How to use arrayWithContentsOfFile to load file successfully written with writeToFile in ObjectiveC/XCode

Question

I am saving an array of custom objects to a plist list file like so:

+(void) arrayToPlist: (NSArray*) plant_types{
    NSMutableArray* dictionary_array = [NS         


        

Answer 1

With your plist, this code return a correct result

+(NSMutableArray*) arrayFromPlist{
    NSLog(@"Loading array of plant types from plist.");

    NSString *rootPath = [NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES) objectAtIndex:0];
    NSString* filePath    = [rootPath stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"PlantTypes.plist"];
    NSFileManager*  fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];

    if([fileManager fileExistsAtPath:filePath]){ 
        NSLog(@"Plist file exists at expected location.");
        NSMutableArray* plant_dicts = [NSMutableArray arrayWithContentsOfFile:filePath];
        NSLog(@"Loaded array with contents of file, got %d plant types.", plant_dicts.count);
        NSMutableArray* plant_types = [NSMutableArray arrayWithCapacity: plant_dicts.count];
        for(int i = 0; i< plant_dicts.count; i++){
            NSMutableDictionary* dict = [plant_dicts objectAtIndex: i];
            [plant_types addObject: dict];
        }
        return plant_types;
    }
    NSLog(@"Plant Type plist file not found.");
    return NULL;
}

result

2012-02-22 16:24:43.697 Test[5574:10103] Loading array of plant types from plist.
2012-02-22 16:24:43.698 Test[5574:10103] Plist file exists at expected location.
2012-02-22 16:24:43.699 Test[5574:10103] Loaded array with contents of file, got 5 plant types.
2012-02-22 16:24:43.700 Test[5574:10103](
        {
        name = "Autumn Olive";
        radius = 10;
    },
        {
        name = "Dwarf Cherry";
        radius = 5;
    },
        {
        name = Bamboo;
        radius = 2;
    },
        {
        name = Pomegranate;
        radius = 6;
    },
        {
        name = Lupin;
        radius = "0.6000000238418579";
    }
)

I think problem come from your PlantType implementation. Can you post your code (toDict and fromDict methods)