PList Chicken/Egg Scenario

Question

I want to read/write to cache.plist

If I want to read an existing premade plist file stored in the resources folder I can go:

path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] bundlePath];
NSString *finalPath = [path stringByAppendingPathWithComponent@"cache.plist"];
NSMutableDictionary *root = ...

But then I wish to read it from the iPhone.

Can't, the Resources folder is only readable.

So I need to use:

NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomain,YES

So how can I have my plist file preinstalled to the Document Directory location?

Thus meaning I don't have to mess around with untidy code copying the plist file over at startup. (Unless that's the only way).

Answer 1

The final product

NSString *path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] bundlePath];
NSString *finalPath = [path stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Cache.plist"];


NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSError *error;
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *giveCachePath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Cache.plist"];


BOOL fileExists = [fileManager fileExistsAtPath:giveCachePath];

if (fileExists) {
    NSLog(@"file Exists");
}
else {
    NSLog(@"Copying the file over");
    fileExists = [fileManager copyItemAtPath:finalPath toPath:giveCachePath error:&error];
}

NSLog(@"Confirming Copy:");

BOOL filecopied = [fileManager fileExistsAtPath:giveCachePath];

if (filecopied) {
    NSLog(@"Give Cache Plist File ready.");
}
else {
    NSLog(@"Cache plist not working.");
}