How to implement "group by values" in NSMutableArray?

Question

I am using NSMutableArray. I want to fetch the values by date like we do in SQL group by "log_date".

logMuArray (
        {
        "log_currenttime" = "4:30pm";
        "log_date" = "11.12.2011";
        "log_duration" = "1:30";
    },
        {
        "log_currenttime" = "4:33pm";
        "log_date" = "11.12.2011";
        "log_duration" = "2:21";
    },
        {
        "log_currenttime" = "4:40pm";
        "log_date" = "11.12.2011";
        "log_duration" = "5:30";
    },
        {
        "log_currenttime" = "7:30pm";
        "log_date" = "12.12.2011";
        "log_duration" = "1:30";
    },
        {
        "log_currenttime" = "7:33pm";
        "log_date" = "12.12.2011";
        "log_duration" = "2:21";
    },
        {
        "log_currenttime" = "7:40pm";
        "log_date" = "12.12.2011";
        "log_duration" = "5:30";
    },
        {
        "log_currenttime" = "07:16pm";
        "log_date" = "19.12.2011";
        "log_duration" = "0:07";
    },
        {
        "log_currenttime" = "7:31pm";
        "log_date" = "19.12.2011";
        "log_duration" = "0:04";
    },
        {
        "log_currenttime" = "7:33pm";
        "log_date" = "19.12.2011";
        "log_duration" = "0:03";
    },
        {
        "log_currenttime" = "7:33pm";
        "log_date" = "19.12.2011";
        "log_duration" = "0:06";
    },
        {
        "log_currenttime" = "7:35pm";
        "log_date" = "19.12.2011";
        "log_duration" = "0:05";
    }
)

**So, I have just performed....

 NSLog(@"logMuArray %@",[logMuArray valueForKey:@"log_date"]);

But I want to fetch the UNIQUE dates only.** I have thought about NSPredicate or Mutable Set etc...

logMuArray (
    "11.12.2011",
    "11.12.2011",
    "11.12.2011",
    "12.12.2011",
    "12.12.2011",
    "12.12.2011",
    "19.12.2011",
    "19.12.2011",
    "19.12.2011",
    "19.12.2011",
    "19.12.2011"
)

Thanks in advance.....

EDIT:

I have also heared about "@distinctUnionOfObjects"

......

Is it possible to uniquely identify objects based on two or more keys with same logic? — Ajay Gabani, Jul 08 '15 at 04:10
Your question is good, better you should ask a question, because code is also required, so please ask your question in stack overflow. Side by side I have not much idea upon this, but I need a time to solve it. Will try to solve it, but need a code for solving it. Better you post your question at stack overflow with code. thanks — Arpit B Parekh, Jul 08 '15 at 06:54
it might help you [Rebuild an NSArray by grouping objects w.r.t any matching keys in each dictionary in that array](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15375528/rebuild-an-nsarray-by-grouping-objects-that-have-matching-id-numbers/38472661#38472661) — umakanta, Jul 20 '16 at 05:03

score 15 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 20 '11 at 07:31

Shanti's answer is close. You want to use the Key-Value Coding collection operator @distinctUnionOfObjects. Place the operator immediately preceding the key which you want it to affect, as if it is a part of the key path you are accessing:

[logMuArray valueForKeyPath:@"@distinctUnionOfObjects.log_date"]

Notice the use of valueForKeyPath:, not valueForKey: The former is a method in the Key-Value Coding protocol, and allows accessing arbitrary depth of attributes. The key path is an NSString made up of dot-separated keys. The result of each key lookup is used in turn to access the next key (starting with the original receiver); by default, valueForKey: is simply called at each step.

Can i used it with multiple key path such as [log_currenttime,log_date] — wod, Sep 05 '13 at 08:51

Shanti K · Answer 2 · 2011-12-20T08:35:56.190

3

You can use KVC for this.

[logMuArray valueForKey:@"@distinctUnionOfArrays.log_date"]

edit: Editing this wrt Josh's Response

[logMuArray valueForKeyPath:@"@distinctUnionOfArrays.log_date"]

edited Dec 20 '11 at 08:35

answered Dec 20 '11 at 06:49

Shanti K

2,873
1
16
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[logMuArray valueForKeyPath:@"@ distinctUnionOfArrays.log_date"], change valueForKey with valueForKeyPath – Raj Jun 20 '12 at 12:34

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 20 '11 at 06:50

3

You should use NSSet for UNIQUE items like :

NSSet *filteredData = [NSSet setWithArray:[logMuArray valueForKey:@"log_date"]];

answered Dec 20 '11 at 06:50

Maulik

19,348
14
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thanks mogs :) But previously Jash Caswell's anser is also nice and prefferable.. – Arpit B Parekh Dec 20 '11 at 11:37

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 20 '11 at 07:46

Try this logic might help you

-(NSMutableArray *) makeUnique :(NSMutableArray *) array {    
    int i;
    int count = [array count];
    for (i =0; i< count ; i++) {
        NSRange range = NSMakeRange (i+1, count); 
        [array removeObject:[array objectAtIndex:i] inRange:range];
    }
    return array;
}

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 20 '11 at 06:51

You can incorporate a set

Here is some example code

NSMutableArray * mArray = [NSMutableArray array];
NSDictionary *d1 = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:@"foo",@"bar",@"bar",@"oooo",nil];
NSDictionary *d2 = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:@"boo",@"bar",@"bar",@"oooo",nil];
NSDictionary *d3 = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:@"boo",@"bar",@"bar",@"oooo",nil];
[mArray addObject:d1];
[mArray addObject:d2];
[mArray addObject:d3];
NSLog(@"the array\n%@", mArray);
NSLog(@"just bar %@", [mArray valueForKey:@"bar"]);
//get unique values
NSSet * set = [NSSet setWithArray:[mArray valueForKey:@"bar"]];
NSLog(@"unique just bar %@", [set allObjects]);

and here is the output

2011-12-20 01:50:59.034 TestEnvironment[32401:207] the array
(
        {
        bar = foo;
        oooo = bar;
    },
        {
        bar = boo;
        oooo = bar;
    },
        {
        bar = boo;
        oooo = bar;
    }
)
2011-12-20 01:50:59.036 TestEnvironment[32401:207] just bar (
    foo,
    boo,
    boo
)
2011-12-20 01:50:59.038 TestEnvironment[32401:207] unique just bar (
    foo,
    boo
)

How to implement "group by values" in NSMutableArray?

5 Answers5

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