copying plist to document directory - iphone

How do I copy an existing plist I have in the app build to the Document directory?
My plist is basically an array of dictionary, I have successfully copy the plist to the directory using the following:
BOOL success;
NSError *error;
NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *filePath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"States.plist"];
success = [fileManager fileExistsAtPath:filePath];
if (success) return;
NSString *path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:#"States" ofType:#"plist"];
success = [fileManager copyItemAtPath:path toPath:filePath error:&error];
if (!success) {
NSAssert1(0, #"Failed to copy Plist. Error %#", [error localizedDescription]);
}
However, when I try to access the NSDictionary it gives me:
CoreAnimation: ignoring exception: -[__NSCFDictionary setObject:forKey:]: mutating method sent to immutable object
Why is this? I have to relaunch the app again and now I can change the dictionary stored in my array

This is the way I copy the *.plist file to documents folder. Hope this helps.
+ (NSString*) getPlistPath:(NSString*) filename{
//Search for standard documents using NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains
//First Param = Searching the documents directory
//Second Param = Searching the Users directory and not the System
//Expand any tildes and identify home directories.
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory , NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDir = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
return [documentsDir stringByAppendingPathComponent:filename];
}
+ (void) copyPlistFileToDocument{
NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSError *error;
NSString *dbPath = [Utilities getPlistPath:#"AppStatus.plist"];
if( ![fileManager fileExistsAtPath:dbPath])
{
NSString *defaultDBPath = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:#"AppStatus" ofType:#"plist"];
BOOL copyResult = [fileManager copyItemAtPath:defaultDBPath toPath:dbPath error:&error];
if(!copyResult)
NSAssert1(0, #"Failed to create writable plist file with message '%#'.", [error localizedDescription]);
}
}

Just create a new pList in the documents directory, and set to the contents of the existing plist you have.

Related

how to create a directory in iphone settings in objective c

I am new programmer in objective c. I want to create "Download" directory inside the i phone(path : setting (i phone setting directory))I want to know is it possible?. I am using i phone simulator to test the program.
Another question is, How can I access created directory in i phone simulator. Below contains code I tried to create folder in i phone. But I can not access that directory by using i phone simulator. what the wrong of this code?
NSString *error;
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *dataPath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"/Test"];
if (![[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:dataPath])
[[NSFileManager defaultManager] createDirectoryAtPath:dataPath withIntermediateDirectories:NO attributes:nil error:&error];
you can create Directory in to Document Directory as sub Folder like this way:-
-(IBAction)CreatDirInDocDir
{
NSFileManager *filemgr = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSString *documentsDirectory = [NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES) lastObject];
NSString *dir = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#",DirName];
NSString *path = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:dir];
NSError *error;
if ([filemgr fileExistsAtPath:path ] == YES){
}
else
{
NSLog (#"File not found");
[[NSFileManager defaultManager] createDirectoryAtPath:path withIntermediateDirectories:NO attributes:nil error:&error];
}
}
when ever you create directory in to Document directory folder then you can get all list of Created Custom directory like this way:-
//Get all Directory
NSFileManager *fileMan = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSArray *filePathsArray = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] subpathsOfDirectoryAtPath:documentsDirectory error:nil];
NSLog(#"files array %#", filePathsArray);
NSMutableArray *directoryList=[[NSMutableArray alloc]init];
for ( NSString *direPath in filePathsArray )
{
NSString *path = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:direPath];
BOOL isDir = NO;
[fileMan fileExistsAtPath:path isDirectory:(&isDir)];
if(isDir) {
NSString *fullPath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:path];
NSLog(#"log path ==%#",fullPath);
[directoryList addObject:fullPath];
}
}
NSLog(#"list path ==%#",directoryList);
Now you have array of all directory you can get any directory with index :)
Hope its helps you
All The method posted here are correct and there are tons of answers about them, but I'd like to warn you about a concept. Since The introduction of iCloud, Apple started to reject applications that saves a lot of data in document directory, when they are used by means of caches or they could be downloaded again later. The problem here is that you can backup your ios devices on the cloud and document directory is one of the backupped. Can you image yourself backupping one GB on application on the cloud? That's the explanation about apple rejects. To avoid that temp/redownloadable/cached data should be saved in cache directory. This useful dir is freed when the device is running out of space on "disk", like when you try to install a new app and you don't have enough space. So this is ok if your data can be downloaded again and are not indispensable. the other way around is to keep data in the document directory but telling the system to do not backup them, this is possible adding a special flag to the doc subdirectory where you saved the file, here is how link , pay attention that this methods is only available from 5.0.1 so you need to check its existence if you target lower ioses. In this case the system will not free your data and not backup them this is safe for apple guidelines. hope this helps
For creating directory you can use:
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *dataPath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"Test"];
NSError *error;
if (![[NSFileManager defaultManager] createDirectoryAtPath:dataPath withIntermediateDirectories:NO attributes:nil error:&error])
{
NSLog(#"Couldn't create directory error: %#", error);
}
For getting the files inside that directory you can use:
NSArray *datArray = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] contentsOfDirectoryAtPath:dataPath error:&error];
if(error)
{
NSLog(#"Could not get list from directory, error = %#",error);
}
Here all file names will be in the datArray.
No need append '/' . Just Use
NSString *dataPath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"Test"];
Try This
NSArray *dirPath;
NSString *docsDir;
NSFileManager *filemgr = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
dirPath = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
docsDir = [dirPath objectAtIndex:0];
if ([filemgr changeCurrentDirectoryPath: docsDir] == NO)
{
NSLog(#"Error");
}else {
NSString *currentPath = [filemgr currentDirectoryPath];
NSLog(#"%#",currentPath);
}
NSString *dataDirectory = [docsDir stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"Test"];
if ([filemgr fileExistsAtPath:dataDirectory]){
NSLog(#"dir Exist");
}else{
NSLog(#"Creating Dir");
[filemgr createDirectoryAtPath:dataPath withIntermediateDirectories:NO attributes:nil error:&error];
}
Anyone want to show your created directory in i phone simulator follow bellow steps :
Go to finder
Click Command +Shift + g
Type ~/Library then click Go
Open Application Support --> i phone simulator
Then you can find your created applications and directories..

Error while moving file in Cache Directory in Iphone

I am facing problem to move image file in Cache Directory. My requirement is when I am deleting one file for example image3.png then all other files (suppose there is 9 files like image1.png,image2.png,.....image9.png)after that position (image4.png,....,image9.png) will move to their previous position. I want to rename that files like image4.png to image 3.png.
Below is my code
NSError *error=nil;
NSString *imgName = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"image%d.png",3];
NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSCachesDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *fullPath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:imgName];
[fileManager removeItemAtPath: fullPath error:NULL];
for (int i=3; i<=9 ; i++) {
NSString *imgName1 = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"image%d.png",i];
NSString *getImagePath1 = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:imgName1];
NSString *imgName2 = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"image%d.png",i+1];
NSString *getImagePath2 = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:imgName2];
if ([fileManager moveItemAtPath:getImagePath2 toPath:getImagePath1 error:&error] != YES)
NSLog(#"Unable to move file: %#", [error localizedDescription]);
// Show contents of Documents directory
NSLog(#"Documents directory: %#",
[fileManager contentsOfDirectoryAtPath:documentsDirectory error:&error]);
}
But its showing following error
Unable to move file: The operation couldn’t be completed. (Cocoa error 516.)
Please help me .
Thanks in advance.
From NSFileManager docs on moveItemAtPath:toPath:error::
If an item with the same name already exists at dstPath, this method
aborts the move attempt and returns an appropriate error
Delete the file you want to overwrite first.

how do we open an already existing database fmdb and where to include it?

I am using fmdb but i am not knowing where to add the db file.
I found this old answer that i think it doesn't fit for xcode 4.2 (since we dont have 'Resources' folder anymore).
I created a database in 'Lita', added the extension .sqlite and added the db file as follows :
then tried to use the following
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *docsPath = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *path = [docsPath stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"db.sqlite"];
FMDatabase *database = [FMDatabase databaseWithPath:path];
[database open];
FMResultSet *results = [database executeQuery:#"select * from tbl"];
printf("hi");
while([results next]) {
printf("hi2");
NSString *name = [results stringForColumn:#"clm1"];
NSString *text = [results stringForColumn:#"clm2"];
NSLog(#"test: %# - %#",name, text);
}
printf("done");
i am getting the 'hi' 'done' but never 'hi2'...
anyone can help?
You want to add the (compiled) database to the project as a resource, and then copy it into the documents folder of the app on first start-up.
Here is an example method that does the work, call it from the applicationDidFinishLaunching and use the resultant FMDatabase * for all you queries.
- (FMDatabase *)openDatabase
{
NSFileManager *fm = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSString *documents_dir = [NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES) objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *db_path = [documents_dir stringByAppendingPathComponent:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"database.s3db"]];
NSString *template_path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:#"template_db" ofType:#"s3db"];
if (![fm fileExistsAtPath:db_path])
[fm copyItemAtPath:template_path toPath:db_path error:nil];
FMDatabase *db = [FMDatabase databaseWithPath:db_path];
if (![db open])
NSLog(#"Failed to open database!");
return db;
}
I am working with the same issues right now. But to answer your question: the documents folder is the folder that is to be used in the device.
Put the database in the the supporting files folder.
Here is what works for me:
//hide status bar for full screen view
[[UIApplication sharedApplication]setStatusBarHidden:YES withAnimation:UIStatusBarAnimationNone];
//set reference to database here
NSArray *documentPaths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentDir = [documentPaths objectAtIndex:0];
self.databasePath = [documentDir stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"RPRA.sqlite"];
[self createAndCheckDatabase];
// Override point for customization after application launch.
return YES;
}
//method used to create database and check if it exists
-(void) createAndCheckDatabase
{
BOOL success;
NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
success = [fileManager fileExistsAtPath:self.databasePath];
if(success) return;
//else move database into documents folder
NSString *databasePathFromApp = [[[NSBundle mainBundle] resourcePath]
stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"RPRA.db"];
[fileManager copyItemAtPath:databasePathFromApp toPath:self.databasePath error:nil];
}
- (void)ensureDBFile
{
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *dbFilePath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"retails.sqlite"]];
NSLog(#"Database Filepath Delgate = %#", dbFilePath);
NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
BOOL dbFileExists = [fileManager fileExistsAtPath:dbFilePath];
if(!dbFileExists){
//Copy the db file if it didn't exist
NSString *bundledDbPath = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:#"retails" ofType:#"sqlite"];
if (bundledDbPath != nil) {
BOOL copiedDbFile = [fileManager copyItemAtPath:bundledDbPath toPath:dbFilePath error:nil];
if (!copiedDbFile) {
NSLog(#"Error: Couldn't copy the db file from the bundle");
}
}
else {
NSLog(#"Error: Couldn't find the db file in the bundle");
}
}
self.db = [FMDatabase databaseWithPath:dbFilePath];
[self.db setShouldCacheStatements:NO];
[self.db open];
if([self.db hadError]) {
NSLog(#"Database Error %d: %#", [self.db lastErrorCode], [self.db lastErrorMessage]);
}
}

Creating a plist file only on first runnable in the device's documents directory

I current have everything setup to read from the documents directory and write to it , but Cannot do it because the file doesnt exist yet.
How is a file created within the code?
If you already have a template version of the document in your application's bundle then you should be able to write it to the application's document directory using something similar to the following. I haven't tested this code so I've probably got a few things wrong but that's the general idea.
- (void) applicationDidFinishLaunching {
NSArray* directories = NSSearchPathsForDirectoriesInDomain(NSDocumentsDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString* documentsDirectory = [directories objectAtIndex: 0];
NSString* path = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent: #"Something.plist"];
if (![[NSFileManager sharedInstance] fileExistsAtPath: path]) {
NSString* infoTemplatePath = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource: #"Something" ofType: #"plist"];
NSDictionary* info = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithContentsOfFile: infoTemplatePath];
[info writeToFile: path];
}
}
Use NSFileManger's fileExistsAtPath: to see if the file exist. If not create it before going on to the code that requires the file.
This one works better for me:
NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSError *error;
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *documentDBFolderPath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"*.db"];
if (![fileManager fileExistsAtPath:documentDBFolderPath])
{
NSString *resourceDBFolderPath = [[[NSBundle mainBundle] resourcePath] stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"*.db"];
[fileManager copyItemAtPath:resourceDBFolderPath toPath:documentDBFolderPath error:&error];
}

PList Chicken/Egg Scenario

I want to read/write to cache.plist
If I want to read an existing premade plist file stored in the resources folder I can go:
path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] bundlePath];
NSString *finalPath = [path stringByAppendingPathWithComponent#"cache.plist"];
NSMutableDictionary *root = ...
But then I wish to read it from the iPhone.
Can't, the Resources folder is only readable.
So I need to use:
NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomain,YES
So how can I have my plist file preinstalled to the Document Directory location?
Thus meaning I don't have to mess around with untidy code copying the plist file over at startup. (Unless that's the only way).
I know this isn't really what you're after, but as far as I know the only way to get the document into the Documents folder IS to actually copy it there...but only on the first startup. I'm going something similar for a sqlite database. Code is below, it works but please note it could do with a little bit of cleaning up:
// Creates a writable copy of the bundled default database in the application Documents directory.
- (void)createEditableCopyOfDatabaseIfNeeded {
// First, test for existence.
NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSError *error;
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *writableDBPath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"WordsDatabase.sqlite3"];
createdDatabaseOk = [fileManager fileExistsAtPath:writableDBPath];
if (createdDatabaseOk) return;
// The writable database does not exist, so copy the default to the appropriate location.
NSString *defaultDBPath = [[[NSBundle mainBundle] resourcePath] stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"WordsDatabase.sqlite3"];
createdDatabaseOk = [fileManager copyItemAtPath:defaultDBPath toPath:writableDBPath error:&error];
}
Just call in your AppDelegate - not too messy really?
Easy. Look first to see if it's in the documents directory. If it's not, find it inside your app's Resources folder ([[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource...]), then copy it into the documents directory using [[NSFileManager defaultManager] copyItemAtPath:...]. Then use the fresh copy in the documents directory with impunity.
The final product
NSString *path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] bundlePath];
NSString *finalPath = [path stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"Cache.plist"];
NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSError *error;
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *giveCachePath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"Cache.plist"];
BOOL fileExists = [fileManager fileExistsAtPath:giveCachePath];
if (fileExists) {
NSLog(#"file Exists");
}
else {
NSLog(#"Copying the file over");
fileExists = [fileManager copyItemAtPath:finalPath toPath:giveCachePath error:&error];
}
NSLog(#"Confirming Copy:");
BOOL filecopied = [fileManager fileExistsAtPath:giveCachePath];
if (filecopied) {
NSLog(#"Give Cache Plist File ready.");
}
else {
NSLog(#"Cache plist not working.");
}