How retrieve an index of an NSArray using a NSPredicate? - iphone

Question

I would know how retrieve an index of an NSArray using a NSPredicate ?
NSArray *array = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:
#"New-York City",
#"Washington DC",
#"Los Angeles",
#"Detroit",
nil];
Which kind of method should I use in order to get the index of "Los Angles" by giving only a NSString?
NB: #"Los An" or #"geles" should return the same index.

Answer 1

Using NSPredicate you can get array of strings that contain your search string (it seems there's no built-in method to get just element indexes):
NSPredicate *predicate = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:#"SELF CONTAINS[cd] %#", searchString];
NSArray *filteredArray = [array filteredArrayUsingPredicate: predicate];
You can get only indexes using indexesOfObjectsPassingTest: method:
NSIndexSet *indexes = [array indexesOfObjectsPassingTest:^BOOL(id obj, NSUInteger idx, BOOL *stop){
NSString *s = (NSString*)obj;
NSRange range = [s rangeOfString: searchString];
return range.location != NSNotFound;
}];
If you want to get just one element containing your string you can use similar indexOfObjectPassingTest: method for that.

Answer 2

You should be able to do this with blocks. Below is a snippet (I don't have a compiler handy so pls excuse any typos):
NSArray *array = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:
#"New-York City",
#"Washington DC",
#"Los Angeles",
#"Detroit",
nil];
NSString *matchCity = #"Los";
NSPredicate *predicate = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:#"SELF contains[cd] %#", matchCity];
NSUInteger index = [self.array indexOfObjectPassingTest:^(id obj, NSUInteger idx, BOOL *stop) {
return [predicate evaluateWithObject:obj];
}];
Essentially you can use the indexOfObjectPassingTest: method. This takes a block (code following the "^") and returns the index for the first object that matches your predicate (or NSNotFound if no match exists). The block iterates through each object in the array until either a match is found (at which point it returns the index) or no match is found (at which point it returns NSNotFound). Here is a link to block programming that can help you understand the logic within the block:
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/featuredarticles/Short_Practical_Guide_Blocks/

Answer 3

Found an alternative approach helpful where the search is more complex as it allows predicate to be used to find object then object to find index:
-(NSIndexPath*) indexPathForSelectedCountry{
NSUInteger indexToCountry = 0;
NSPredicate * predicate = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:#"isoCode = %#",self.selectedCountry.isoCode];
NSArray * selectedObject = [self.countryList filteredArrayUsingPredicate:predicate];
if (selectedObject){
if (self.searchDisplayController.isActive){
indexToCountry = [self.searchResults indexOfObject:selectedObject[0]];
}else{
indexToCountry = [self.countryList indexOfObject:selectedObject[0]];
}
}
return [NSIndexPath indexPathForRow:indexToCountry inSection:0];
}

Answer 4

I would do this..
NSString * stringToCompare = #"geles";
int foundInIndex;
for ( int i=0; i<[array count]; i++ ){
NSString * tryString = [[array objectAtIndex:i] description];
if ([tryString rangeOfString:stringToCompare].location == NSNotFound) {
// no match
} else {
//match found
foundInIndex = i;
}
}// end for loop

Answer 5

Based on #Louie answer, instead of using for loop i had used enumeration block which worked for me.
I did this :-
NSString *stringToCompare = #"xyz";
[myArray enumerateObjectsUsingBlock:^(id *Obj, NSUInteger idx, BOOL * _Nonnull stop) {
NSString * tryString = [[myArray objectAtIndex:idx] description];
if ([tryString rangeOfString:stringToCompare].location == NSNotFound) {
// no match found
} else {
//match found and perform your operation. In my case i had removed array object at idx
}
}];