Table view -> Detail view using plist?

[WTFWJD]

Hi

Bit of a newbie question here. I'm trying to make a one row table view -> detail view app. The table is an alphabetical list of items and the detail view is a corresponding image of those items; ie.

User taps Apple in table view - detail view shows picture of an apple

User taps 'Back' button and is returned to the table view

User taps Bicycle in table view - detail view shows picture of a bicycle

Etc...


Am I right in thinking that I can store the list of items and corresponding images in a single plist file that is used to populate the table view and the detail view? ie.


Root (Array)

Item 1 (Dictionary)
name (String) Apple
image(String) apple.png

Item 2 (Dictionary)
name (String) Bicycle
image(String) bicycle.png

Etc...


If so, is a Navigation-based Application template in Xcode the best place to start? Or will I need to write custom code to access the plist in this way?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, many thanks!

[johnhmeyer123]

Hey,
I was just wondering if you ever figured out how to do this. I have been stuck in the same EXACT situation for months now. It would be a huge help if you or anyone else could tell me how this could be done. I have a table view, with a set of products. When I click each unique product, I want it to bring the user to a unique detail view with detailed information, and an image of the product. And finally, I hope for all the info to be stored in a plist.

Thanks!

[WTFWJD]

Hi,
Unfortunately not as yet. After trying a fair few approaches I just kept getting stuck. As it's a side project of mine it's kinda been on the back burner a bit. Annoyingly I know that it can be done though. I've got some time off coming up, so I'm gonna have another stab at it then. If I get any further I will let you know. And likewise if you make any progress, a nod in the right direction would be much appreciated Good luck!

[PettyDesign]

any luck guys? i too am trying to do something very similar and having problems sorting out the logistics of how to do this... grrr...

[tychop]

Originally Posted by PettyDesign

any luck guys? i too am trying to do something very similar and having problems sorting out the logistics of how to do this... grrr...

How about you post some code fragments on where you're getting stuck.
Perhaps that'll draw some more attention from the community.

You did look at the sample code provided by Apple right?
Because they have many many examples on how to achieve this.

[Duncan C]

Originally Posted by WTFWJD

Hi

Bit of a newbie question here. I'm trying to make a one row table view -> detail view app. The table is an alphabetical list of items and the detail view is a corresponding image of those items; ie.

User taps Apple in table view - detail view shows picture of an apple

User taps 'Back' button and is returned to the table view

User taps Bicycle in table view - detail view shows picture of a bicycle

Etc...


Am I right in thinking that I can store the list of items and corresponding images in a single plist file that is used to populate the table view and the detail view? ie.


Root (Array)

Item 1 (Dictionary)
name (String) Apple
image(String) apple.png

Item 2 (Dictionary)
name (String) Bicycle
image(String) bicycle.png

Etc...


If so, is a Navigation-based Application template in Xcode the best place to start? Or will I need to write custom code to access the plist in this way?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, many thanks!

You've got the right idea. A plist would be one way to save your data and read it at start time. A plist will archive/unarchive dictionaries or NSArray objects. However, those dictionaries/arrays can only contain a small list of data types (including mutable or immutable variants)


NSDictionary
NSArray
NSData
NSString
NSNumber

Your image files can't be stored into a plist directly.

The simplest way to handle that is to just store the filenames of your images into your plist, and save the images as separate files in your app bundle. Then, when you need one, load it using UIImage imageNamed:

Loading your plist is really trivial. Just use the NSArray method +arrayWithContentsOfFile:

The same goes with saving your array. To save it, call the NSArray object writeToFile:atomically:


Given that you want to have a table view that links to a detail view, and then lets the user go back to the table view, a navigation based application sounds perfect. In your table view controller, you'd just use the method pushViewController:animated: to push your detail view controller, and then pop it off when you want to go back to your table view controller.



Regards,

Duncan C
WareTo

[nalin_art]

i am just started learning xcode..please help.

Hi have plist with following structure..

root dictionary
a array
item 0 value
item 1 value
b array
item 0 value
item 1 value

i would like to load array a into one table only

now i don't know how to do that..

help would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance

can any one please tell me how can i do that..