Question

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How to write a method/message with multiple parameters?

I am really confused here… I have looked at SO and Google where I found an example of calling a method with two parameters. So I modified it for my use, and unfortunately I can’t get it to work. Here is my updated code:

-  definition of method
- (NSArray *) fetchEventsBetweenDates: (NSDate *) sDate: andDate: (NSDate *) eDate;

- definitions and creation of sD and eD
    //  convert start dates to NSDate
    NSDateFormatter* df = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
    [df setDateFormat:@"MM/dd/yyyy"];
    NSDate* sD = [df dateFromString:@"10/03/2012"];
    NSLog(@"startDate: %@", sD);

    //  convert end dates to NSDate
    NSDate* eD = [df dateFromString:@"10/05/2012"];
    NSLog(@"endDate: %@", eD);

- call to method
    [self.eventsList addObjectsFromArray:[self fetchEventsBetweenDates: sD andDate: eD]];

- method
- (NSArray *) fetchEventsBetweenDates: (NSDate *) sDate: andDate: (NSDate *) eDate  {

I have tried every permutation I think was reasonable, and it still will not build. I am getting a “expected ‘:’ on the call to the method.

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

Please read The Objective-C Programming Language from Apple. Specifically the Message Syntax part.

The message declaration syntax is like this:

- (return type)myMethodParam1:(param1 type)p1 param2:(param2 type)p2;

Example:

- (NSArray *)fetchEventsBetweenDate:(NSDate *)startDate andDate:(NSDate *)endDate;

The implementation is the same, you just replace the semicolon ; with the implementation in curly brackets { implementation }.

When calling a method, you replace the parameter declarations with your variables:

// Assuming aDate and otherDate exist.
[self fetchEventsBetweenDate:aDate andDate:otherDate];