usage of plist - any disadvantages?

[ramdas]

Hello,
I had asked a qestion whether I should use a Plist here :
http://www.iphonedevsdk.com/forum/ip...tml#post244057

Thanks for the response

I have still decided to make use of PList

Here is what I have coded :

NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory,NSUserDomainMask,YES );
	NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
	NSString *fileWithPath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"appConfig.plist"];

// I then check if the file exists 
BOOL fileExists = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:fileWithPath];

//if this file does not exist then I know user has just installed the application 
//so I create the file and store some flag in it 
if (!(fileExists)){
		
NSString *firstTimeFlag = @"TRUE";
NSMutableArray *appConfigArray = [[NSMutableArray arrayWithCapacity:1] retain];
NSArray *keys = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:@"firstTimeFlag",nil];
		[appConfigArray addObject:[NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjects:[NSArray arrayWithObjects:firstTimeFlag,nil] forKeys:keys]];

[appConfigArray writeToFile:fileWithPath atomically:YES];

This I can do

My questions are - I see that this file gets created in a wierd location :
/users / <<user >> / Library / Application Support / iPhone Simulator / 4.0.2 / applications / <<some no >> / Documents / appConfig.plist


When I reset the simulator the file is gone
Whiich is fine
when I restart the application ( without resetting the simulator) - I can detect the file which is what I want

I am wondering to maintain state this way - will it also work on iPhone

I also plan to save the state that user has logged in a application this way
Is there any thing I should be worried about ?
Will this work on iPhone or only on simulator ?

I see apple is really taking pains to make developers to go through loops
Which is how I guess they generate revenue ( already spent about usd 2500 in INdian rupees to buy an iphone and a macbook )
The frustrating thing is I will have to spend another usd 100 to register
and then too ( which I will post a separate thread) I see that I dont quite uunderstand how to do an ad hoc deployment on my phone

Anyway that is going to be a separate question for you guys here !

Please let me know your thoughts - and thanks
~ramdas

[Duncan C]

Originally Posted by ramdas

Hello,
I had asked a qestion whether I should use a Plist here :
http://www.iphonedevsdk.com/forum/ip...tml#post244057

Thanks for the response

I have still decided to make use of PList

Here is what I have coded :

NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory,NSUserDomainMask,YES );
	NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
	NSString *fileWithPath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"appConfig.plist"];

// I then check if the file exists 
BOOL fileExists = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:fileWithPath];

//if this file does not exist then I know user has just installed the application 
//so I create the file and store some flag in it 
if (!(fileExists)){
		
NSString *firstTimeFlag = @"TRUE";
NSMutableArray *appConfigArray = [[NSMutableArray arrayWithCapacity:1] retain];
NSArray *keys = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:@"firstTimeFlag",nil];
		[appConfigArray addObject:[NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjects:[NSArray arrayWithObjects:firstTimeFlag,nil] forKeys:keys]];

[appConfigArray writeToFile:fileWithPath atomically:YES];

This I can do

My questions are - I see that this file gets created in a wierd location :
/users / <<user >> / Library / Application Support / iPhone Simulator / 4.0.2 / applications / <<some no >> / Documents / appConfig.plist


When I reset the simulator the file is gone
Whiich is fine
when I restart the application ( without resetting the simulator) - I can detect the file which is what I want

I am wondering to maintain state this way - will it also work on iPhone

I also plan to save the state that user has logged in a application this way
Is there any thing I should be worried about ?
Will this work on iPhone or only on simulator ?

I see apple is really taking pains to make developers to go through loops
Which is how I guess they generate revenue ( already spent about usd 2500 in INdian rupees to buy an iphone and a macbook )
The frustrating thing is I will have to spend another usd 100 to register
and then too ( which I will post a separate thread) I see that I dont quite uunderstand how to do an ad hoc deployment on my phone

Anyway that is going to be a separate question for you guys here !

Please let me know your thoughts - and thanks
~ramdas

What you are doing will work, on both the iPhone and the simulator, but you are going to a lot of work to duplicate the features of NSUserDefaults.

NSUserDefaults is a specialized dictionary of objects that saves settings that you need to keep between launches. You can use it to store fairly complex structures.

NSUserDefaults includes the ability to specify initial values for any key, using the call registerDefaults. That creates starting values for a set of keys. If you later write a new value for a given key the starting value is then overridden by the new value.

A number of the sample apps included with the iPhone SDK use this method of storing settings, including using registerDefaults to save default values. The "Metronome" sample app is a simple example. Do a search on "Metronome" in the XCode help system to find it, and take a look at the project.

[ramdas]

Thanks Duncan for the response
I will look into what you have suggested and make changes
Atleast it is a relief to know that this will work ( though does not seem to be the best / most efficient way to use existing objects )
I guess that is the trouble of trying to get some urgent delivery done without even knowing the basics of XCode .....
( I am a Java developer and am really having a tough time with apple and iphone )

Once again thanks for pointing me in the right direction !