Populate UITableView via a string? - ios

Question

I have a simple iOS app which parses multiple JSON feeds and stores the data in multiple strings. I know exactly which strings to use for what and how long the count is because the JSON feeds are feeds that I control from some of my websites.
However, even though I have specified this in the "tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath" method, the UITableView still won't populate..
Is this because I am using strings to populate the UITableView? And if so, do you HAVE to use arrays to populate a UITableView.
Thanks for you're time :)
UPDATE: Here is m code:
-(NSInteger)numberOfSectionsInTableView:(UITableView *)tableView {
return 1;
}
-(NSInteger)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView numberOfRowsInSection:(NSInteger)section {
return 5;
}
-(UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {
NSLog(#"Printing table view.");
static NSString *CellIdentifier = #"Cell";
AccountCell *cell = (AccountCell *)[account_table dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
if (cell == nil) {
NSArray *nib = [[NSBundle mainBundle] loadNibNamed:#"AccountCell" owner:self options:nil];
cell = [nib objectAtIndex: 0];
// Draws the cell background.
cell.backgroundView = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"uiFeedletsnglass5.png"]];
// Draws the pressed cell background.
cell.selectedBackgroundView = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"cell-on.png"]];
// Round of edges of content view in Carousel.
cell.layer.cornerRadius = 5;
cell.layer.masksToBounds = YES;
cell.layer.borderWidth = 1.0f;
cell.layer.borderColor = [[UIColor grayColor] CGColor];
cell.profilepic.layer.cornerRadius = 5;
cell.profilepic.layer.masksToBounds = YES;
cell.profilepic.layer.borderWidth = 1.0f;
cell.profilepic.layer.borderColor = [[UIColor grayColor] CGColor];
}
if ((facebook_printed == 0) && (logged_facebook == 1)) {
NSString *full_name = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%# %#", facebook_first_name, facebook_last_name];
cell.username.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#", full_name];
cell.account_type_name.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"Facebook"];
NSData *facebook_imageData = [[NSData alloc] initWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString: facebook_proffile_pic]];
UIImage *facebook_image = [[UIImage alloc] initWithData:facebook_imageData];
cell.profilepic.image = facebook_image;
facebook_printed = 1;
}
else if ((youtube_printed == 0) && (logged_youtube == 1)) {
cell.username.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#", youtube_profilename];
cell.account_type_name.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"YouTube"];
NSData *youtube_imageData = [[NSData alloc] initWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString: youtube_profilepic]];
UIImage *youtube_image = [[UIImage alloc] initWithData:youtube_imageData];
cell.profilepic.image = youtube_image;
youtube_printed = 1;
}
else if ((instagram_printed == 0) && (logged_instagram == 1)) {
cell.username.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#", instagram_name_tag];
cell.account_type_name.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"Instagram"];
NSData *instagram_imageData = [[NSData alloc] initWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString: instagram_profilepicture]];
UIImage *instagram_image = [[UIImage alloc] initWithData:instagram_imageData];
cell.profilepic.image = instagram_image;
instagram_printed = 1;
}
else if ((googleplus_printed == 0) && (logged_googleplus == 1)) {
cell.username.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#", googleplus_profilename];
cell.account_type_name.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"Google Plus"];
NSData *googleplus_imageData = [[NSData alloc] initWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString: googleplus_profilepic]];
UIImage *googleplus_image = [[UIImage alloc] initWithData:googleplus_imageData];
cell.profilepic.image = googleplus_image;
googleplus_printed = 1;
}
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] setNetworkActivityIndicatorVisible:NO];
return cell;
}

Answer 1

Maybe try reloading the table view's data once you obtain the value of the string?
[tableView reloadData];

Answer 2

Right after much frustration and pretty much a lot of trial and error I finally figured out that it is because of if (cell == nil) that my Custom Cell was not loading (showing in the UITableView).
I was not aware of this at all, but from what I have read online it seems that when using UiTableViews in Storyboard UI's with Custom Cells, you are NOT meant to use the control statement if (cell == nil)
Thanks to everyone who commented on this post though. I appreciate you're help.