Can't perform else if array is nil

Question

I created a method to search for people in an address book, and I want to return the result as an array, and if there are result to print them out, else to print "Not found".

From some reason I can print the result if the array is not nil, but the else is not working...it's not even giving me eror, this is the code:

main.m

NSMutableArray *result = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];

        result = [myBook searchName:@"jack"];

        if (result != nil){
            for (AddressCards *nextCard in result)
            NSLog(@"%@          %@", nextCard.name, nextCard.email);
        }

        else
            NSLog(@"Not found");

AdressBook.m

-(NSMutableArray *) searchName:(NSString *) someName{

    NSMutableArray *namsFound = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];

    for (AddressCards *addressCard in book){

        if ([addressCard.name rangeOfString:someName options:NSCaseInsensitiveSearch].location != NSNotFound)
            [namsFound addObject:addressCard];
    }

    return namsFound;
}

Thank you

NSPredicate would be a better way to search.

progrmr
– progrmr

2013-03-05 02:41:46 +00:00
Commented Mar 5, 2013 at 2:41 — progrmr
– progrmr, Commented Mar 5, 2013 at 2:41

Firoze Lafeer · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-05 02:35:55Z

2

Your searchName: method never returns nil. It returns an empty array sometimes, but that's not the same thing.

You might do something like this in searchName::

return [namsFound count]? namsFound : nil;

This will return namsFound iff namsFound has 1 or more elements (in other words, if some names are found). Otherwise, it will return nil.

answered Mar 5, 2013 at 2:35

Firoze Lafeer

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1 Comment

tolgamorf Over a year ago

I think this is the most elegant way to do it. And after doing this, you can just use if (result) {... in your main.m.

progrmr · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-05 02:38:30Z

0

If you change this:

if (result != nil){

To this, it should work:

if (result.count) {

You are always returning a non-nil pointer, since you always alloc/init the array in the search method.

answered Mar 5, 2013 at 2:38

progrmr

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Comments

tolgamorf · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-05 02:38:53Z

0

Instead of if (result != nil){, use if (result.count > 0){

answered Mar 5, 2013 at 2:38

tolgamorf

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user2000809 · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-05 02:51:34Z

0

It does not print "Not found" because it is never not nil. Results are always != nil because even in the case of not having found the search name, it will return an array - an unpopulated array, that is one with zero elements. if (result.count){ is the most elegant solution IMO because 0 is equivalent to boolean false, so a result.count that returns 0 will go straight to else.

answered Mar 5, 2013 at 2:51

user2000809

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