Share Data between Project and Share Extension

Question

I would like to share data between my Main Project and my Share Extension. This is what I did:

1. enable App Groups in both Project & Share Extension

2. save data in Project inside viewDidLoad (works fine, I tested it):

DataHandler.getWishlists { (success, dataArray, dropOptionsArray)  in
        if success && dataArray != nil {
            self.shouldAnimateCells = true
            self.dataSourceArray = dataArray as! [Wishlist]
            self.theCollectionView.isHidden = false
            self.theCollectionView.reloadData()
            self.dropOptions = dropOptionsArray as! [DropDownOption]
            self.addButton.isEnabled = true
            self.activityIndicator.stopAnimating()

            // save dataSourceArray in UserDefaults
            if let defaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: UserDefaults.Keys.groupKey) {
                defaults.setDataSourceArray(data: dataArray as! [Wishlist])
                defaults.synchronize()
            } else {
                print("error Main")
            }
        }
    }

3. retrive data in Share Extension (error 2 fires!)

if let defaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: UserDefaults.Keys.groupKey) {
        if let data = defaults.getDataSourceArray() {
            dataSourceArray = data
            defaults.synchronize()
        }else {
            print("error 2")
        }

    } else {
        print("error 1")
    }

UserDefaults + Helpers

extension UserDefaults {

public struct Keys {
    public static let groupKey = "group.wishlists-app.wishlists"

    public static let dataSourceKey = "dataSourceKey"
}



func setDataSourceArray(data: [Wishlist]){
    set(try? PropertyListEncoder().encode(data), forKey: Keys.dataSourceKey)
    synchronize()
}

func getDataSourceArray() -> [Wishlist]? {
    if let data = UserDefaults.standard.value(forKey: Keys.dataSourceKey) as? Data {
        if let dataSourceArray = try? PropertyListDecoder().decode(Array<Wishlist>.self, from: data) as [Wishlist] {
            return dataSourceArray
        }
    }
    return nil
}
}

I can not retrieve the data inside my Share Extension but I have no idea why. Could anyone help me out here?

@Daij-Djan what do you mean exaclty? I tried `getDataSourceArray()` inside the main app and it works perfectly fine — Chris, May 02 '20 at 18:19
in your `getDataSourceArray()` check if data is nil or you are getting some data ? — Jawad Ali, May 03 '20 at 13:04
@jawadAli I get nil, but only when calling it inside the share extension. When I call `getDataSourceArray()` inside the Main App, I get the expected data — Chris, May 03 '20 at 15:53
that means your extension is not getting data ... its not issue of decoding ... right — Jawad Ali, May 03 '20 at 16:44
App Groups in both Project & Share Extension are sync ? Referring to same group ? — Jawad Ali, May 03 '20 at 16:48
are your configuration same as this link ? https://stackoverflow.com/a/40068298/1780632 — Jawad Ali, May 03 '20 at 16:55
@jawadAli I dont `set` the data inside the `App-Delegate` but this shouldnt make a difference right ? — Chris, May 03 '20 at 22:49
no ... as far as your set code is executing .. its not an issue — Jawad Ali, May 03 '20 at 22:50
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](https://chat.stackoverflow.com/rooms/213048/discussion-between-chris-and-jawadali). — Chris, May 03 '20 at 22:51

Manuel · Accepted Answer · 2020-05-06T17:19:31.800

5

Your helper function getDataSourceArray() tries to access UserDefaults.standard which is not shared between your host app and the extension app. You need to use the shared container.

UserDefaults.standard -> not shared between host and extension
UserDefaults(suiteName:) -> shared between host and extension

Try to change your function to this:

func getDataSourceArray() - > [Wishlist] ? {
    if let data = UserDefaults(suiteName: UserDefaults.Keys.groupKey).value(forKey: Keys.dataSourceKey) as ? Data {
        if let dataSourceArray =
            try ? PropertyListDecoder().decode(Array < Wishlist > .self, from: data) as[Wishlist] {
                return dataSourceArray
            }
    }
    return nil
}

edited May 06 '20 at 17:19

answered May 06 '20 at 16:35

Manuel

14,274
6
57
130

sorry not quite followimg you here. `UserDefaults + Helpers` has both the Project and Extension as Target – Chris May 06 '20 at 16:38
1

Yes, but that only allows you to access the helper function from both targets. The helper function itself is accessing `UserDefaults.standard` which is not the shared container you created. – Manuel May 06 '20 at 16:40

Share Data between Project and Share Extension

1 Answers1