appending array via swift 2 - ios

Question

i have a problem with appending an array, you can see my code, i checked the problem's line by: self.items.append(....)
the array is not appended and stay empty.
here is my code:
//
// ViewController.swift
// firer
//
// Created by mike matta on 06/01/2016.
// Copyright © 2016 Mikha Matta. All rights reserved.
//
import UIKit
import Firebase
class ViewController: UIViewController, UITableViewDataSource, UITableViewDelegate {
#IBOutlet weak var showdatA: UILabel!
#IBOutlet weak var tableView: UITableView!
var items:[String] = []
var userFNAME:String = ""
var userDOB:String = ""
let textCellIdentifier = "TextCell"
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
tableView.delegate = self
tableView.dataSource = self
// Do any additional setup after loading the view, typically from a nib.
///////////
let UsersChannel = Firebase(url: "https://MYFIREBASE.firebaseio.com/users")
UsersChannel.observeEventType(.ChildAdded, withBlock: { snapshot in
if let az = String?((snapshot.value.objectForKey("full_name"))! as! String) {
self.userFNAME = az
}
if let az2 = String?((snapshot.value.objectForKey("dob"))! as! String) {
self.userDOB = az2
}
print("\(self.userFNAME) - \(self.userDOB)")
self.items.append(self.userFNAME) // heeereeee what i am trying to doooooooo
})
// print(self.items)
}
override func didReceiveMemoryWarning() {
super.didReceiveMemoryWarning()
// Dispose of any resources that can be recreated.
}
func numberOfSectionsInTableView(tableView: UITableView) -> Int {
return 1
}
func tableView(tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
return items.count
}
func tableView(tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAtIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier(textCellIdentifier, forIndexPath: indexPath) as UITableViewCell
let row = indexPath.row
cell.textLabel?.text = items[row]
return cell
}
// MARK: UITableViewDelegate Methods
func tableView(tableView: UITableView, didSelectRowAtIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath) {
tableView.deselectRowAtIndexPath(indexPath, animated: true)
let row = indexPath.row
print(items[row])
}
}
i tryed to put the array definition inside the viewdidload() it works...but i need it outside it (like my code)..
i tryed to put the array outside the async block too...still not appending....any one ?

Answer 1

I think that your code works !
The question is :
Why do you think that your array is still empty ?
You have to think the order that your instructions are executed.
At this line :
// print(self.items);
Your array is still empty because the closure is not yet called.
Put this line just after the append and you will see.
And, Just add self.tableView.reloadData() after your append and you will be happy :)
(It will say to your tableview to recall the delegate methods (numberOfRowsInSection ...) )