Check and replace all null values with empty string in NSDictionary/NSArray - ios

Question

I am storing my json response in a NSDictionary and this dictionary contains various array, so I want to replace all the null values with #"" empty string.
{
Specialities = (
{
ApprovalStatus = Unapproved;
CurrencyCode = "<null>";
Packages = (
{
AssetId = 157965;
BasePrice = 10000;
BookingAdvance = 100;
Currency = INR;
Details = "<null>";
DiscountedPrice = 9000;
Id = 16579;
IsBestOffer = 1;
IsPopular = 1;
LineItems = (
{
IconClass = "fa-check";
Text = "A DVD with all edited and unedited images";
}
);
PackageVersion = 123955;
PriceUnit = 3;
Quantity = 4;
SpecialityId = 22;
Status = Rejected;
Tags = (
53
);
TermsAndConditions = "<null>";
Title = Test;
}
);
Photos = (
157965,
157964
);
ServiceDescription = 43534;
Speciality = 22;
SpecialityName = "Wedding Photographer";
UserFRPs = (
{
AssetId = 157965;
CurrencyCode = INR;
DiscountedPrice = 800;
FRPId = 13;
Id = 4559;
Price = 1000;
SpecialityId = 22;
Status = Active;
},
{
AssetId = 565441;
CurrencyCode = INR;
DiscountedPrice = 9000;
FRPId = 18;
Id = 5559;
Price = 10000;
SpecialityId = 22;
Status = Active;
}
);
Videos = (
{
VideoId = DaWOguXZbNA;
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaWOguXZbNA";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = DGVJtAHzzDQ;
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGVJtAHzzDQ";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = "_zxKLZR-xuk";
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zxKLZR-xuk";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = 5SkBZcvuuQs;
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SkBZcvuuQs";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = "H_Xi-lVB4Zw";
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_Xi-lVB4Zw";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = TWhSjpsGvPQ;
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWhSjpsGvPQ";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = N2CJrhHEydA;
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2CJrhHEydA";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = Lq6faQVYcwY;
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq6faQVYcwY";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = v8WjMiodcKo;
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8WjMiodcKo";
VideoType = YouTube;
}
);
},
{
ApprovalStatus = Unapproved;
CurrencyCode = "<null>";
Packages = "<null>";
Photos = (
157967
);
ServiceDescription = Ddhd;
Speciality = 37;
SpecialityName = "Hair and Makeup Stylist";
UserFRPs = (
{
AssetId = 157967;
CurrencyCode = INR;
DiscountedPrice = 900;
FRPId = 34;
Id = 4560;
Price = 1000;
SpecialityId = 37;
Status = Active;
}
);
Videos = (
{
VideoId = "onvkllwM-OI";
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onvkllwM-OI";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = "_-cRVdTW2s8";
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-cRVdTW2s8";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = DGVJtAHzzDQ;
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGVJtAHzzDQ";
VideoType = YouTube;
}
);
},
{
ApprovalStatus = Unapproved;
CurrencyCode = "<null>";
Packages = "<null>";
Photos = (
157963,
157962,
157961
);
ServiceDescription = Test;
Speciality = 55;
SpecialityName = Transport;
UserFRPs = "<null>";
Videos = (
{
VideoId = "cRchvv_dB2c";
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRchvv_dB2c";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = "onvkllwM-OI";
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onvkllwM-OI";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = DGVJtAHzzDQ;
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGVJtAHzzDQ";
VideoType = YouTube;
}
);
},
{
ApprovalStatus = Unapproved;
CurrencyCode = "<null>";
Packages = "<null>";
Photos = "<null>";
ServiceDescription = Baby;
Speciality = 5;
SpecialityName = "Children/Babies Photographer";
UserFRPs = "<null>";
Videos = (
{
VideoId = "cRchvv_dB2c";
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRchvv_dB2c";
VideoType = YouTube;
},
{
VideoId = DGVJtAHzzDQ;
VideoLink = "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGVJtAHzzDQ";
VideoType = YouTube;
}
);
},
}
I want all null values to be replace by empty string.

Answer 1

Then just do that
NSString *json = [[NSString alloc] initWithData:[NSJSONSerialization dataWithJSONObject:yourDictionary options:0 error:nil] encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding];
NSString *jsonWithoutNulls = [json stringByReplacingOccurrencesOfString:#"<null>" withString:#""];
NSData *data = [jsonWithoutNulls dataUsingEncoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding]
NSDictionary *dic = [NSJSONSerialization JSONObjectWithData:data options:NSJSONReadingMutableContainers error:nil];

Answer 2

I prefer to use Macros to determine null values.
#define IS_NULL(value) (value != nil && value != Nil && value != NULL && value != (id)[NSNull null])
and I invoke it like
if (IS_NULL(CurrencyCode))
{
//insert ""
}else
{
//do necessary updates
}
OR you can also use the following method ,
-(BOOL) isNull: (NSString*)value{
if ([value isEqualToString:#"<null>"]){
return false;
}
return true;
}
and you can invoke it like,
if (isNull(currencyType))
{
//insert #""
}else{
//do necessary updates
}

Answer 3

Try this this is mine code i am using i hope it would be helpful!!
func checkDictionary(let dict:NSMutableDictionary)
{
let keys = Array(dict.allKeys)
for i in keys
{
let checkvalue = dict.valueForKey(i as! String)
if checkvalue! .isKindOfClass(NSNull)
{
dict.setObject("", forKey: i as! NSString)
}
else if checkvalue!.isKindOfClass(NSDictionary)
{
let dic = checkvalue as! NSDictionary
let dicts = dic.mutableCopy()
self.checkDictionary(dicts as! NSMutableDictionary)
dict.setObject(dicts, forKey: i as! NSString)
}
else if checkvalue! .isKindOfClass(NSArray)
{
let keys2 = checkvalue as! NSArray
let keys1 = keys2.mutableCopy() as! NSMutableArray
dict.setObject(keys1, forKey: i as! NSString)
for j in keys1
{
if j .isKindOfClass(NSNull)
{
keys1.replaceObjectAtIndex(keys1.indexOfObject(j), withObject:"")
}
if j.isKindOfClass(NSDictionary)
{
let dic = j as! NSDictionary
let dicts = dic.mutableCopy()
keys1.replaceObjectAtIndex(keys1.indexOfObject(j), withObject: dicts)
self .checkDictionary(dicts as! NSMutableDictionary)
}
}
}
}
}
In objective-C Try this!!
-(void)CheckDictionary:(NSMutableDictionary *)dic
{
NSArray *Arr = [dic allKeys];
for (int i = 0; i<Arr.count; i++)
{
if ([[dic valueForKey:[Arr objectAtIndex:i]] isKindOfClass:[NSNull class]])
{
[dic setObject:#"" forKey:[Arr objectAtIndex:i]];
}
else if ([[dic valueForKey:[Arr objectAtIndex:i]] isKindOfClass:[NSDictionary class]])
{
NSMutableDictionary *dict = [[dic valueForKey:[Arr objectAtIndex:i]] mutableCopy];
[dic setObject:dict forKey:[Arr objectAtIndex:i]];
[self CheckDictionary:dict];
}
else if ([[dic valueForKey:[Arr objectAtIndex:i]] isKindOfClass:[NSMutableArray class]])
{
NSMutableArray *Arr12 = [dic valueForKey:[Arr objectAtIndex:i]];
for (int j = 0; j<Arr12.count; j++)
{
if ([[Arr12 objectAtIndex:j] isKindOfClass:[NSDictionary class]])
{
NSDictionary *dict123 = [Arr12 objectAtIndex:j];
NSMutableDictionary *dict = [dict123 mutableCopy];
[Arr12 replaceObjectAtIndex:j withObject:dict];
[self CheckDictionary:dict];
}
}
}
}
}
And Just pass the whole dictionary when you call this method I hope it would be helpful!!
NSDictionary *dictionary = [NSJSONSerialization JSONObjectWithData:responseObject options: NSJSONReadingMutableContainers error: nil];
if (dictionary)
{
NSMutableDictionary *dict = [dictionary mutableCopy];
[self CheckDictionary:dict];
dictionary = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithDictionary:dict];
}

Answer 4

This is how we do it
#interface NSMutableArray (JSON)
- (void)recursivelyRemoveNulls;
#end
#implementation NSMutableArray (JSON)
- (void)recursivelyRemoveNulls
{
[self enumerateObjectsUsingBlock:^(id value, NSUInteger __unused idx, BOOL __unused *nestedStop)
{
if ([value isKindOfClass:[NSDictionary class]])
{
NSMutableDictionary *modifiedValue = [NSMutableDictionary dictionaryWithDictionary:value];
[modifiedValue recursivelyRemoveNulls];
[self removeObject:value];
[self addObject:modifiedValue];
}
else if ([value isKindOfClass:[NSArray class]])
{
NSMutableArray *modifiedValue = [NSMutableArray arrayWithArray:value];
[modifiedValue recursivelyRemoveNulls];
[self removeObject:value];
[self addObject:modifiedValue];
}
}];
}
#end
#interface NSMutableDictionary (JSON)
- (void)recursivelyRemoveNulls;
#end
#implementation NSMutableDictionary (JSON)
- (void)recursivelyRemoveNulls
{
[self enumerateKeysAndObjectsUsingBlock:^(NSString *key, id value, BOOL __unused *stop)
{
if (value == [NSNull null] || value == nil)
{
[self removeObjectForKey:key];
}
else if ([value isKindOfClass:[NSDictionary class]])
{
NSMutableDictionary *modifiedValue = [NSMutableDictionary dictionaryWithDictionary:value];
[modifiedValue recursivelyRemoveNulls];
self[key] = modifiedValue;
}
else if ([value isKindOfClass:[NSArray class]])
{
NSMutableArray *modifiedValue = [NSMutableArray arrayWithArray:value];
[modifiedValue recursivelyRemoveNulls];
self[key] = modifiedValue;
}
}];
}
#end

Answer 5

The short code you can use here:-
NSString * newValue=[self isNotNull:[your Object here]] ? [your Object here] : #"Value that you want to replace";
- (BOOL)isNull:(NSObject *)object {
if (!object) return YES;
else if (object == [NSNull null]) return YES;
else if ([object isKindOfClass:[NSString class]]) {
return ([((NSString *)object)isEqualToString : #""]
|| [((NSString *)object)isEqualToString : #"null"]
|| [((NSString *)object)isEqualToString : #"<null>"]
|| [((NSString *)object)isEqualToString : #"(null)"]
);
}
return NO;
}
- (BOOL)isNotNull:(NSObject *)object {
return ![self isNull:object];
}