Question

I have a NSDictionary that contains objects and keys. The Keys hold a Name and number. I would like to insert those objects into a NSMutableArray by using insertObject: atIndex: . Object being the name and the number is the index I would like to place the object in. I now know that NSMutableArrays are able to insert objects at index:6 if there is no 1-5 so how do I make this possible? Any suggestions are very appreciated!

Example Dictionary [dict objectForKey:@”array”]:

 preferences as whole (
        {
        Name = PowerDown;
        btnIndex = 3;
    },
        {
        Name = ClearCache;
        btnIndex = 5;
    },
        {
        Name = KillBGApps;
        btnIndex = 6;
    },
        {
        Name = InfoPanel;
        btnIndex = 2;
    },
        {
        Name = Lock;
        btnIndex = 4;
    },
        {
        Name = Reboot;
        btnIndex = 0;
    },
        {
        Name = Respring;
        btnIndex = 1;
    }
)

What I have so far but crashes when adding objects out of bounds of the array

-(void)loadArray{

 self.buttons = [NSMutableArray array];


    NSMutableArray *tempArray = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
    tempArray = [buttonsPrefs objectForKey:@"buttonsToOrder"];


    for(NSDictionary * dict in tempArray)
    {
        if (dict) {

            NSString *btnName = [dict objectForKey:@"Name"];

            NSString *btnIndex = [dict objectForKey:@"btnIndex"];
            NSUInteger index = [btnIndex integerValue];

            NSLog(@"Name = %@",btnName);
            NSLog(@"at index %i",index);

            [self.buttons insertObject: btnName atIndex: index];
        }


    }

}

EDIT: These values “indexes” for the names with change when a user moves the cell

- (void) tableView:(UITableView *)tableView moveRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath 
*)fromIndexPath toIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)toIndexPath {
NSUInteger fromIndex = [fromIndexPath row];
NSUInteger toIndex = [toIndexPath row];
if (fromIndex == toIndex)
    return;
NSMutableDictionary *selectedButton = [[[_buttons objectAtIndex:fromIndex] retain] 
autorelease];
[_buttons removeObjectAtIndex:fromIndex];
[_buttons insertObject:selectedButton atIndex:toIndex];


//[buttonsPrefs setObject:_buttons forKey:@"buttonsToOrder"];
//[buttonsPrefs writeToFile:[self getFilePath] atomically: YES];


}

Answer 1

Try to fill your target array with some dummy data according to yourDict count like this:

for (int i=0, i<[yourDict count], ++i){
    [yourArray addObject:@"dummyData"];
}

And when you will need to insertObject do this:

for(NSDictionary * dict in tempArray)
{
    if (dict) {

        NSString *btnName = [dict objectForKey:@"Name"];

        NSString *btnIndex = [dict objectForKey:@"btnIndex"];
        NSUInteger index = [btnIndex integerValue];

        [yourArray insertObject:btnName atIndex:index];
        [yourArray removeObjectAtIndex:index+1];
    }
}