NSPredicate filter array within object within array

Question

I have the following method:

- (NSMutableArray *)getFilteredArrayFromArray:(NSMutableArray *)array withText:(NSString *)text {

if ([array count] <= 0)
    return nil;

NSMutableArray *arrayToFilter = [NSMutableArray arrayWithArray:array];
NSString *nameformatString = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"stationName contains[c] '%@'", text];
NSPredicate *namePredicate = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:nameformatString];

NSString *descformatString = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"stationTagline contains[c] '%@'", text];
NSPredicate *descPredicate = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:descformatString];

NSString *aToZformatString = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"stationSearchData.browseAtozArray.city contains[c] '%@'", text];
NSPredicate *aToZPredicate = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:aToZformatString];

NSPredicate * combinePredicate = [NSCompoundPredicate orPredicateWithSubpredicates:[NSArray arrayWithObjects:namePredicate, descPredicate, aToZPredicate, nil]];

[arrayToFilter filterUsingPredicate:combinePredicate];

return arrayToFilter;
}

The first 2 predicates work fine. But the last one (aToZPredicate), is not working. stationSearchData is a StationSearchData object, and browseAtozArray is an NSMutableArray.

How can I use a predicate to essentially search an array within an array within an array?

Here is the interface for the StationSearchData object:

@interface StationSearchData : NSObject

@property (nonatomic, strong) NSString *location;
@property (nonatomic, strong) NSString *city;
@property (nonatomic, strong) NSString *latitude;
@property (nonatomic, strong) NSString *longitude;

@property (nonatomic, strong) NSMutableArray *browseAtozArray;
@property (nonatomic, strong) NSMutableArray *genreArray;

@end

Thanks!

You are using "or predicate". Try with "and predicate" which is andPredicateWithSubpredicates: — Desdenova
– Desdenova, Commented Jan 13, 2014 at 15:39
Thanks for the reply but that doesnt make a difference. Plus I want to use an OR type search for this. — codeman
– codeman, Commented Jan 13, 2014 at 15:43
try add self to your predicate like: self.stationSearchData.browseAtozArray.city — Greg
– Greg, Commented Jan 13, 2014 at 15:50

Martin R · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-13 16:03:49Z

29

First of all, you should not use stringWithFormat to build predicates. This can cause problems if the search text contains any special characters like ' or ". So you should replace

NSString *nameformatString = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"stationName contains[c] '%@'", text];
NSPredicate *namePredicate = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:nameformatString];

by

NSPredicate *namePredicate = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:@"stationName contains[c] %@", text];

To search within an array, you have to use "ANY" in the predicate:

NSPredicate *aToZPredicate =
  [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:@"ANY stationSearchData.browseAtozArray.city CONTAINS[c] %@", text];

answered Jan 13, 2014 at 16:03

Martin R

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