How do I access elements in this dataset using objc? - ios

Question

I'm struggling with this dataset:
stopsArray: (
(
{
DistanceFromStart = 0;
Ordinal = 1;
Stop = {
Lat = "38.90282440185547";
Lon = "-77.03208160400391";
OrgAbbr = "<null>";
OrgId = DcCi;
StopCode = 1001259;
StopId = "DcCi_1445_7727";
StopName = "NW 14TH ST & NW K ST";
};
},
{
DistanceFromStart = "0.443314063224555";
Ordinal = 2;
Stop = {
Lat = "38.90834426879883";
Lon = "-77.03208923339844";
OrgAbbr = "<null>";
OrgId = DcCi;
StopCode = 1001393;
StopId = "DcCi_1445_7808";
StopName = "NW 14TH ST & NW RHODE ISLAND AV";
};
},
{
DistanceFromStart = "1.050716048463951";
Ordinal = 3;
Stop = {
Lat = "38.91703033447266";
Lon = "-77.03196716308594";
OrgAbbr = "<null>";
OrgId = DcCi;
StopCode = 17348;
StopId = "DcCi_1445_6674";
StopName = "NW 14TH ST & NW U ST";
};
},
I'm not sure if this is an array, a dictionary, or a combination. How do I tell the difference?
How would I pull out the "Ordinal" field, as well as elements in the "Stop" dataset?
To get the stopsArray data, I used this line:
stopsArray = [variantArray valueForKey:#"Stops"];
I've tried to pull the first Ordinal field (i.e. 1) with this:
NSMutableArray *array = stopsArray[0];
NSString *string = [array valueForKey:#"Ordinal"];
NSLog(#"string: %#", string);
But that results in:
string: (
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7
)
Any ideas to stop my hair coming out would be most welcome.
I'll keep at it meanwhile.

Answer 1

Firstly, its an array of objects of type dictionary.
Secondly, the data doesn't seem to be properly formatted.
Its like an array with a single object of type dictionary, but that single object contains all the different dictionary values.
hence your result of
string: (
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7
)
What seems to me the problem is the second open bracket
stopsArray: (
(
{
Try doing this...
NSMutableArray *array = stopsArray[0];
NSMutableArray *actualDataArray = array[0];
and then
NSString *string = [actualDataArray[INDEX_OF_DIC_OBJECT] valueForKey:#"Ordinal"];
NSLog(#"string: %#", string);
Lemme know if it works.
Updated Solution
What eventually worked for David DelMonte.
NSString *string = [[[stopsArray objectAtIndex:0] objectAtIndex:0] objectForKey:#"Ordinal"];