnCreateBudget:(id)sender
{
...
if ( anArray == nil )
anArray = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
...
}
If it's only used inside the one file, make it "static" instead to prevent name collisions with other files:
static NSMutableArray *anArray = nil;
If it's only used inside the one method, make it "static" and put it inside that method:
- (IBAction)btnCreateBudget:(id)sender
{
static NSMutableArray *anArray = nil;
...
if ( anArray == nil )
anArray = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
...
}
Note that people usually use some kind of naming convention for global variables, like "gArray", to easily differentiate them from local variables, instance variables, or method parameters.
Global variable is not necessary in this case. You can do something like this:
Read old data to mutable array (initWithContentsOfFile:).
Add new record to the array.
Save the array to same file.
But the second problem in your code is that if your Budget class is not a property list type (NSString, NSData, NSArray, or NSDictionary objects) writeToFile: will not save it sucessfully.
You need to make sure that your Budget class invokes NSCoder and then the NSCoder initWithCoder: and NSCoder decodeWithCoder: methods. Otherwise, writeToFile: will not work for you NSObject class.
But I digress. The answer to the original question should be the following.
In your .h file you need to do the following.
#interface WhateverClassName : UIViewController
{
NSMutableArray *anArray;
}
#property(nonatomic, retain) NSMutableArray *anArray;
#end
Then, you need to make sure you #synthesize the NSMutableArray so that you don't get any freaky warnings. This is done just after the #implementation line in your .m file.
Then, within the function that you want it to be allocated into memory, simply do the following.
anArray = [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithObjects:nil];
This is now a global variable. It is global in the sense that it can be used from any function and is not limited to use in one function.
If you would like to have data accessible to the entire application or context ("global"), you can use a singleton. However, do this with care and make sure it is actually necessary and appropriate. I would suggest doing plenty of reading up on it prior to any implementation of a singleton. Carter Allen has a good basic implementation here.
According to "The end goal is to have the anArray object populate a UITableView that is in a separate View" you wouldn't need to write anything to a file, database or singleton. Just set the object. Like stated by Sebastien Peek.
If you wish for offline data storage, look into sqlite, json, plist , etc

IOS: fill a NSMutableArray with some NSMutableArray

In my project I must fill an NSMutableArray with some NSMutable array, my code is:
This is a method
-(void) fill {
[smallArray removeAllObjects]; //when I call this method I delete every object inside smallArray
for {
//in this for I fill with some object a NSMutableArray that I called "smallArray"
[smallArray addObject:object];
}
//outside this for I have my NSMutable bigArray that I must fill with smallArray
[bigArray = ?????];
How can I fill this bigArray?
Unlesss I'm missing something, simply use the addObject: method (as you're already doing for the small array), supplying the smallArray to add.
i.e.: [bigArray addObject:smallArray];
If however you just want to add the objects from smallArray into the bigArray, then you could use the addObjectsFromArray: method...
[bigArray addObjectsFromArray:smallArray];
...which will append the objects after any existing ones within bigArray. For more information, check out the relevant section of the NSMutableArray Class Reference documentation.
If i understang correctly you must have an array that contains other arrays?
[bigArray addObject:smallArray];
Then you can access the array like this
NSMutableArray * arrayfromArray =[bigArray objectAtIndex: someIndex];

NSMutableDictionary error

I want to use NSMutableDictionary to cache some data i will use later. My custom object is following:
#interface MyData : NSObject {
NSRange range;
NSMutableArray *values;
}
#property (nonatomic, retain) NSMutableArray *values;
and implement:
- (id)init {
if (self = [super init]) {
values = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
}
return self;
}
and when i wanna cache it, i use it like this:
NSMutableDictionary *cache = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc] init];
NSString *key = #"KEY";
MyData *data = [[MyData alloc] init];
// save some data into data
[data.values addObject:"DATA1"];
[data.values addObject:"DATA2"];
//... ...
[cache setObject:data forKey:key];
My questions is the count of cache.values is zero when i retrieve this object later as follow:
[cache objectForKey:#"KEY"];
i can retrieve "data" and the object's memory address is the same as the address when i put it into cache.
what's wrong? i need some kind guys help, any info is helpful. thanks
As Carl Norum pointed out, you're passing C strings to addObject:. addObject:, as its name suggests, requires a pointer to a Cocoa object; a C string is a pointer to characters. You need to pass NSString objects there; for literal strings, this simply requires prefixing them with #: "Fred" is a constant C string, whereas #"Fred" is a constant NSString object.
Is cache an instance variable? It looks like it's not; it appears to be a local variable, which means you're creating a new dictionary object every time. That's why there's nothing you've added previously (to previous dictionaries) in the new one. It also means you're leaking those previous dictionaries, since you're not releasing them (not in the code you showed, anyway).
Make cache an instance variable and only create the dictionary when you don't already have one (i.e., when cache == nil). Creating the dictionary in your init method is one good way. And make sure you manage its lifetime appropriately, so you don't leak and/or crash.
First of all your objects your adding don't look right it should have an # before the string. Like #"DATA1"
Second when you add an object to a dictionary or an array it does not make an actual copy of it. It just creates a pointer to it so if those objects are destroyed or moved somewhere also they are also gone out of your dictionary. A better way to make a cache of your values would be to copy the objects like so:
MyData* cache = [[MyData alloc] init];
for (int i = 0; i < [data.values count]; i ++){{
[cache.values addObject:[NSString stringWithString:[data.values objectAtIndex:i]]];
}
Don't use a dictionary in this situation.