Cannot determine between plist and sqlite3 - iphone

Question

I have been debating between a .plist and a sqlite3 database to hold some data that I need to access, but not manipulate within the .plist/database. Here is my question. Lets say I want to store the height and color of trees, flowers, bushes and I want each piece of information to be accessible. Below is similar to what I would like:Trees Palm 6 feet Green Willow 8 feet Brown Bushes Evergreen 5 feet Green Cinquefoil 2 feet Yellow Flowers Rose 1 foot Red Tulips 2 feet Yellow
So if I want to individually access the 2 feet height under Tulips and display it in a text box in my app..what is the best form of data store/resource to use. .plist or sqlite? How would I lay this out as a .plist?
As always, I appreciate your time and efforts!!
Thanks!

Answer 1

Since you dont have much data just use a .plist it would be easier to manage
make each parent Trees,Flowers,Bushes and array make each child item a dictinary , so when you check if a child is satisfies your requirement like 2 feet height under Tulips use it.
create some plist like this:
Code Sample:
Note:I didnt test this you need to improve this
you can use some kind of logic here like this to check the color,kind or height.
I am giving an example from my project for you to see how you would filter the plist, so change the name of the function as you wish.
I won't change function names cause "nobody aint got time for that" :)
create a nsobject class called ParseSchedulePlist
in ParseSchedulePlist .h
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#interface ParseSchedulePlist : NSObject
#property (nonatomic,strong) NSMutableDictionary * agendaDic;
- (void)passStringToAgendaDic:(NSString *)string;
//trees
-(NSArray*)getTrees;
-(NSDictionary*)getItems:(NSInteger ) section ;
-(NSString*)getItemKind :(NSInteger ) section;
-(NSString*)getItemColor :(NSInteger ) section;
-(NSNumber*)getItemheight :(NSInteger ) section;
//flowers
//do the same of above for flowers an bushes took
#end
in ParseSchedulePlist .m
#import "ParseSchedulePlist.h"
#implementation ParseSchedulePlist
#synthesize agendaDic = _agendaDic;
- (void)passStringToAgendaDic:(NSString *)string {
//get plist from bundle
NSString * path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:string ofType:#".plist"];
BOOL fileExists = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:path];
NSLog(fileExists ? #"Yes" : #"No");
NSLog(#"Path is %#",path);
NSLog(#"agendaDic is %u",[self.agendaDic count]);
self.agendaDic = [NSMutableDictionary dictionaryWithContentsOfFile:path];
}
-(NSArray*)getTrees
{
NSArray * value = [[self agendaDic] objectForKey:#"trees"];
return value;
}
-(NSDictionary*)getItems:(NSInteger ) section
{
NSDictionary * value =[[self getTrees] objectAtIndex:section];
return value;
}
-(NSString*)getItemKind :(NSInteger ) section;
{
NSString * value =[[[self getItems] objectAtIndex:section] objectForKey:#"kind"];
return value;
}
-(NSString*)getItemColor :(NSInteger ) section
{
NSString * value =[[[self getItems] objectAtIndex:section] objectForKey:#"color"];
return value;
}
-(NSNumber *)getItemheight :(NSInteger ) section;
{
NSNumber * value =[[[self getItems] objectAtIndex:section] objectForKey:#"height"];
return value;
}
//write the same functions for flowers and bushes
#end
in your regular view controller .h:
#import "ParseSchedulePlist .h"
#property (nonatomic, strong) ParseSchedulePlist *agenda;
in your regular view controller .m:
#import "ParseSchedulePlist .h"
#synthesize agenda;
//here calls for the special class
self.agenda=[[ParseSchedulePlist alloc] init];
[self.agenda passStringToAgendaDic:#"name of the plist"];
NSMutableArray *newArray=[ NSMutableArray alloc] init];
//here for example get all the palm trees under 6 feet
for(int i=0; i<[self.agenda getTrees] count] i++)
{
if([self.agenda getItemKind :i] isquealtostring #"palm"){
if([self.agenda getItemheight :i] <= 6)
[newArray add object:[self.agenda getItems:i];
}
}
Nslog(#"print your array %#",newArray);

Answer 2

You can achieve the same with core data. Core data as such would be a little difficult to use. I have always used it with Magical Record, a wonderful library.
It's very easy to map objects with relation. In your case there is one to many and one to one relation between parent and child.
With MagicalRecord if you wanted to find an item with height equal to 2. You can do this in two simple steps
NSPredicate *predicate = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:#"height =%#",#2];
NSArray *items = [Item findAllWithPredicate:predicate];
Good thing is that since there is a one to one relationship from an item to group, each item will have info about group. So everything nicely fits and it's easier to search what ever way you like.
You can find the source code for the details.