Share Data between Project and Share Extension - ios

Question

I would like to share data between my Main Project and my Share Extension. This is what I did:
1. enable App Groups in both Project & Share Extension
2. save data in Project inside viewDidLoad (works fine, I tested it):
DataHandler.getWishlists { (success, dataArray, dropOptionsArray) in
if success && dataArray != nil {
self.shouldAnimateCells = true
self.dataSourceArray = dataArray as! [Wishlist]
self.theCollectionView.isHidden = false
self.theCollectionView.reloadData()
self.dropOptions = dropOptionsArray as! [DropDownOption]
self.addButton.isEnabled = true
self.activityIndicator.stopAnimating()
// save dataSourceArray in UserDefaults
if let defaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: UserDefaults.Keys.groupKey) {
defaults.setDataSourceArray(data: dataArray as! [Wishlist])
defaults.synchronize()
} else {
print("error Main")
}
}
}
3. retrive data in Share Extension (error 2 fires!)
if let defaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: UserDefaults.Keys.groupKey) {
if let data = defaults.getDataSourceArray() {
dataSourceArray = data
defaults.synchronize()
}else {
print("error 2")
}
} else {
print("error 1")
}
UserDefaults + Helpers
extension UserDefaults {
public struct Keys {
public static let groupKey = "group.wishlists-app.wishlists"
public static let dataSourceKey = "dataSourceKey"
}
func setDataSourceArray(data: [Wishlist]){
set(try? PropertyListEncoder().encode(data), forKey: Keys.dataSourceKey)
synchronize()
}
func getDataSourceArray() -> [Wishlist]? {
if let data = UserDefaults.standard.value(forKey: Keys.dataSourceKey) as? Data {
if let dataSourceArray = try? PropertyListDecoder().decode(Array<Wishlist>.self, from: data) as [Wishlist] {
return dataSourceArray
}
}
return nil
}
}
I can not retrieve the data inside my Share Extension but I have no idea why. Could anyone help me out here?

Answer 1

Your helper function getDataSourceArray() tries to access UserDefaults.standard which is not shared between your host app and the extension app. You need to use the shared container.
UserDefaults.standard -> not shared between host and extension
UserDefaults(suiteName:) -> shared between host and extension
Try to change your function to this:
func getDataSourceArray() - > [Wishlist] ? {
if let data = UserDefaults(suiteName: UserDefaults.Keys.groupKey).value(forKey: Keys.dataSourceKey) as ? Data {
if let dataSourceArray =
try ? PropertyListDecoder().decode(Array < Wishlist > .self, from: data) as[Wishlist] {
return dataSourceArray
}
}
return nil
}