CODEWITHSUNDEEP
iosnsmutabledictionary
vishnuvarthan
vishnuvarthan

Reputation: 512

Dont add NSMutabledictionary values in alphabetical order

I am trying to add datas to a dictionary using key value array but the dictionary values are arranged based on keys alphabetical order

my values and keys array contains :

myValueArray ={[orange,apple],
               [ford,toyota,lexus]}
myKeyArray ={[fruits],[cars]}

I am adding keys and value to a NSMutabledictionary using

myDictionary = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc]initWithObjects:myValueArray forKeys:MainDelegate.myKeyArray];

myDictionary should be 

  myDictionary = { Fruits =(orange,apple);
                   cars =(ford,toyota,lexus);}

but it is added in key's alphabetical order and looks like

 myDictionary = { cars =(ford,toyota,lexus);
                     Fruits =(orange,apple);}

is there a way to add key value pairs in dictionary as it is without any ordering.

I am trying this to populate a grouped uitableview. since keys are used as sections everything looks like contacts app where sections and its corresponding values are arranged alphabetically. But i need the recent section to be shown first(the first one in array).

Upvotes: 0

Views: 184

Answers (2)

pteofil
pteofil

Reputation: 4163

If you need to conserve your initial order, then you have to use an NSMutableArray.

NSMutableDictionary is designed to be able to access the values for key in the fastest possible way, and having the key sorted helps with that.

Here is how to declare the dictionary and array and how to use them for a grouped tableView:

    NSDictionary *myDictionary = @{ @"cars": @[@"ford" , @"toyota", @"lexus"], @"Fruits": @[@"orange", @"apple"]};
    NSArray *keysArray = @[ @"Fruits", @"cars"];

    // first section
    NSString *sectionName = keysArray[0];
    NSArray *sectionArray = myDictionary[sectionName];

    // second section
    sectionName = keysArray[1];
    sectionArray = myDictionary[sectionName];

Upvotes: 2

Viral Savaj
Viral Savaj

Reputation: 3389

NSMutableDictionary doesn't have any sorting associated to it, when you print this in log, it will display in sorting order.

You can manage a separate NSMutableArray and put you key in the order in which you want to fetch from NSMutableDictionary.

That can be the easiest way to store values and fetch as per your requirement.

May this help you.

Upvotes: 0

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