Get 2 strings from a random dictionary in a .plist - iphone

I am new to iphone programming. I have been struggling with this problem and have tried so many different online solutions but can't get the desired result.
I want to display 2 strings from a random array or dictionary (i'm not sure what is best to use) It would show a random question with the paired answer. Here's what i have so far:
<dict>
<key>q2</key>
<array>
<string>answer2</string>
<string>question2</string>
</array>
<key>q1</key>
<array>
<string>answer1</string>
<string>question1</string>
</array>
.m:
NSString *fileContents = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:#"questions" ofType:#"plist"];
NSMutableDictionary *plistDict = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc] initWithContentsOfFile:fileContents];
NSMutableArray *array = [plistDict objectForKey:#"q1"];
srandom(time(NULL));
int r = arc4random() %[array count];
NSString *arrayData1 = [array objectAtIndex:r];
NSString *arrayData2 = [array objectAtIndex:r+1];
label1.text = arrayData1;
label2.text = arrayData2;
This shows the correct result. But obviously its only picking it out of the 'q1' array. I would like to be able to get it from any array. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

How could this code "show the correct result"? It should crash every second (with the test data you provided) call because of an out of bounds exception caused by this code:
// assume array has 10 objects
int r = arc4random() %[array count]; // r = 9
NSString *arrayData1 = [array objectAtIndex:r]; // index 9, everything ok
NSString *arrayData2 = [array objectAtIndex:r+1]; // index 9 + 1 = 10. exception
If I were you I would radically change the code and the structure of the data. It makes much more sense to use a NSArray for your question and a NSDictionary for each individual question.
If the keys in a dictionary are named q1, q2, q3, q4, and so on there is no reason to use a NSDictionary.
Then you could use something like this, which is much easier to understand and much cleaner.
NSString *pathToQuestions = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:#"test" ofType:#"plist"];
NSMutableArray *questions = [[[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithContentsOfFile:pathToQuestions] autorelease];
int questionIndex = arc4random() %[questions count];
NSDictionary *question = [questions objectAtIndex:questionIndex];
NSString *answerStr = [question objectForKey:#"answer"];
NSString *questionStr = [question objectForKey:#"question"];

Since you are using NSMutableArray *array = [plistDict objectForKey:#"q1"]; only the array from q1 will be taken. You have to obtain the array randomly by choosing the key for the dictionary randomly.
UPDATE
For example if u have say 7 arrays of questions named q1,q2,q3,q4,q5,q6,q7. you have to choose an array randomly from this. So you can use
int q = arc4random() %[[plistDict allKeys] count];
NSMutableArray *randomQuestionarray = [[plistDict objectForKey:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"q%d",q]];
This will give you the random array for the questions

#7KV7 is right,you will need randomly formated key's at run time.
For andomly formated key's, you require the starting text of your key, in your case it's q and number of keys,
for example let's suppose you have total 50 key the your key values must be like this
q0,q1,q2, ----- q49.
#include <stdlib.h>
...
...
NSInteger myRandomInt = arc4random() % numberOfKeys ;
NSString myRandomKey = [[NSSting alloc] initWithFormat:#"q%d", myRandomInt];
NSMutableArray *array = [plistDict objectForKey:myRandomKey];

Related

Sorting Multiple NSMutableArray's

I have 3 MutableArray's Named:
tvShows
tvNetworks
tvdbID
I need to sort them by the name of the tvShows.
But the need to stay linked.
So e.g.:
tvShows = Breaking Bad, House, Community;
tvNetworks = AMC, FOX, NBC;
tvdbID = 81189, 73255, 94571;
Needs To Become:
tvShows = Breaking Bad, Community, House;
tvNetworks = AMC, NBC, FOX;
tvdbID = 81189, 94571, 73255;
How would I do this? It's my first app so sorry if it's a realy easy question.
store them in an array of dictionaries then sort with an NSArray sort function: (below)
NSDictionary * dict1 = #{#"title":#"breaking bad",#"network":#"AMC",#"tvbdID":#(81189)};
NSDictionary * dict2 = #{#"title":#"house",#"network":#"FOX",#"tvbdID":#(73255)};
NSDictionary * dict3 = #{#"title":#"Community",#"network":#"NBC",#"tvbdID":#(94571)};
NSArray * array = #[dict1,dict2,dict3];
NSSortDescriptor * desc = [NSSortDescriptor sortDescriptorWithKey:#"title"ascending:YES selector:#selector(caseInsensitiveCompare:)];
NSArray * sortedArray = [array sortedArrayUsingDescriptors:#[desc]];
I would personally create a custom NSObject called TVShow, that has properties of showName, network, and tvbdID. This way, you only have one array of each show. Assuming your array is called myShows, you could do something like this:
[allShows sortUsingComparitor:^NSComparisonResult(id a, id b) {
NSString *firstName = [(TVShow*)a showName];
NSString *secondName = [(TVShow*)b showName];
return [firstName compare: secondName];
}];
That is, if you wanted to sort by show name. You can swap network for showName if you wanted to sort by network!
No idea what your end goal is, but you should probably create a TVShow class that has properties (i.e., instance variables) for "title," "network", and "dbid." Then you can instantiate three TVShow objects with their appropriate properties, put them in a mutable array, and use one of the sorting methods on NSMutableArray -- I'd probably choose sortUsingComparator:.
you can't do it with 3 independent arrays but maybe with 1 dictionary where the keys are tv shows and the value is a dictionary with 2 keys: tvNetworks & tvdbIDs
sample:
NSDictionary *data = #{#"Breaking Bad":#{#"tv" : #"AMC", #"tvdb": #(81189)},
#"House":#{#"tv" : #"FOX", #"tvdb": #(73255)},
#"Community":#{#"tv" : #"NBC", #"tvdb": #(94571)}};
NSArray *sortedShows = [data.allKeys sortedArrayUsingSelector:#selector(compare:)];
for (id show in sortedShows) {
NSLog(#"%# = %#", show, data[show]);
}
One of the easiest and most straightforward ways to do this would be to create one array of dictionaries, like this:
NSMutableArray *tvShowInfos = [NSMutableArray array];
for (NSInteger i = 0; i < tvShows.count; i++) {
NSDictionary *info = #{#"show": [tvShows objectAtIndex:i],
#"network": [tvNetworks objectAtIndex:i],
#"id": [tvdbIDs objectAtIndex:i]};
[tvShowInfos addObject:info];
}
You can then sort that array easily:
[tvShowInfos sortUsingDescriptors:#[ [[NSSortDescriptor alloc] initWithKey:#"show" ascending:YES] ]];
If you need an array that contains all networks, sorted by show title, you can then use valueForKey: on the array of dictionaries:
NSArray *networksSortedByShow = [tvShowInfos valueForKey:#"network"];

How Do You DO A Plist Array Display with iPhone?

I have looked high and low for sample Plist display code and can't seem to find any that does what I want to do. I know it can't be too hard, but I am new to Plists.
I have the following Array in a Plist and I can't seem to get the right command to display the information. Am I doing something wrong in my Plist setup? It compiles fine but no Data gets to the iPhone Simulator.
What would be the normal way of displaying the info?
I have a condition set:
If condition one
then display "+0+1"
else
display "+0+2"
*What I am hoping it to display is:
* "this is one"
* "this is two"
* "this is three"
* else display
* "555-555-1234"
* "555-555-0000"
* "555-555-5555"
MY PLIST IS AS FOLLOWS
*
Key Type Value
*Root Dictionary (2 items)
*+0+1 Array (3 items)
*Item 0 String "this is one"
*Item 1 String "this is two"
*Item 2 String "this is three"
*+0+2 Array (3 items)
*Item 0 String "555-555-1234"
*Item 1 String "555-555-0000"
*Item 2 String "555-555-5555"
*
// read property list into memory as an NSData object
NSData *plistXML = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] contentsAtPath:plistPath];
NSString *errorDesc = nil;
NSPropertyListFormat format;
// convert static property list into dictionary object
NSDictionary *temp = (NSDictionary *)[NSPropertyListSerialization propertyListFromData:plistXML mutabilityOption:NSPropertyListMutableContainersAndLeaves format:&format errorDescription:&errorDesc];
// assign values
self.item1 = [temp objectForKey:#"name1"];
self.item2 = [NSMutableArray arrayWithArray:[temp objectForKey:#"name2"]];
// display values
bigCheese.text = disp1;
numberZero.text = [disp2 objectAtIndex:0];
numberOne.text = [disp2 objectAtIndex:1];
numberTwo.text = [disp2 objectAtIndex:2];
Once you get a dictionary get all values for that dictionary. In your case, get all values from the temp dictionary. It should return you an array containing two arrays.
NSArray *valueArray = [temp allValues];
Now you have two arrays and if you want to access "555-555-5555", do like this:
[[valuesArray objectAtIndex:1] objectAtIndex:2];
Or if you are sure that "name1" and "name2" are the keys of your dictionary you can access it this way:
[[temp objectForKey:#"name1"] objectAtIndex:2];
Once you get this info then it is up to you to decide how you want to display it. I suggest you to DEBUG and see if the dictionary and array objects are created properly first. Not sure what are those disp1 and disp2 in the sample code you posted..
Try using:
NSString *file = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:#"Data" ofType:#"plist"];
NSDictionary *dict = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithContentsOfFile:file];
NSArray *array = [dict objectForKey:#"Array"]; NSLog(#"%#", array);
It's simple, so less chances to do something wrong.

Sort array into dictionary

I have and array of many strings.
I wan't to sort them into a dictionary, so all strings starting the same letter go into one array and then the array becomes the value for a key; the key would be the letter with which all the words in it's value's array begin.
Example
Key = "A" >> Value = "array = apple, animal, alphabet, abc ..."
Key = "B" >> Value = "array = bat, ball, banana ..."
How can I do that?
Thanks a lot in advance!
NSArray *list = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:#"apple, animal, bat, ball", nil];
NSMutableDictionary *dict = [NSMutableDictionary dictionary];
for (NSString *word in list) {
NSString *firstLetter = [[word substringToIndex:1] uppercaseString];
NSMutableArray *letterList = [dict objectForKey:firstLetter];
if (!letterList) {
letterList = [NSMutableArray array];
[dict setObject:letterList forKey:firstLetter];
}
[letterList addObject:word];
}
NSLog(#"%#", dict);
You can achieve what you want through the following steps:
Create an empty but mutable dictionary.
Get the first character.
If a key for that character does not exist, create it.
Add the word to the value of the key (should be an NSMutableArray).
Repeat step #2 for all keys.
Here is the Objective-C code for these steps. Note that I am assuming that you want the keys to be case insensitive.
// create our dummy dataset
NSArray * wordArray = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:#"Apple",
#"Pickle", #"Monkey", #"Taco",
#"arsenal", #"punch", #"twitch",
#"mushy", nil];
// setup a dictionary
NSMutableDictionary * wordDictionary = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc] init];
for (NSString * word in wordArray) {
// remove uppercaseString if you wish to keys case sensitive.
NSString * letter = [[word substringWithRange:NSMakeRange(0, 1)] uppercaseString];
NSMutableArray * array = [wordDictionary objectForKey:letter];
if (!array) {
// the key doesn't exist, so we will create it.
[wordDictionary setObject:(array = [NSMutableArray array]) forKey:letter];
}
[array addObject:word];
}
NSLog(#"Word dictionary: %#", wordDictionary);
Take a look at this topic, they solves almost the same problem as you — filtering NSArray into a new NSArray in objective-c Let me know if it does not help so I will write for you one more code sample.
Use this to sort the contents of array in alphabetical order, further you design to the requirement
[keywordListArr sortUsingSelector:#selector(localizedCaseInsensitiveCompare:)];
I just wrote this sample. It looks simple and does what you need.
NSArray *names = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:#"Anna", #"Antony", #"Jack", #"John", #"Nikita", #"Mark", #"Matthew", nil];
NSString *alphabet = #"ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUWXYZ";
NSMutableDictionary *sortedNames = [NSMutableDictionary dictionary];
for(int characterIndex = 0; characterIndex < 25; characterIndex++) {
NSString *alphabetCharacter = [alphabet substringWithRange:NSMakeRange(characterIndex, 1)];
NSArray *filteredNames = [names filteredArrayUsingPredicate:[NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:#"SELF BEGINSWITH[C] %#", alphabetCharacter]];
[sortedNames setObject:filteredNames forKey:alphabetCharacter];
}
//Just for testing purposes let's take a look into our sorted data
for(NSString *key in sortedNames) {
for(NSString *value in [sortedNames valueForKey:key]) {
NSLog(#"%#:%#", key, value);
}
}

How to create image and labels using location data stored in NSArray

i have to create an 2images and 3 labels by using code (cgrectmake)and i am having X location, y location, width and height all are stored in arrays(which i have retrieved from the web services)how can i create the image and labels can any one help me
You can join the elements of an array together with the NSString componentsJoinedByString class method:
NSString myString = [myNSArray componentsJoinedByString:#"x"];
where x is the characters you'd like to appear between each array element.
Edited to add
So in your newly-added code if these are the label values:
lbl = #"zero"
lbl1 = #"one"
lbl2 = #"two"
and you want to join them together with a space character then if you did this:
NSString *temp = [labelArray componentsJoinedByString:#" "];
NSLog(#"temp = %#", temp);
then this is what would be logged:
zero one two
Edited to further add
If you are instead trying to join the label values together to make xml elements then you might do something like this:
NSString *joinedElements = [labelArray componentsJoinedByString:#"</label><label>"];
NSString *temp = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"<label>%#</label>", joinedElements];
NSLog(#"temp = %#", temp);
then this is what would be logged:
<label>zero</label><label>one</label><label>two</label>
may be this is usefull to you.
NSString *str;
str = [arrayName objectAtIndex:i(Index NO)];
OK by this easily you can access object from the array. any type of object u can fetch this way only reception object type are change in left side.
Best of Luck.
Most objects have a -description method which returns a string representation of the object:
- (NSString *)description;
For example:
NSArray *array = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:#"The", #"quick", #"brown", #"fox", nil];
NSLog(#"%#", array); // prints the contents of the array out to the console.
NSString *arrayDescription = [array description]; // a string
It would help to know what you want to do with the string (how will you use the string). Also, what kind of objects do you have in the array?
In that case, Matthew's answer is one possibility. Another might be to use an NSMutableString and append the individual items, if you need control over how the string is created:
NSMutableString *string = [NSMutableString string];
if ([array count] >= 3) {
[string appendString:[array objectAtIndex:0]];
[string appendFormat:#"blah some filler text %#", [array objectAtIndex:1]];
[string appendString:[array objectAtIndex:2]];
}

NSArray to NSMutableArray as random stack

Just a conceptual description first:
I am reading input from a text file (a list of words) and putting these words into an NSArray using componentsSeparatedByString method. This works.
But I wanted to select the words randomly and then delete them from the array so as to ensure a different word each time. Of course, you cannot change the NSArray contents. So...
I copied the contents of the NSArray into an NSMutableArray and use IT for the selection source. This also works - 269 objects in each array.
To return a word from the NSMutableArray I use the following code:
note- the arrays are declared globally
as
arrMutTextWords = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init]; //stack for words
arrTextWords = [[NSArray alloc] init]; //permanent store for words
-(NSString*) getaTextWord
{
// if the mutable text word array is empty refill
if ([arrMutTextWords count] == 0){
for (int i = 0 ; i < [arrTextWords count]; i++)
[arrMutTextWords addObject:[arrTextWords objectAtIndex:i]];
}
int i = random() % [arrMutTextWords count];
NSString* ptrWord = [arrMutTextWords objectAtIndex:i];
[arrMutTextWords removeObjectAtIndex:i];
return ptrWord;
}
The program crashes during a call to the method above - here is the calling code:
arrTmp is declared globally arrTmp = [[NSArray alloc] init]; //tmp store for words
for (int i = 0 ; i < 4; i++) {
tmpWord = [self getaTextWord];
[arrTmp addObject:tmpWord];
[arrTmp addObject:tmpWord];
}
I'm thinking that somehow deleting strings from arrMutTextWords is invalidating the NSArray - but I can't think how this would occur.
One possible source for problems is your fetching AND removing the NSString object from your list. Removing it releases that NSString instance therefore devalidating your reference.
To be shure to retain a reference you should use this code sequence instead:
NSString * ptrWord = [[[arrMutTextWords objectAtIndex:i] retain] autorelease];
[arrMutTextWords removeObjectAtIndex:i];
return ptrWord;
By the way: You should use
NSMutableArray *mutableArray = [NSMutableArray arrayWithArray: array];
instead of copying all values by hand. While i do not know the implementation of NSMutableArray, i know from times long ago (NeXTstep), that there are several possible optimizations that may speed up basic NSArray operations.
And finally copying this way is much more concise.
Just ran this through XCode and got random words returned, however I skipped the whole for loop and used addObjectsFromArrayfrom NSMutableArray.
NSArray *randomArray = [[NSArray alloc] initWithObjects:#"Paul", #"George", #"John", nil];
NSMutableArray *muteArray = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
[muteArray addObjectsFromArray:randomArray];
int i = random() % [muteArray count];
NSString* ptrWord = [muteArray objectAtIndex:i];
[muteArray removeObjectAtIndex:i];
NSLog(#"ptrWord %#", ptrWord); //gave me a different name each time I ran the function.
Hope this clears some things up.