AFNetworking, upload simple NSData with POST - iphone

Question

I created an NSDictionary containing arrays and strings and other client info, using setObject forKey. Everything looks great when I NSLog the data, format is exactly the way its supposed be. I've also converted my NSDictionary to NSData:
NSData *userData = [NSJSONSerialization dataWithJSONObject:userDict options:NSJSONWritingPrettyPrinted error:&error];
What I need to know is how to upload it to the server using POST. I've found the following code snippet to upload a photo. My question is can I simply use my NSDictionary as a parameter (params in request), it's kinda big. If not, how do I send my NSData object userData? I really love AFNetworking and have been using it exclusively for all my download needs. This is my first time uploading an object.
Thanks
NSData *imageData = UIImagePNGRepresentation(pageImage);
AFHTTPClient *client= [AFHTTPClient clientWithBaseURL:[NSURL URLWithString:#"http://www.SERVER.com"]];
//You can add POST parameteres here
NSDictionary *params = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:
author, #"author",
title, #"title",
nil];
NSMutableURLRequest *request = [client multipartFormRequestWithMethod:#"POST" path:#"/PATH/TO/WEBSERVICE.php" parameters:params constructingBodyWithBlock: ^(id <AFMultipartFormData>formData) {
//This is the image
[formData appendPartWithFileData: imageData name:#"cover_image" fileName:#"temp.png" mimeType:#"image/png"];
}];
AFHTTPRequestOperation *operation = [[AFHTTPRequestOperation alloc] initWithRequest:request];
//Setup Upload block to return progress of file upload
[operation setUploadProgressBlock:^(NSInteger bytesWritten, long long totalBytesWritten, long long totalBytesExpectedToWrite) {
float progress = totalBytesWritten / (float)totalBytesExpectedToWrite;
NSLog(#"Upload Percentage: %f %%", progress*100);
}];
//Setup Completeion block to return successful or failure
[operation setCompletionBlockWithSuccess:^(AFHTTPRequestOperation *operation, id responseObject) {
NSString *response = [operation responseString];
NSLog(#"response: [%#]",response);
//Code to run after webservice returns success response code
} failure:^(AFHTTPRequestOperation *operation, NSError *error) {
NSLog(#"error: %#", [operation error]);
//Code to Run if Failed
}];
[operation start];

Answer 1

I am not sure I fully understand you question, but I will give it a try anyway.
My question is can I simply use my NSDictionary as a parameter (params in request), it's kinda big.
I think so. Just give it a try... in the end, those array will be converted in data sent to the server, so if the server is able to handle it, there should be no problem.
If not, how do I send my NSData object userData?
The data you send should be provided where the code you posted specifies imageData. Keep in mind that if what you are uploading is not meant to be a file (you mention NSData), then you might need to use appendPartWithFormData:name. This, again, depends on your server side.
Hope this clarifies things a bit.