How to iterate & retrieve values from NSArray of NSArrays of NSDictionaries - ios

Question

I'm stumpped on how iterate and get values for an Array of Arrays of NSDictionaries (different classes/entities). Here's what I'm currently doing:
1) Constructing two separate arrays of NSDictionaries (different entities)
2) Combining both arrays with:
NSMutableArray *combinedArrayofDicts = [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithObjects: sizesArrayOfDicts, wishListArrayOfDicts , nil];
3) Then archive combinedArrayofDicts :
NSData *dataToSend = [NSKeyedArchiver archivedDataWithRootObject:combinedArrayofDicts];
4) Transmit over GameKit
[self.session sendDataToAllPiers:dataToSend withDataMode: GKSendDataReliable error:nil];
5) How would I manage traversing thru this array on the receiving end? I want to fetch values by for each class which is key'ed by classname:
Here's how it looks via NSLog (2 Sizes Dicts, and 1 Wishlist Dict)
Printing description of receivedArray:
<__NSArrayM 0xbc65eb0>(
<__NSArrayM 0xbc651f0>(
{
classname = Sizes;
displayOrder = 0;
share = 1;
sizeType = Neck;
value = "13\" or 33 (cm)";
},
{
classname = Sizes;
displayOrder = 0;
share = 1;
sizeType = Sleeve;
value = "34\" or 86 (cm)";
}
)
,
<__NSArrayM 0xbc65e80>(
{
classname = Wishlist;
detail = "";
displayOrder = 0;
imageString = "";
latitude = "30.33216666666667";
link = "http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:30.332,-81.41";
longitude = "-81.40949999999999";
name = bass;
share = 1;
store = "";
}
)
)
(lldb)
In my for loop I'm issuing this:
NSString *value = [dict objectForKey:#"classname"];
and get an exception:
* Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '-[__NSArrayM objectForKey:]:
unrecognized selector sent to instance 0xbc651f0'
Is this frowned upon as far as mixing object types in arrays of arrays?
#Will guided me to the answer with the right construct.. Here's the final answer:
NSArray *receivedArray;
if(receivedArray.count>0){
NSArray *combinedArrayofDicts = [receivedArray objectAtIndex:0];
if(combinedArrayofDicts.count>=2){
NSArray *sizesArray = [receivedArray objectAtIndex:0]; // Reference original received array
for(NSDictionary *sizeDict in sizesArray){
NSLog(#"%#",sizeDict);
}
NSArray *wishListArray = [receivedArray objectAtIndex:1]; // Reference original received array
for(NSDictionary *wishDict in wishListArray){
NSLog(#"%#",wishDict);
}
}
}

Answer 1

for fetching the required dictionaries use the following code,
Assume receivedArray as the array receive from Game center
NSArray *receivedArray;
if(receivedArray.count>0){
NSArray *combinedArrayofDicts = [receivedArray objectAtIndex:0];
if(combinedArrayofDicts.count>=2){
NSArray *sizesArray = [combinedArrayofDicts objectAtIndex:0];
for(NSDictionary *sizeDict in sizesArray){
NSLog(#"%#",sizeDict);
}
NSArray *wishListArray = [combinedArrayofDicts objectAtIndex:1];
for(NSDictionary *wishDict in wishListArray){
NSLog(#"%#",wishDict);
}
}
}

Answer 2

how iterate and get values for an Array of Arrays of NSDictionaries
As you said you have array of array of dictionaries, your current code will not retrive value of class name.
Your return values are in NSArray not in NSDictionary
So you need to do something like,
NSString *value = [returnArray[0][0] objectForKey:#"classname"];
You can iterate and get values like,
for (int i = 0; i < [returnArray count]; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < [returnArray[i] count]; j++) {
NSDictionary *dict = (NSDictionary*)returnArray[i][j];
NSLog(#"%# ...",[dict objectForKey:#"classname"]);
}
}

Answer 3

Perhaps you can try:
NSString *value = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#",[dict objectForKey:#"classname"]];
By the looks of your output, I don't think "Sizes" is a string.