Storing data from a plist file into an array

Question

I have spent all of yesterday trying to figure this out with no luck at all. Here is the code im working with.

NSString *path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:@"file" ofType:@"plist"];

NSDictionary *dict = [[NSDictionary alloc] initWithContentsOfFile:path];

NSArray *array = [NSArray arrayWithArray:[dict objectForKey:@"root"]];

for(int num = 0; num < 5; num++)
{
NSLog(@"my array:%@", array);
}

NSLog(@"items in my array: %lu", (unsigned long) [array count]);

Here are the views for the plist file im working with.

<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>New item</key>
<string>hello</string>
<key>New item - 2</key>
<string>world</string>
<key>New item - 3</key>
<string>again</string>
<key>New item - 4</key>
<string>and</string>
<key>New item - 5</key>
<string>again</string>
</dict>
</plist>

This code does not return null like when i tried using an NSArray over the NSDictionary, but when i run it console does not print out any data retrieved from the plist. It just prints out:

my array:{}
my array:{}
my array:{}
my array:{}
my array:{}
items in my array: 0

If i try to print out dict by changing the NSLog to NSLog(@"my array:%@", array); i get this.

my array:(NULL)
my array:(NULL)
my array:(NULL)
my array:(NULL)
my array:(NULL)
items in my array: 0

Answer 1

I found the issue. I had to create a build phase and add the plist files to it. That way when i use the pathToResource ofFile it has a file to find when i use the rest of the code.

Answer 2

Everything you could print for such plist is NSLog(dict[@"new item"]);

Also you probably should use

for(int num = 0; num < array.count; num++)
{
    NSLog(@"my array:%@", array[i]);
}

instead of

for(int num = 0; num < 5; num++)
{
    NSLog(@"my array:%@", array);
}

Answer 3

Don't know what keys are in dictionary? No need to concern about keys in this case. Try this

NSString *path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:@"file" ofType:@"plist"];
NSDictionary *dict = [[NSDictionary alloc] initWithContentsOfFile:path];
if(dict.count != 0)
  {
    NSArray *array = [dict allKeys];
    for(int num = 0; num < array.count; num++)
      {
        NSLog(@"my array item:%@", [dict objectForKey:array[num]]);
      }
  }
else
  {
    NSLog(@"Your dictionary is empty.");
  }

Answer 4

Are you trying to put all the values form the dict into the array ? If so add:

NSArray *array = [NSArray arrayWithArray:[dict allValues]];

//Check for file;

NSString *path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:@"file" ofType:@"plist"];

if (![[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:path])
    NSLog(@"NO FILE AT PATH: %@", path);