NSUserDefaults: returning integer, not returning NSArray - iphone

I'm trying to store both an integer and NSArray with the NSUserDefaults, but I only can correctly retrieve the integer. When I try to recover the NSArray, it returns an empty array.
I start with a custom class XMLParser.m.
//XMLParser.m
//NSArray 'stored' correctly contains 10 data objects. 'stored' is an NSArray property of the XMLParser class
numberOfEvents = [stored count];
NSUserDefaults *defaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
[defaults setObject:stored forKey:#"eventsList"];
[defaults setInteger:numberOfEvents forKey:#"numberOfEvents"];
[defaults synchronize];
But when I try to access the data in another class, ie. my AppDelegate, I get an empty NSArray
//myApplicationAppDelegate.m
NSUserDefaults *defaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
int value = [defaults integerForKey:#"numberOfEvents"]; //returns 10
parsedEventsList = [defaults arrayForKey:#"eventsList"]; //parsedEventsList is an NSArray property of myApplicationAppDelegate class
int value2 = [parsedEventsList count]; //***returns 0***
I've even tried using
[defaults objectForKey:#"eventsList"]
and it's still returning nothing.
Thoughts? Thanks!

All of your objects in the stored array must be property list objects (i.e. instances of NSData, NSDate, NSNumber, NSString, NSArray, or NSDictionary).

Your problem appears to be that your objects are all custom.
I think you may have forgotten to make them serializable if you add code similar to this (for each of your objects) then it should work
- (void)encodeWithCoder:(NSCoder *)encoder {
//Encode properties, other class variables, etc
[encoder encodeObject:self.obj1 forKey:#"obj1"];
[encoder encodeObject:self.obj2 forKey:#"obj2"];
}
- (id)initWithCoder:(NSCoder *)decoder {
if((self = [super init])) {
//decode properties, other class vars
self.obj1 = [decoder decodeObjectForKey:#"obj1"];
self.obj2 = [decoder decodeObjectForKey:#"obj2"];
}
return self;
}

Related

Storing Multiple value in MutableArray with different value

I have a button which on click I store the index of the current quotes into an array.
The problem is that it is overwriting the same object. How can I change it with different object of the NSNumber to store in the NSMutableArray?
[someButton setImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"add_favoritegold.png"] forState:UIControlStateHighlighted];
NSUserDefaults *favoriteQuotes = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
NSMutableArray *ListOfIndex= [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
//Want to change with diffrent objecy
**NSNumber* Wrapped = [NSNumber numberWithInt:index];**
[ListOfIndex addObject:Wrapped];
int xOut = [[ListOfIndex lastObject] intValue];
NSLog(#"%d",xOut);
[favoriteQuotes setObject:ListOfIndex forKey:#"Indexes"];
Try this
- (void)saveFavouriteQuoteIndex:(NSUInteger)index
{
NSUserDefaults *defaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
NSMutableArray *savedQuoteIndexes = [[defaults objectForKey:#"Indexes"]mutableCopy];
if (!savedQuoteIndexes) {
savedQuoteIndexes = [NSMutableArray array];
}
NSNumber *indexNumber = #(index);
if (![savedQuoteIndexes containsObject:indexNumber]) {
[savedQuoteIndexes addObject:indexNumber];
[defaults setObject:savedQuoteIndexes forKey:#"Indexes"];
[defaults synchronize];
}
}
You are saving ListOfIndex with key as Indexes.
So, for the next whatever value, it will replace previous value having key Indexes.
EDIT:
Read the array
NSArray *readArray=favoriteQuotes[#"Indexes"];
Add your new value into this same array.

encodeWithCoder is not called in derived class of the NSMutableDictionary

Basically I am using some open source code called OrderedDictionary that is derived from NSMutableDictionary. Then I want to save the ordered dictionary data to NSUserDefaults by adding encode and decode method to the OrderedDictionary class. However, I realized the encode and decode methods are not being called, as a result, the decoded dictionary is no longer ordered. Below is my code:
#interface OrderedDictionary : NSMutableDictionary <NSCopying, NSCoding>
{
NSMutableDictionary *dictionary;
NSMutableArray *array;
}
In the implementation file:
/**
* encode the object
**/
- (void)encodeWithCoder:(NSCoder *)coder
{
[super encodeWithCoder:coder];
[coder encodeObject:dictionary forKey:#"dictionary"];
[coder encodeObject:array forKey:#"array"];
}
/**
* decode the object
*/
- (id)initWithCoder:(NSCoder *)coder
{
self = [super initWithCoder:coder];
if (self != nil)
{
dictionary = [coder decodeObjectForKey:#"dictionary"];
array = [coder decodeObjectForKey:#"array"];
}
return self;
}
Quick example code for using this:
dictionary = [[OrderedDictionary alloc] init];
[dictionary setObject:#"one" forKey:#"two"];
[dictionary setObject:#"what" forKey:#"what"];
[dictionary setObject:#"7" forKey:#"7"];
NSLog(#"Final contents of the dictionary: %#", dictionary);
if ([[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] objectForKey:#"myDictionary"] == nil)
{
[[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] setObject:[NSKeyedArchiver archivedDataWithRootObject:dictionary]
forKey:#"myDictionary"];
}
else
{
NSUserDefaults *currentDefaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
NSData *savedDictionary = [currentDefaults objectForKey:#"myDictionary"];
if (savedDictionary != nil)
{
OrderedDictionary *oldData = [NSKeyedUnarchiver unarchiveObjectWithData:savedDictionary];
if (oldData != nil)
{
NSLog(#"Final contents of the retrieved: %#", oldData);
}
}
}
The thing is, the final retrievedDictionary does NOT have the original data order and the encode and decode methods are not called at all.
Thanks for any help in advance! :)
There's an NSObject method called -classForCoder that you need to override in OrderedDictionary. From the docs:
classForCoder
Overridden by subclasses to substitute a class other than its own during coding.
-(Class)classForCoder
Return Value
The class to substitute for the receiver's own class during coding.
Discussion
This method is invoked by NSCoder. NSObject’s
implementation returns the receiver’s class. The private subclasses of
a class cluster substitute the name of their public superclass when
being archived.
That last line is the key. So, in OrderedDictionary.m:
- (Class)classForCoder
{
return [self class]; // Instead of NSMutableDictionary
}
Also, if you're not using ARC, make sure you retain the objects coming back from -decodeObjectForKey. As rob mayoff mentions below, you shouldn't call [super initWithCoder:] (or [super encodeWithCoder:'). I also changed the key strings to avoid collisions.
- (id)initWithCoder:(NSCoder *)coder
{
if (self != nil)
{
dictionary = [[coder decodeObjectForKey:#"OrderedDictionary_dictionary"] retain];
array = [[coder decodeObjectForKey:#"OrderedDictionary_array"] retain];
}
return self;
}
You are possibly creating a new OrderedDictionary with the wrong initializer, initWithDictionary:. Try this instead:
OrderedDictionary *oldData = [NSKeyedUnarchiver unarchiveObjectWithData: savedDictionary];
if (oldData != nil)
{
NSLog(#"Final contents of the retrieved: %#", oldData);
}
Make sure initWithDictionary: expects OrderedDictionary as an argument. My guess is that it expects an NSDictionary.
Edit: the code to save the defaults should include something like this:
OrderedDictionary *myDict = ...;
NSData* data = [NSKeyedArchiver archivedDataWithRootObject: myDict];
[[NSUserDefaults standardDefaults] setObject: data forKey: #"myDictionary"];

Why is NSUserDefaults unwilling to save my NSDictionary?

I'm using KVC to serialize an NSObject and attempt to save it to NSUserDefaults, which is giving me an Attempt to insert non-property value when I try to store my NSDictionary.
Following are the properties of the object in question, MyClass:
#interface MyClass : NSObject
#property (copy,nonatomic) NSNumber* value1;
#property (copy,nonatomic) NSNumber* value2;
#property (copy,nonatomic) NSString* value3;
#property (copy,nonatomic) NSString* value4;
#property (copy,nonatomic) NSString* value5;
#property (copy,nonatomic) NSString* value6;
#property (copy,nonatomic) NSString* value7;
#property (copy,nonatomic) NSString* value8;
#end
When it is time to save MyClass it occurs here:
-(void)saveMyClass
{
NSArray* keys = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:
#"value1",
#"value2",
#"value3",
#"value4",
#"value5",
#"value6",
#"value7",
#"value8",
nil];
NSDictionary* dict = [self dictionaryWithValuesForKeys:keys];
for( id key in [dict allKeys] )
{
NSLog(#"%# %#",[key class],[[dict objectForKey:key] class]);
}
NSUserDefaults* defaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
[defaults setObject:dict forKey:[NSString stringWithString:kMyClassKey]];
[defaults synchronize];
}
which produces this output:
2012-02-23 19:35:27.518 MyApp[10230:40b] __NSCFConstantString __NSCFNumber
2012-02-23 19:35:27.519 MyApp[10230:40b] __NSCFConstantString __NSCFNumber
2012-02-23 19:35:27.519 MyApp[10230:40b] __NSCFConstantString __NSCFString
2012-02-23 19:35:27.519 MyApp[10230:40b] __NSCFConstantString __NSCFString
2012-02-23 19:35:27.520 MyApp[10230:40b] __NSCFConstantString __NSCFString
2012-02-23 19:35:27.520 MyApp[10230:40b] __NSCFConstantString __NSCFString
2012-02-23 19:35:27.520 MyApp[10230:40b] __NSCFConstantString __NSCFString
2012-02-23 19:35:27.520 MyApp[10230:40b] __NSCFConstantString NSNull
2012-02-23 18:38:48.489 MyApp[9709:40b] *** -[NSUserDefaults setObject:forKey:]: Attempt to insert non-property value '{
value1 = "http://www.google.com";
value2 = "MyClassData";
value3 = 8;
value4 = "<null>";
value5 = "http://www.google.com";
value6 = 1;
value7 = "http://www.google.com";
value8 = 4SY8KcTSGeKuKs7s;
}' of class '__NSCFDictionary'. Note that dictionaries and arrays in property lists must also contain only property values.`
As you can see, all of the objects in the dict are property list values and all of its keys are NSString*. What trivia am I lacking in order to execute this? Or should I give up and use writeToFile or similar?
Props to Kevin who suggested printing the values, of course one of which is of type NSNull which is not a property list value. Thanks!
The kludgy solution to my problem - iterate over the keys of the dictionary I just produced so conveniently with dictionaryWithValuesForKeys and remove those of type NSNull. sigh
NSMutableDictionary* dict = [NSMutableDictionary dictionaryWithDictionary:[self dictionaryWithValuesForKeys:keys]];
for( id key in [dict allKeys] )
{
if( [[dict valueForKey:key] isKindOfClass:[NSNull class]] )
{
// doesn't work - values that are entered will never be removed from NSUserDefaults
//[dict removeObjectForKey:key];
[dict setObject#"" forKey:key];
}
}
I usually archive and unarchive dictionaries when saving them to the user defaults.
This way you don't have to manually check for NSNull values.
Just add the following two methods to your code. Potentially in a category.
- (BOOL)archive:(NSDictionary *)dict withKey:(NSString *)key {
NSUserDefaults *defaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
NSData *data = nil;
if (dict) {
data = [NSKeyedArchiver archivedDataWithRootObject:dict];
}
[defaults setObject:data forKey:key];
return [defaults synchronize];
}
- (NSDictionary *)unarchiveForKey:(NSString *)key {
NSUserDefaults *defaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
NSData *data = [defaults objectForKey:key];
NSDictionary *userDict = nil;
if (data) {
userDict = [NSKeyedUnarchiver unarchiveObjectWithData:data];
}
return userDict;
}
Then you can archive any dictionary like this (assuming the method are available in the class):
NSDictionary *dict = ...;
[self archive:dict withKey:#"a key of your choice"];
and retrieve it later on again like this:
NSDictionary *dict = [self unarchiveForKey:#"a key of your choice"];
If you need to store;
data from a custom object,
or an array of custom objects
you can use NSKeyedArchiver methods. You can check leviathan's answer for this method.
However, if you are trying to store;
a dictionary that contains either NSString or NSNumber (like a dictionary converted from a JSON service response),
or array of this kind of dictionary
you don't need to use NSKeyedArchiver. You can use user defaults.
In my case, when I retrieve the dictionary from user defaults it was returning nil, so I thought NSUserDefaults is unwilling to save my dictionary.
However, it was saved, but I was using the wrong getter method to retrieve it from user defaults;
[[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] stringForKey:<my_key>]
Please make sure you used either;
[[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] dictionaryForKey:<my_key>]
or;
[[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] objectForKey:<my_key>]
before checking any other possible reason.

NSMutableArray in NSUserDefaults

I'm sorry for my bad english but i'm trying to explain with best words.
I have some problem when i'm trying to insert an NSMutableArray in NSUserDefaults ([NSUserDefaults setObject:forKey:]: Attempt to insert non-property value ')
My code to insert the array is as follows:
-(void)saveToUserDefaults:(NSMutableArray*)myArray
{
NSUserDefaults *standardUserDefaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
NSArray *array = [[NSArray alloc ] initWithArray:myArray];
if (standardUserDefaults)
{
[standardUserDefaults setObject:array forKey:#"MyArray"];
[standardUserDefaults synchronize];
}
}
My code to retrieve the array:
-(NSMutableArray*)retrieveFromUserDefaults
{
NSUserDefaults *standardUserDefaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
NSMutableArray *val = [[NSMutableArray alloc]init];
if (standardUserDefaults)
val = [NSMutableArray arrayWithArray:[standardUserDefaults arrayForKey:#"MyArray"]];
return val;
}
and in my code :
NSMutableArray :
series = [[NSMutableArray alloc]initWithObjects:nil];
//add some object inf my array...
Save my NSMutableArray :
[self saveToUserDefaults:series];
Retrieve my NSMutableArray :
series = [self retrieveFromUserDefaults];
I think it's not the best way to do this, so if anyone have ideas , it'll be helpful for me.
Thanks for reading.
Tommy
Only immutable NSArrays can be placed into defaults. Rather than placing a NSMutableArray there, convert to regular array using [NSArray arrayWithArray:] and place that one into defaults.
For retrieval, retrieve an NSArray and then use [NSMutableArray arrayWithArray:].
You can use following method to get the mutable object from immutable. It's not optimized and only implemented for NSArray and NSDictionary.
+ (id) GetMutable:(id)input {
id result;
if ([input superclass] == [NSArray class] || [input superclass] == [NSMutableArray class]) {
result = [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithArray:input copyItems:YES];
for (int i = 0; i < [(NSMutableArray*)result count]; i++) {
[(NSMutableArray*)result replaceObjectAtIndex:i withObject:[Globals GetMutable:[(NSMutableArray*)result objectAtIndex:i]]];
}
} else if ([input superclass] == [NSDictionary class] || [input superclass] == [NSMutableDictionary class]) {
result = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc] initWithDictionary:input copyItems:YES];
NSArray *keys=[(NSMutableDictionary*)result allKeys];
for (int i = 0; i < keys.count; i++) {
[(NSMutableDictionary*)result setObject:[Globals GetMutable:[(NSMutableDictionary*)result objectForKey:[keys objectAtIndex:i]]] forKey:[keys objectAtIndex:i]];
}
}
else {
return input;
}
return result;
}
I hope this tutorial helps, who expect answer for this question.
-(void)saveToUserDefaults:(NSString*)myServerName uname:(NSString*)myUserName
pass:(NSString*)myPassword
{
NSUserDefaults *standardUserDefaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
if (standardUserDefaults) {
[standardUserDefaults setObject:myServerName forKey:#"ServerKey"];
[standardUserDefaults setObject:myUserName forKey:#"UserNameKey"];
[standardUserDefaults setObject:myPassword forKey:#"PasswordKey"];
[standardUserDefaults synchronize];
}
}
-(NSArray*)retrieveFromUserDefaults
{
NSUserDefaults *standardUserDefaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
NSString *serverName = nil;
NSString *userName = nil;
NSString *password = nil;
if (standardUserDefaults)
serverName = [standardUserDefaults objectForKey:#"ServerKey"];
userName = [standardUserDefaults objectForKey:#"UserNameKey"];
password = [standardUserDefaults objectForKey:#"PasswordKey"];
NSArray* credentials = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:serverName,userName,password, nil];
return credentials;
}
To Pass values
[self saveToUserDefaults:serverVariable uname:usernameVariable pass:passVariable];
To get Values
NSArray *result=[self retrieveFromUserDefaults];
Happy coding!!!
The contents of your array can only by plist valid objects: (NSString, NSNumber, NSDate, NSData, NSArray, or NSDictionary objects).
See documentation for NSUserDefaults setObject:forKey: and What is a Property List?
Your code needs a lot of clean up. Here is the simple and correct way to access standard user defaults:
The value you pass to your save method does not need to be mutable, although it can be. But since you are not mutating it inside your method, there's no need for it to be mutable. It just has to be not nil, which you'll check before saving:
-(void)saveToUserDefaults:(NSArray*)myArray
{
if (myArray) {
NSUserDefaults *myDefaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
myDefaults[#"myArray"] = myArray;
}
}
Standard user defaults only returns non-mutable objects, which you can convert to a mutable copy using the "mutableCopy" method:
-(NSMutableArray*)retrieveFromUserDefaults
{
NSUserDefaults *myDefaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
NSMutableArray *val = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
val = [myDefaults[#"MyArray"] mutableCopy];
return val;
}

should variable be released or not? iphone-sdk

I have the following piece of code from a book.
There is this function loadPrefs where the NSString *userTimeZone is being released before the end of the function.
Why? The string was not created with alloc and I assume that the stringForKey function returns an autoreleased NSString. Is this an error or am I missing something? Is it an error in the book? (I new into objective-C)
In the documentation for stringForKey the only thing it mentions is:
Special Considerations
The returned
string is immutable, even if the value
you originally set was a mutable
string.
The code:
- (void) loadPrefs {
timeZoneName = DefaultTimeZonePref;
NSUserDefaults *defaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
NSString *userTimeZone = [defaults stringForKey: TimeZonePrefKey];
if (userTimeZone != NULL)
timeZoneName = userTimeZone;
[userTimeZone release];
show24Hour = [defaults boolForKey:TwentyFourHourPrefKey];
}
Thanks!!!!
You're right. There are two things wrong with this code: it's releasing the string from stringForKey: improperly, and it's not retaining userTimeZone when it assigns the value to an instance variable.
Here's a better attempt:
- (void) loadPrefs {
[timeZoneName release]; // In case there was a previous value
timeZoneName = DefaultTimeZonePref; // ASSUMPTION: DefaultTimeZonePref is a constant
// And thus doesn't need retain/release.
NSUserDefaults *defaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
NSString *userTimeZone = [defaults stringForKey: TimeZonePrefKey];
if (userTimeZone != NULL) {
timeZoneName = [userTimeZone retain];
}
show24Hour = [defaults boolForKey:TwentyFourHourPrefKey];
}
And don't forget to release timeZoneName in dealloc.