How can i save, retrieve, delete & update my data in Plist file in ios?

Question

I am creating a iPhone app in which i get all countries name, logo & player name. I want to save that data in .plist instead of sqlite server. I don't know how to create a plist file in DocumentDirectory and save the data.

Please somebody suggest me how to save data in plist file.

Answer 1

I am going through with screenshot and step by step. Please follow this and you will get your answer.

First you have to create Property List through your Xcode.

Step:1

Step:2

Step:3

Save data on your save button action :

   // Take 3 array for save the data .....

    -(IBAction)save_Action:(id)sender
    {
        NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains (NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
        NSString *documentsPath = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
        NSString *plistPath = [documentsPath stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"manuallyData.plist"];

        [self.nameArr addObject:self.nameField.text];
        [self.countryArr addObject:self.countryField.text];
        [self.imageArr addObject:@"image.png"];

        NSDictionary *plistDict = [[NSDictionary alloc] initWithObjects: [NSArray arrayWithObjects: self.nameArr, self.countryArr, self.imageArr, nil] forKeys:[NSArray arrayWithObjects: @"Name", @"Country",@"Image", nil]];

        NSError *error = nil;
        NSData *plistData = [NSPropertyListSerialization dataFromPropertyList:plistDict format:NSPropertyListXMLFormat_v1_0 errorDescription:&error];

        if(plistData)
        {
            [plistData writeToFile:plistPath atomically:YES];
            alertLbl.text = @"Data saved sucessfully";
        }
        else
        {
            alertLbl.text = @"Data not saved";
        }
    }
 // Data is saved in your plist and plist is saved in DocumentDirectory

Step:4

Retrieve Data from plist File:

    NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains (NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
    NSString *documentsPath = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
    NSString *plistPath = [documentsPath stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"manuallyData.plist"];

    if (![[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:plistPath])
    {
        plistPath = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:@"manuallyData" ofType:@"plist"];
    }

    NSDictionary *dict = [[NSDictionary alloc] initWithContentsOfFile:plistPath];
    self.nameArr = [dict objectForKey:@"Name"];
    self.countryArr = [dict objectForKey:@"Country"];

Step:5

Remove data from plist file:

    NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains (NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
    NSString *documentsPath = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
    NSString *plistPath = [documentsPath stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"manuallyData.plist"];
    NSMutableDictionary *dictionary = [NSMutableDictionary dictionaryWithContentsOfFile:(NSString *)plistPath];

    self.nameArr = [dictionary objectForKey:@"Name"];
    self.countryArr = [dictionary objectForKey:@"Country"];

    [self.nameArr removeObjectAtIndex:indexPath.row];
    [self.countryArr removeObjectAtIndex:indexPath.row];

    [dictionary writeToFile:plistPath atomically:YES];

Step:6

Update your data on Update click Action:

    NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains (NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
    NSString *documentsPath = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
    NSString *plistPath = [documentsPath stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"manuallyData.plist"];

    if (![[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:plistPath])
    {
        plistPath = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:@"manuallyData" ofType:@"plist"];
    }

    self.plistDic = [[NSDictionary alloc] initWithContentsOfFile:plistPath];

    [[self.plistDic objectForKey:@"Name"] removeObjectAtIndex:self.indexPath];
    [[self.plistDic objectForKey:@"Country"] removeObjectAtIndex:self.indexPath];
    [[self.plistDic objectForKey:@"Image"] removeObjectAtIndex:self.indexPath];

    [[self.plistDic objectForKey:@"Name"] insertObject:nameField.text atIndex:self.indexPath];
    [[self.plistDic objectForKey:@"Country"] insertObject:countryField.text atIndex:self.indexPath];
    [[self.plistDic objectForKey:@"Image"] insertObject:@"dhoni.jpg" atIndex:self.indexPath];

    [self.plistDic writeToFile:plistPath atomically:YES];