Populating TableView with multiple sections and multiple dictionary in an array in Swift

Question

I have a 3 category which I was using as a section. In that section I have to populate data which is in array of dictionary. Here is my code:-

var sections = [Category A, Category B, Category C]
var itemsA = [["Item": "item A","ItemId" : "1"],["Item": "item B","ItemId" : "2"],["Item": "item C","ItemId" : "3"]]
var itemsB = [["Item": "item A","ItemId" : "1"],["Item": "item B","ItemId" : "2"],["Item": "item C","ItemId" : "3"]]
var itemsC = [["Item": "item A","ItemId" : "1"],["Item": "item B","ItemId" : "2"],["Item": "item C","ItemId" : "3"]]

func numberOfSections(in tableView: UITableView) -> Int {
    return self.sections.count
}

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, titleForHeaderInSection section: Int) -> String? {
    return self.sections[section]
}

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
    return ??
}

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
    let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "StoreCell") as! UITableViewCell
    ????
    ????
    return cell
}

The items array I need to populate into table category wise. If anyone can answer. Thank you!

Answer 1

If itemA array for Category A, itemB array for Category B and so on then you can return array count in numberOfRowsInSection this way.

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
    switch (section) {
        case 0: 
           return itemsA.count
        case 1: 
           return itemsB.count
        default: 
           return itemsC.count
     }
}

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
    let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "StoreCell") as! UITableViewCell
    switch (indexPath.section) {
        case 0: 
           //Access itemsA[indexPath.row]
        case 1: 
           //Access itemsB[indexPath.row]
        default: 
           //Access itemsC[indexPath.row]
     }
     return cell
}

Note: It is batter if you create single Array of struct or custom class that will reduce all your array with single array.

Answer 2

Use a custom struct

struct Category {
   let name : String
   var items : [[String:Any]]
}

---

var sections = [Category]()

let itemsA = [["Item": "item A","ItemId" : "1"],["Item": "item B","ItemId" : "2"],["Item": "item C","ItemId" : "3"]]
let itemsB = [["Item": "item A","ItemId" : "1"],["Item": "item B","ItemId" : "2"],["Item": "item C","ItemId" : "3"]]
let itemsC = [["Item": "item A","ItemId" : "1"],["Item": "item B","ItemId" : "2"],["Item": "item C","ItemId" : "3"]]


sections = [Category(name:"A", items:itemsA), 
            Category(name:"B", items:itemsB), 
            Category(name:"C", items:itemsC)]

---

func numberOfSections(in tableView: UITableView) -> Int {
    return self.sections.count
}

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, titleForHeaderInSection section: Int) -> String? {
    return self.sections[section].name
}

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
    let items = self.sections[section].items
    return items.count
}

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
    let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "StoreCell") as! UITableViewCell
    let items = self.sections[indexPath.section].items
    let item = items[indexPath.row]
    print(item["ItemId"] as? String)

    return cell
}

You can still improve the code if you are using a custom struct also for the dictionaries.