How to implement TouchXml Parser? - iphone

I have implemented demo using TouchXml parser.Its working fine.But I want to parse xml like below.
example:
<Root>
<tag1></tag1>
<tag2>
<temp1></temp1>
<temp2></temp2>
<temp3></temp3>
</tag2>
<tag3></tag3>
</Root>
How to parse this type of example?

TouchXML is nice and easy to use. First you'll want to parse the document:
NSError *theError = NULL;
CXMLDocument *theXMLDocument = [[[CXMLDocument alloc] initWithXMLString:input options:0 error:&theError] autorelease];
You can then query the structure of your document using XPath. For example to extract the Root element you might do this:
NSArray *foundRoots = [theXMLDocument nodesForXPath:#"//Root" error:&theError];
CXMLElement *root = [foundRoots objectAtIndex:0];
(You often get arrays back, so in your case you can just take the first element, assuming it exists in the document)
You can also do things like get all the child elements of an element. So if we wanted to get all the tags we could this:
NSArray *children = [root children];
Or we could get a tag with a particular name:
NSArray *tag1 = [root elementsForName:#"tag1"];
(Again you get an array, so do the right thing and check)
Does your data conform to any schema?

Related

Why does SBJson JSON parsing only get the last key of interest?

I am using the following JSON: http://www.kb.dk/tekst/mobil/aabningstider_en.json
When I try to parse it by the key "location" as such:
// get response in the form of a utf-8 encoded json string
NSString *jsonString = [[[NSString alloc] initWithData:responseData encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding] stringByTrimmingCharactersInSet:[NSCharacterSet newlineCharacterSet]];
// get most parent node from json string
NSDictionary *json = [jsonString JSONValue];
// get key-path from jason up to the point of json object
NSDictionary *locations = [json objectForKey:#"location"];
NSLog( #"%#", locations );
// iterate through all of the location objects in the json
for (NSDictionary *loc in locations )
{
// pull library name from the json object
NSString *name = [loc valueForKey:#"name"];
// add library data table arrays respectively
[ libraryNames addObject: ( ( name == nil | name.length > 0 ) ? name : #"UnNamed" ) ];
}
When I print the the object locations via NSLog:
{
address = "Universitetsparken 4, 3. etage, 2100 K\U00f8benhavn \U00d8";
desc = "";
lastUpdated = "";
latlng = "55.703124,12.559596";
link = "http://www.farma.ku.dk/index.php?id=3742";
name = "Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Library";
parts = {
part = {
hour = {
day = "5.June Constitution Day (Denmark)";
open = Closed;
};
hours = {
hour = {
day = Friday;
open = "10-16";
};
};
name = main;
};
};
}
Which is only the last value for the "location" keys. Am I doing something wrong?
I tried validating the JSON via http://jsonlint.com/, however when I'd put in the JSON URL as above, it said "valid" - still only the last "locations" key was shown", however if I copy-paste it, it will not validate the JSON, and has to be fixed by removing new-lines from the string.
Also, when i try to parse the JSON and get the "name" fields, I get the following exception:
2012-05-08 15:37:04.941 iPhone App Tabbed[563:f803] *** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSUnknownKeyException', reason: '[<__NSCFString 0x68bfe70> valueForUndefinedKey:]: this class is not key value coding-compliant for the key name.'
*** First throw call stack:
(0x13dc052 0x156dd0a 0x13dbf11 0x9d2f0e 0x941841 0x940ca9 0x4593 0xf964e 0x114b89 0x1149bd 0x112f8a 0x112e2f 0x1148f4 0x13ddec9 0x365c2 0x3655a 0x25b569 0x13ddec9 0x365c2 0x3655a 0xdbb76 0xdc03f 0xdbbab 0x25dd1f 0x13ddec9 0x365c2 0x3655a 0xdbb76 0xdc03f 0xdb2fe 0x5ba30 0x5bc56 0x42384 0x35aa9 0x12c6fa9 0x13b01c5 0x1315022 0x131390a 0x1312db4 0x1312ccb 0x12c5879 0x12c593e 0x33a9b 0x281d 0x2785)
terminate called throwing an exception(lldb)
It would make more sense if the "locations" tag was an array object enclosed by square brackets ([]), however right now it's only an sequence of normal key-value pairs... Sadly, that's the JSON I have to work with.
Please help and thanks a great deal! :)
Sincerely,
Piotr.
The JSON you've got to work with may be valid, but it doesn't make much sense. It has one big dictionary with the location key repeated many times. Most JSON parser will simply return the last value for the repeated key. It would be best if you could change the structure to use an array instead, but if you cannot there's still hope. You can read the stream and stuff the values from the location keys into an array as they come out of it. This is how you'd do that:
#interface BadJsonHelper : NSObject
#property(strong) NSMutableArray *accumulator;
#end
#implementation BadJsonHelper
- (void)parser:(SBJsonStreamParser *)parser foundArray:(NSArray *)array {
// void
}
- (void)parser:(SBJsonStreamParser *)parser foundObject:(NSDictionary *)dict {
[accumulator addObject:dict];
}
#end
You can drop that little helper class at the top of your file, outside the #implementation section of the class where you're doing your work. (There's no need for the #interface and #implementation being in different files.)
In your code, you would use it like this:
BadJsonHelper *helper = [[BadJsonHelper alloc] init];
helper.accumulator = [NSMutableArray array];
SBJsonStreamParserAdapter *adapter = [[SBJsonStreamParserAdapter new] init];
adapter.delegate = helper;
adapter.levelsToSkip = 1;
SBJsonStreamParser *parser = [[SBJsonStreamParser alloc] init];
parser.delegate = adapter;
switch ([parser parse: responseData]) {
case SBJsonStreamParserComplete:
NSLog(#"%#", helper.accumulator);
break;
case SBJsonStreamParserWaitingForData:
NSLog(#"Didn't get all the JSON yet...");
break;
case SBJsonStreamParserError:
NSLog(#"Error: %#", parser.error);
break;
}
This example was originally adapted from the following test:
https://github.com/stig/json-framework/blob/master/Tests/StreamParserIntegrationTest.m
Update: I created a fully functional example project that loads the JSON asynchronously and parses it. This is available from github.
The JSON is valid, however there is a basic problem regarding the definition of the array of items.
Instead of defining an array of locations using brackets, the JSON redefines the same location key/value pair over and over again. In other words JSON initially says the value of location is the collection with name "The Black Diamond", but immediately after it redefines it with the collection with name "Faculty Library of Humanities" and so on till the last location Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Library".
The same is true for parts and hours.
If you can't fix the result of the JSON and you really need to get it working you may want to modify the JSON removing the "location" keys and adding brackets properly.
Edit
Alternatively you may use an NSScanner and process the JSON result manually. Kinda hacky but it will work as long as the JSON format doesn't change significantly.
Edit
This snipped of code should do the work...
NSString *jsonString = [[[NSString alloc] initWithData:responseData encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding] stringByTrimmingCharactersInSet:[NSCharacterSet newlineCharacterSet]];
int indx = 1;
for (;;)
{
NSRange locationRange = [jsonString rangeOfString:#"\"location\":"];
if (locationRange.location == NSNotFound) break;
jsonString = [jsonString stringByReplacingCharactersInRange:locationRange
withString:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"\"location%d\":", indx++]];
}
NSDictionary *locations = [json objectForKey:#"location"];
As you can see, the result of JSON parsing by SBJson is a NSDictionary. A dictionary contains key/value pairs, and the keys are unique identifiers for the pairs.
The JSON data you need to handle is valid but not a good one. Per RFC 4627 - 2.2:
An object structure is represented as a pair of curly brackets surrounding zero or more name/value pairs (or members). A name is a string. A single colon comes after each name, separating the name from the value. A single comma separates a value from a following name. The names within an object SHOULD be unique.
Things like jQuery can parse the JSON also, but the result is the same as SBJson (the last one as the one). See Do JSON keys need to be unique?.
It is not a MUST, but it's still not a good practice. It would be much easier if you are able to change the structure of the JSON data on the server side (or even on the client side after receiving it) rather than parsing it as is.

Update original NSMutableArray after filtering with NSPredicate

I have recently started programming for the iOS Platform but now I need some help figuring out how to do 'something':
For my application I fetch some JSON data and put this data as objects into an Array
This Array is written to my own PLIST file (in the docs directory)
Now when the users starts a sync action I:
Fetch the data from the PLIST
Get the timestamp for a certain object in the Array that came from the PLIST
Use timestamp in new JSON request (for the new data)
So far so good.
Now for my (current) problem -> After receiving the new data (JSON req) I wish to update the timestamp of this 'certain' object in the array (and write this to the Plist).
Using an NSPredicate I am able to find the right set of data within the main Array (stampArr).
NSString *documentsDir = [NSHomeDirectory()stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"Documents"];
NSString *plistPath = [documentsDir stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"stamps.plist"];
NSMutableArray *stampArr = [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithContentsOfFile:plistPath];
NSPredicate *filter = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:#"eventid = 1"];
NSMutableArray *filteredStampArr = [stampArr filteredArrayUsingPredicate:filter];
But now, after I update the filteredStampArr, I want to update the main Array with the data from the filtered Array.
In other words, I need to update the object from the Array with the new 'timestamp' (field of object).
I could off course use something like [stampArr addObject: [filteredStampArr copy]] after changing the filterd array but that would just create a duplicate of the information. I wish to overwrite the original object.
Somehow (I think) I need a 'pointer' that tells me the location of the data in the original array so that I can change the data directly in the main array?
(I hope my questions is clear - If not please say so)
Get the item, find it's index in stampArr and replace it with the newItem.
NSArray *filteredStampArr = [stampArr filteredArrayUsingPredicate:filter];
id item = [filteredStampArr objectAtIndex:0]; // id because the type of the item is not known
NSUInteger itemIndex = [stampArr indexOfObject:item];
[stampArr replaceObjectAtIndex:itemIndex withObject:newItem];
When you get filteredArray, you can directly update objects in it (not replace) and thay willbe uopdated in main array.
Read the API carefully!
try:
[stampArr filterUsingPredicate:];

parsing JSON object and sub-elements on iphone app

I am building an app that uses a UPC data base API. I am getting back a JSON object, example from here: http://www.simpleupc.com/api/methods/FetchNutritionFactsByUPC.php
{
"success":true,
"usedExternal":false,
"result"
{
"calories_per_serving":"150",
"cholesterol_per_serving":"15",
"cholesterol_uom":"Mg",
"dvp_calcium":"30",
"dvp_cholesterol":"4",
"dvp_iron":"2",
"dvp_protein":"17",
"dvp_saturated_fat":"8",
"dvp_sodium":"10",
"dvp_total_fat":"4",
"dvp_vitamin_a":"10","
"dvp_vitamin_c":"0",
"dvp_vitamin_d":"25",
"fat_calories_per_serving":"25",
"fiber_per_serving":"<1",
"fiber_uom":"G",
"ingredients":"Fat Free Milk, Milk, Sugar, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali),
Salt, Carrageenan, Vanillin (Artificial Flavor),
Lactase Enzyme, Vitamin A Palmitate And Vitamin D3.",
"protein_per_serving":"8",
"protein_uom":"G",
"size":"240",
"units":"mL",
"servings_per_container":"8",
"sodium_per_serving":"230",
"sodium_uom":"Mg",
"total_fat_per_serving":"2.5",
"total_fat_uom":"G",
"trans_fat_per_serving":"0",
"trans_fat_uom":"G",
"upc":"041383096013"
}
}
My problem is with parsing the "ingredients" element, which is a sub list of the object dictionary.
How would you suggest parsing the ingredients list? If I could get it to an NSArray, assuming commas are separators, that would have been great.
I tried to do this, but looks like its just a string, so no way to parse it.
Any suggestion would be more than welcome. Thanks!
//Thats the whole JSON object
NSDictionary *json_dict = [theResponseString JSONValue];
//Getting "results" which has all the product info
NSArray *myArray = [[NSArray alloc] init];
myArray = [json_dict valueForKey:#"result"];
Now how do I get "ingredients" from myArray in an array form?
You're getting result as an array, but (in JSON terminology) it's not an array. It's an object, so use an NSDictionary. Something like this:1
NSDictionary *result = [json_dict objectForKey:#"result"];
Then you can get the inner ingredients object from that:
NSString *ingredients = [result objectForKey:#"ingredients"];
Edited as per #Bavarious' comment.
1Apologies for glaring errors, as I'm not terribly well-versed in Objective-C. You might need to allocate memory for the returned NSDictionary and NSString pointers; I'm not sure.
Here's all you need to do:
NSDictionary *json_dict = [theResponseString JSONValue];
// Use a key path to access the nested element.
NSArray *myArray = [json_dict valueForKeyPath:#"result.ingredients"];
EDIT
Whoops, Matt's right. Here's how to deal with the string value:
// Use a key path to access the nested element.
NSString *s = [json_dict valueForKeyPath:#"result.ingredients"];
NSArray *ingredients = [s componentsSeparatedByString:#", "];
Note that you might need to trim the '.' character off the last element of the array.

iPhone SDK: Problems Parsing JSON

I'm using the SBJSONParser for my iphone app. Up to now, i've been parsing simple json strings such as: ["Business1","Business2"]
I'm now using PHP to get both the business name and business ID from the database within the same json string, so my PHP is giving me a result like this:
{"business_1A" : "ABC_1","businees_2A": "ABC_2" }
Here's the code that i'm currently using to process the first JSON output which works fine:
businessNames is an NSMutableArray in the following code.
NSString *businessNamesJSON = [[NSString alloc]initWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"businessNamesJSON.php"]]];
SBJsonParser *parser = [[SBJsonParser alloc]init];
businessNames = [[parser objectWithString:businessNamesJSON error:nil]copy];
Basically, I want to split the second JSON output so that I can have two separate NSMutableArrays, one which contains the business Names and the other which holds the IDs.
How do I extract or split the second JSON output so I can do this?
Thanks in advance.
Hy there
Let me take a step back. Since you have a list of companies wouldn't it be a better way to represent your data with an array in json like so:
[
{
"identifier": "ABC_1",
"name": "business_1A"
},
{
"identifier": "ABC_2",
"name": "businees_2A"
}
]
I believe this would make the parsing of the data easier for you and it would allow you to add more attributes in the future.
So once you have this structure you can parse the json data and then loop over the entries and extract the values for the keys identifier and name (in this case) respectively.
{"business_1A" : "ABC_1","businees_2A": "ABC_2" } defined an object in JSON terms, which will be returned by any sane JSON parser as an NSDictionary in Objective-C, being a collection of mappings from one object to another.
You seem then to want all the keys and all the values separately. In that case you can just get them from the NSDictionary:
SBJsonParser *parser = [[SBJsonParser alloc] init];
businessNamesDictionary = [parser objectWithString:businessNamesJSON error:nil];
NSLog(#"names: %#", [businessNamesDictionary allKeys]);
NSLog(#"values: %#", [businessNamesDictionary allValues]);
Take mutableCopys if you want them. Use objectsForKeys:notFoundMarker: if you want to guarantee that the values come out in the same order as the keys — the order of each is explicitly undefined in the documentation so don't rely on whatever order you happen to get on whichever version of the OS you happen to test against.

Get objects from a NSDictionary

I get from an URL this result :
NSString *result = [[NSString alloc] initWithData:responseData encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding];
it looks like this :
[{"modele":"Audi TT Coup\u00e9 2.0 TFSI","modele_annee":null,"annee":"2007","cilindre":"4 cyl","boite":"BVM","transmision":"Traction","carburant":"ES"},
{"modele":"Audi TT Coup\u00e9 2.0 TFSI","modele_annee":null,"annee":"2007","cilindre":"4 cyl","boite":"BVM","transmision":"Traction","carburant":"ES"}]
So it contains 2 dictionaries. I need to take the objects from all the keys from this result. How can I do this?
I tried this : NSDictionary vehiculesPossedeDictionary=(NSDictionary *)result;
and then this : [vehiculesPossedeDictinary objectForKey:#"modele"]; but this is not working.
Please help me... Thanks in advance
What you have is a JSON string which describes an "array" containing two "objects". This needs to be converted to Objective-C objects using a JSON parser, and when converted will be an NSArray containing two NSDictionarys.
You aren't going to be able to get your dictionary directly from a string of JSON. You are going to have to going to have to run it through a JSON parser first.
At this point, there is not one build into the iOS SDK, so you will have to download a third-party tool and include it in your project.
There are a number of different JSON parser, include TouchJSON, YAJL, etc. that you can find and compare. Personally, I am using JSONKit.
#MatthewGillingham suggests JSONKit. I imagine it does fine, but I've always used its competitor json-framework. No real reason, I just found it first and learned it first. I do think its interface is somewhat simpler, but plenty of people do fine with JSONKit too.
Using json-framework:
require JSON.h
...and then
NSString *myJsonString = #"[{'whatever': 'this contains'}, {'whatever', 'more content'}]";
NSArray *data = [myJsonString JSONValue];
foreach (NSDictionary *item in data) {
NSString *val = [item objectForKey:#"whatever"];
//val will contain "this contains" on the first time through
//this loop, then "more content" the second time.
}
If you have array of dictionary just assign objects in array to dictionary like
NSDictionary *dictionary = [array objectAtIndes:0];
and then use this dictionary to get values.