Write Generic Swift Method to load data from property list - ios

Question

I have a method that loads an array of dictionaries from a propertylist. Then I change those arrays of dictionaries to array of a defined custom type;
I want to write that method in generic form so I call that method with the type I expect, then the method loads it and returns an array of my custom type rather than dictionaries
func loadPropertyList(fileName: String) -> [[String:AnyObject]]?
{
if let path = NSBundle.mainBundle().pathForResource(fileName, ofType: "plist")
{
if let plistXML = NSFileManager.defaultManager().contentsAtPath(path)
{
do {
if let temp = try NSPropertyListSerialization.propertyListWithData(plistXML, options: .Immutable, format: nil) as? [[String:AnyObject]]
{
return temp
}
}catch{}
}
}
return nil
}
//
func loadList<T>(fileName: String) -> [T]?{//**Here the answer I am expecting**}

Answer 1

I am assuming your function to read from a Plist works and that you don't want to subclass NSObject.
Since Swift reflecting does not support setting values this is not possible without some implementation for each Type you want this to work for.
It can however be done in a pretty elegant way.
struct PlistUtils { // encapsulate everything
static func loadPropertyList(fileName: String) -> [[String:AnyObject]]? {
if let path = NSBundle.mainBundle().pathForResource(fileName, ofType: "plist") {
if let plistXML = NSFileManager.defaultManager().contentsAtPath(path) {
do {
if let temp = try NSPropertyListSerialization.propertyListWithData(plistXML, options: .Immutable, format: nil) as? [[String:AnyObject]] {
return temp
}
} catch {
return nil
}
}
}
return nil
}
}
This protocol will be used in a generic fashion to get the Type name and read the corresponding Plist.
protocol PListConstructible {
static func read() -> [Self]
}
This protocol will be used to implement Key Value setters.
protocol KeyValueSettable {
static func set(fromKeyValueStore values:[String:AnyObject]) -> Self
}
This is the combination of both to generate an array of objects. This does require that the Plist is named after the Type.
extension PListConstructible where Self : KeyValueSettable {
static func read() -> [Self] {
let name = String(reflecting: self)
var instances : [Self] = []
if let data = PlistUtils.loadPropertyList(name) {
for entry in data {
instances.append(Self.set(fromKeyValueStore: entry))
}
}
return instances
}
}
This is some Type.
struct Some : PListConstructible {
var alpha : Int = 0
var beta : String = ""
}
All you have to do is implement the Key Value setter and it will now be able to be read from a Plist.
extension Some : KeyValueSettable {
static func set(fromKeyValueStore values: [String : AnyObject]) -> Some {
var some = Some()
some.alpha = (values["alpha"] as? Int) ?? some.alpha
some.beta = (values["beta"] as? String) ?? some.beta
return some
}
}
This is how you use it.
Some.read()