updateChildValues() does not work, but setValue() does - swift

Question

I'm trying to implement fan out and here is the problem: When I'm trying to updateChildValues in my usersOrdersRef reference, it just does nothing. I expect it to create the user_orders node, and child node with my userid and put a value there.
If I use setValues instead, it works fine, but I need to add values without deleting all previous data. What am I doing wrong?
Code:
for item in orderArray {
let childRef = ref.child(item.date!)
//this works fine
childRef.updateChildValues(item.convertToDictionary() as! [AnyHashable : Any]) { [unowned self] (error, reference) in
if error != nil {
print(String(describing: error?.localizedDescription))
}
let usersOrdersRef = Database.database().reference().child("users-orders").child(self.appUser.uid)
var primary = false
if (item.precursor == "") { primary = true }
//this does not work, but if i use "setValue" instead it will store data
usersOrdersRef.updateChildValues([item.date : primary])
}
}

Answer 1

Your problem:
//this does not work, but if i use "setValue" instead it will store data
usersOrdersRef.updateChildValues([item.date : primary])
I found myself in the same situation.
The problem was the data type of the key. When I casted the key to a String it started to function.
Hope this helps someone in the same situation.

Answer 2

I have the same problem
If I use
let newHashTagRef = Api.HashTag.REF_HASHTAG.child(word.lowercased())
newHashTagRef.updateChildValues([newPostId: true])
=> not working
when I replace
let newHashTagRef = Api.HashTag.REF_HASHTAG.child(word.lowercased())
newHashTagRef.setValues([newPostId: true])
=> it works but it will delete all previous data
Solution
let newHashTagRef =
Api.HashTag.REF_HASHTAG.child(word.lowercased()).child(newPostId)
newHashTagRef.setValue(true)

Answer 3

I resolve it by myself , now it works like this
let usersOrdersRef = Database.database().reference().child("users-orders").child(self.appUser.uid).child(item.date!)
var primary = false
if (item.precursor == "") { primary = true }
usersOrdersRef.setValue(primary)
In that case setValue does not delete all previous data, just adds new

Answer 4

You just need to cast your optional data key into the updateChildValues function.
Updated Code:
for item in orderArray {
let childRef = ref.child(item.date!)
//this works fine
childRef.updateChildValues(item.convertToDictionary() as! [AnyHashable : Any]) { [unowned self] (error, reference) in
if error != nil {
print(String(describing: error?.localizedDescription))
}
let usersOrdersRef = Database.database().reference().child("users-orders").child(self.appUser.uid)
var primary = false
if (item.precursor == "") { primary = true }
// this will work now, as we have explicity cast the key
usersOrdersRef.updateChildValues([item.date! : primary])
}
}