adding Key values from NSDictionary to NSarray - iphone

Question

I want to add all the keys from the dictionary to the array. This is what I am doing right now.As code below:
for (NSString * akey in _groups ) {
NSLog(#"%#",akey);
[_groupArray addObject:akey];
NSLog(#"%#",_groupArray);
}
The log is showing Null for _groupArray. I even tried using insertObjectAtIndex even that does not work.Not sure what I am doing wrong and yes I am getting the keys in the dictionary (_groups) nothing wrong with that.

Answer 1

You should initialize the array before starting to add values to it. Otherwise it is initially nil and will remain nil.
You can use allKeys to get all the keys of the array. But since _groupArray is an NSMutableArray, you have to do that like this:
_groupArray = [NSMutableArray arrayWithArray:[_groups allKeys]];
Or:
_groupArray = [[_groups allKeys] mutableCopy];

Answer 2

If _groupsArray is new or empty anyway then you can use
_gropusArray = [NSMutableArray arrayWithArray:[dict allKeys]];
That should release you from the compiler warning.
If _groupsArray was not empty before and you need to addValues then go for:
[_groupsArray addObjectsFromArray:[dict allKeys]];

Answer 3

this is how you should do it....
_groupsArray=[dict allKeys];
don't forget to allocate memory to your _groupsArray.. :)

Answer 4

Have you checked you've alloc'd and init'd your mutable array. Unless there's already stuff in it that you're adding to - and even then - consider using the NSDictiomary allKeys method rather than iterating through the dictionary.
From the docs
allKeys
Returns a new array containing the dictionary’s keys.
- (NSArray *) allKeys
Return Value
A new array containing the dictionary’s keys, or an empty array if the dictionary has no entries.
Discussion
The order of the elements in the array is not defined.