How to deal with NSNull in my data?

Question

I am getting an [NSNull rangeOfCharacterFromSet:]: exception when attempting to display a label. The error reads

'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '-[NSNull length]:

Below is my code.

UILabel* spousename = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(10,line, 300,20)];

[spousename setText:[_thisburial objectForKey:@"Spouse"]];

I tried to test for a null character with the following code but that didn't catch the error. It blew up when trying to execute the addSuview instruction.

if(![spousename isEqual:nil])
{
    [self.view addSubview:spousename];
}

So how do I test for NSNull in a label so I can prevent from getting this [NSNull rangeOfCharacterFromSet:]: error message?

Answer 1

Your data doesn't actually have a real value for "spouse" and this has been indicated by storing an instance of NSNull as the value. You need to check for this.

This line:

[spousename setText:[_thisburial objectForKey:@"Spouse"]];

Should be updated to check the value. Something like this:

id spouse = _thisburial[@"Spouse"];
if ([spouse isKindOfClass:[NSString class]]) {
    spousename.text = spouse;
} else {
    // The "spouse" value wasn't set or it's not a string
    spousename.text = @""; // Set to whatever you want here
}