what is the best way to test NSDate Comparison?

Question

I have two datepickers that gives me a startTime and an endTime. according to this code:

NSDateFormatter *dateFormatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc]init];
dateFormatter.timeZone=[NSTimeZone defaultTimeZone];
dateFormatter.timeStyle=NSDateFormatterShortStyle;
dateFormatter.dateStyle=NSDateFormatterShortStyle;
NSString *dateTimeString=[dateFormatter stringFromDate:startTime.date];
NSLog(@"Start time is %@",dateTimeString);


NSDateFormatter *dateFormatter2 = [[NSDateFormatter alloc]init];
dateFormatter2.timeZone=[NSTimeZone defaultTimeZone];
dateFormatter2.timeStyle=NSDateFormatterShortStyle;
dateFormatter2.dateStyle=NSDateFormatterShortStyle;
NSString *dateTimeString2=[dateFormatter2 stringFromDate:endTime.date];
NSLog(@"End time is %@",dateTimeString2);

in my .h

@property (weak, nonatomic) IBOutlet UIDatePicker *startTime;
@property (weak, nonatomic) IBOutlet UIDatePicker *endTime;

and I have this code that let me compare between the giving time and current time. What is the best way to test it as I need to you use it in the background.

if ([[NSDate date] isEqualToDate:startTime.date]) {
NSLog(@"currentDate is equal to startTime"); 
}

if ([[NSDate date] isEqualToDate:endTime.date]) {
NSLog(@"currentDate is equal to endTime"); 
}

I need to choose between that code or this one. so would NSLog work ok here?

- (NSTimeInterval)timeIntervalSinceDate:(NSDate *)anotherDate


if([startTime.date timeIntervalSinceDate:[NSDate date]] > 0)
{
//start time greater than today
}

else if([startTime.date timeIntervalSinceDate:[NSDate date]] < 0)
{
//start time less than today
}

else
{
//both dates are equal
}

Thanks

have a look here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15890205/if-statement-with-dates/15890470#15890470 — vikingosegundo, Apr 09 '13 at 23:27
It's somewhat related but I didn't really understand it! I'm only wondering if printing an NSLog would be an ideal test for such function or there is actually a better idea to deal with my request? — user1949873, Apr 10 '13 at 02:43
@vikingosegundo Because I need to use it the background and when I test with NSLog it returns nothing! I'm starting to think that my way of declaring NSDate in ViewController and calling it in AppDelegate is the issue! do you have any idea? — user1949873, Apr 10 '13 at 13:20
if nslog prints out nothing, it just can be 2 reason: 1) the statement is never reached 2) the printed object does not exist. is nil. — vikingosegundo, Apr 10 '13 at 15:31

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 10 '13 at 05:53

6

NSDate *date1;
NSDate *date2;

Then the following comparison will tell which is earlier/later/same:

 if ([date1 compare:date2] == NSOrderedDescending) {
 NSLog(@"date1 is later than date2");        

 } else if ([date1 compare:date2] == NSOrderedAscending) {
  NSLog(@"date1 is earlier than date2");

 } else {
NSLog(@"dates are the same");
 }

answered Apr 10 '13 at 05:53

Madhu

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1
12
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Do you have an idea on how to make the variables global? so I can take it from ViewController to the Method didEnterBackground in appdelgate? – user1949873 Apr 10 '13 at 13:17
1

use SharedManager for that – Dipen Panchasara Apr 10 '13 at 13:32
create the variables in AppDelegate.you can use them any where you want. – Madhu Apr 10 '13 at 14:09
I like the idea!! how would I use it though? would you please show me a sample code on how to declare it and you'll get the right answer. I guess that's where my issue is. – user1949873 Apr 10 '13 at 14:39
For the point of NSOrderedDescending , I have already exactly the same NSDate and it fires the "NSOrderedDescending" , I don't know why? – Mohamed Saleh Dec 22 '15 at 12:41

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 10 '13 at 04:29

You Can use NSComparator to compare two objects value

NSDateFormatter *formatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
NSDate *strDate;
NSDate *endDate;
[formatter setDateFormat:@"yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss"];
strDate = [formatter dateFromString:@"2012-12-07 08:43:31"];
endDate = [formatter dateFromString:@"2012-12-07 08:43:30"];

NSLog(@"%d",[strDate compare:endDate]);
if([strDate compare:endDate] < 0)
    NSLog(@"Enddate bigger than serdate");
else if([strDate compare:endDate] > 0)
    NSLog(@"strdate bigger than enddate");
else
    NSLog(@"Both Are Identicle");

Do you have an idea on how to make the variables global? so I can take it from ViewController to the Method didEnterBackground in appdelgate? — user1949873, Apr 10 '13 at 13:17

what is the best way to test NSDate Comparison?

2 Answers2