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];

Answer 2

SWIFT 3.0

Below is the code to read and write Data in .plist File.

1. Create a data.plist file.

2. Make sure that root object is of type Dictionary.

    class PersistanceViewControllerA: UIViewController {
   
    @IBOutlet weak var nationTextField: UITextField!
    @IBOutlet weak var capitalTextField: UITextField!
   
    @IBOutlet weak var textView: UITextView!
   
    override func viewDidLoad() {
         super.viewDidLoad()
         displayNationAndCapitalCityNames()
   
   
    //Get Path
    func getPath() -> String {
      let plistFileName = "data.plist"
      let paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(.documentDirectory, .userDomainMask, true)
      let documentPath = paths[0] as NSString
      let plistPath = documentPath.appendingPathComponent(plistFileName)
      return plistPath
    }
   
   
    //Display Nation and Capital
    func displayNationAndCapitalCityNames() {
      let plistPath = self.getPath()
      self.textView.text = ""
      if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: plistPath) {
        if let nationAndCapitalCities = NSMutableDictionary(contentsOfFile: plistPath) {
            for (_, element) in nationAndCapitalCities.enumerated() {
                self.textView.text = self.textView.text + "\(element.key) --> \(element.value) \n"
            }
        }
     }
    }
   
    //On Click OF Submit
    @IBAction func onSubmit(_ sender: UIButton) {
        let plistPath = self.getPath()
        if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: plistPath) {
            let nationAndCapitalCities = NSMutableDictionary(contentsOfFile: plistPath)!
            nationAndCapitalCities.setValue(capitalTextField.text!, forKey: nationTextField.text!)
            nationAndCapitalCities.write(toFile: plistPath, atomically: true)
        }
        nationTextField.text = ""
        capitalTextField.text = ""
        displayNationAndCapitalCityNames()
    }
   
    }
   

output:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Canada</key>
    <string>Ottawa</string>
    <key>China</key>
    <string>Beijin</string>
    <key>Germany</key>
    <string>Berlin</string>
    <key>United Kingdom</key>
    <string>London</string>
    <key>United States of America</key>
    <string>Washington, D.C.</string>
</dict>
</plist>