get value of tableview items from array controller

Ok, here it is.

	on testclick_(sender)
		set mySelectedObject to Backset's selectedObjects()
		--set mySelectedObject to Backset's arrangedObjects()
		--we can get a count at least
		--display dialog (count of mySelectedObject)
		
		set theObject to mySelectedObject's objectAtIndex_(0)
		set theValue to theObject's |properties|'s valueForKey_("title")
		
		-- no key "title" it says
		display dialog "" & theValue & ""
		
	end testclick_

The line that correctly identifies the object is:

set theValue to theObject's |properties|'s valueForKey_("title")

The selected object in Backset is an object created from the Backupset class. Once you get hold of
the object, you ask its array “properties” for its valueForKey.

HTH,

Craig

I kept trying “properties” and it just didn’t look right because it was an applescript word and didn’t belong to the object it was directed at. I forgot the pipes around it!

This clears a lot up.

Thanks so much Craig.

Back on track,

Rob

I suspect you’re making things harder for yourself than necessary.

You can use an Array Controller without any code at all. You have your main script containing a variable that you bind the Array Controller to, and then you bind the table to the Array Controller. You also bind another variable to the selection of the Array Controller. No code needed, and your variables change as the table changes.

I’ll be posting an example shortly showing this.

This sounds right - though I have two tables, each with it’s own array controller. Table 2’s contents are bound to table 1’s selection and I also have a bunch of user preferences that are bound to table 1’s selection. So changing selection in table 1 changes the list in the other table and also the prefs values in the app.

I can’t bind the prefs values, for example, to my script variables because they are already bound to the Array Controller for table 1. And I have to “get” the values of the list items in table 2 by the lines indicated earlier

This is all set up with minimal code using several class files and the controllers. But"getting" and “setting” are a pain.

So I hope there is a simpler way because now I am trying to manually “set” the values for a new row in table 2 via the + button with this example which fails so far:

on addFilesToListTable_(sender)
		set theKeys to NSArray's arrayWithObjects_("address", "subject")
		set theVals to NSArray's arrayWithObjects_("someaddress", "somesubject")
		set newDictinaryObject to NSMutableDictionary's alloc()'s initWithObjects_forKeys_(theVals, theKeys)
		Sourcef's addObject_(newDictinaryObject)
	end addFilesToListTable_

It does enter a new row but it is blank. I tried adding the required “nil” to the end of the lists, putting them in brackets etc. but no luck.

The bindings work great but accessing the tables is tricky without those nice bound variables in the script.

Oh no!

help.

Rob

Take the code out of table 1’s Array Controller. Put a property in your AS called tableData, and bind table 1’s Array Controller to it. In your applicationWillFinishLaunching_ handler set tableData to a list of records:

set my tableData to {{firstName:“John”,lastName:“Smith”},…}

Now when you want to change the contents of table 1, you just change the value of my tableData (and not by using “set end of… to…”). So:

set my tableData to {{firstName:“Jane”,lastName:“Doe”}} & tableData

You won’t be able to bind to prefs as well, but scripting prefs is is easier than scripting table contents.

I’ll mess around with this. A simple record would be far nicer to use than the array language. . The values I need to change are in table 2 though and that is the one bound to table 1’s selection. It seems a bit trickier - because I can’t unbind table 2 to make it available to script.

And the prefs (all 24 of them!) could be done with selectionChanged but that means they need their own array somehow linked to the table’s array (scary.)

You can see the code idea I am using at

http://www.cocoadevcentral.com/articles/000080.php

which I have seen in many places as the usual way for this kind of binding of tables…

Now - I could go back to the old way using glue code for the two tables with datasource outlets and then have tables available for binding but that involves way more code and all the datasource handlers etc…

But I really would like to find a simpler way. in the end if I can get access to set the table values right, it still may be less code for me in the ned. Maybe if you post your example - and if you can do it with two tables linked my way, let me know. I’m no expert here!

Thanks Shane, Rob

Try something like this:

Have a property in your AppDelegate called theData, and set it to a list of records like:

	set my theData to {{mailBox:"Inbox", emails:{{firstName:"Ray", lastName:"Robertson"}, {firstName:"Shane", lastName:"Stanley"}}}, {mailBox:"Outbox", emails:{{firstName:"Jane", lastName:"Smith"}, {firstName:"Paula", lastName:"Ramsay"}}}}

Now add an Array Controller, call it First, and bind its Content Array to the AppDelegate, with Model Key Path of theData.

In your first table, bind the first column’s Value to First, arrangedObjects, MKP mailBox.

Now add a second Array Controller, call it Second, and bind its Content Array to First, Controller Key selection, MKP emails.

Finally, bind the Value of the first column of your second table to Second, arrangedObjects, MKP firstName. Bind the second similarly to lastName.

Now you can use the remove: method of the controllers, and you can add by modifying theData.

A tip for bindings stuff: do one at a time and test after each; it makes trouble-shooting so much easier.

Shane,

I gave it a try. I got the first table working Ok though if you edit rows they won’t retain the new values when you remove an item from the row.

Adding table 2 works also but is more buggy. When adding a row the first table gets deselected and you don’t see the new row. Same issue with editing rows and sometimes the rows get added instead of removed!

Something isn’t wired right.

I’ll play some more with it.

Rob

Make sure Handles Content as Compound Value is selected in the array controller’s binding.

That seems to have fixed the non-retaining issue though now, when you remove a row from either table, you can no longer add new rows to table 2!

I keep going around with this. It seems close to working but I also had to use

aTableView's selectRow_byExtendingSelection_(theoldRowIndex, false)

to get the table 1 to select the correct row after adding rows to table two.

If it can work in a non buggy way it will be good. I still prefer using the classes I have set up for handling the array controllers since it is very solid and requires no workarounds.

Yet if this can work, it will be a nice simple solution, especially for those with no OBJ-C in their proj.

I’ll experiment some more,

Rob

actually with this selected for table 2, the rows add after a remove!

With it selected you can add rows but when you delete some and add a row again , it returns to the all rows displayed before the first deletion.

Rob

How are you adding and removing?

Hi Shane,

I use

  
property theData:missing value  

on addSet_(sender)

		set my theData to my theData & {{backupset:"newBackupset", sourcefiles:{{fileicon:"",sourcefile:"somefile", filesize:"---"}}}}
		
end addSet_


on awakeFromNib()
		
		set my theData to {{backupset:"newBackupset", sourcefiles:{{fileicon:"a", sourcefile:"somefile", filesize:"---"}}}, {backupset:"newBackupset", sourcefiles:{{fileicon:"b", sourcefile:"anothersomefile", filesize:"---"}}}}

	end awakeFromNib

for the add and the built in “remove” connected through IB.

I started fresh again and copied exactly all the same settings you had in the sample and went back to just one table and it does the same thing: When you edit rows and then do “remove”, the rows return to their original values. It seems better than before otherwsie. Worse trouble begins when I hook up the second table.

Rob

Try reversing that to:

set my theData to {{backupset:“newBackupset”, sourcefiles:{{fileicon:“”,sourcefile:“somefile”, filesize:“—”}}}} & my theData

You’ll see I mention that in the sample I posted about. I suspect it forces coercion of theData from being just a pointer to a record.

I tried that and it has the same problem. I changed it because I wanted the new set to appear at the end of the list.

But still can’t edit the fields and retain their values. I must be missing something because it seems to edit and retain in your sample proj.

Rob

All I can suggest is that you play with the bindings settings – they can be tricky.

I just downloaded a fresh copy of your florida app and it does the same thing!

Edit some of the names and then try to delete a row. The values go back to the original values. Oddly the last time I tried this with your app it seemed to retain values…

Rob

Guess who missed his own advice: make sure Handles Content as Compound Value is checked for the Array Controller’s binding!

Ok - it works. I think.

The two tables are now in sync without any weird behavior. I had to mess around with the array controller settings for the bindings and the attributes to get it right. I’ll post the result if it all looks good tomorrow.

Thanks Shane. If this works it will have saved me many lines of code.

Rob

Shane,

I thought I was out of the woods. The two tables are working perfectly in snyc.

In my app though, table 2 should be empty (no placeholders). Table one can have a placeholder representing the first set fine.

I have spent many hours trying to make this work.

First I tried initializing with this:

set my theData to {{backupset:"newset", sourcefiles:""}}

but weird things happen when you try to add new files to the list.

set sourcefiles of item actualSelectedRow of theOriginalData to :{{ filename:newFilename, filepath:newFilepath}}}

}

It adds the new row but then all the sets show the same new row in their list. The bugs go on…

double curly braces instead of “” in sourcefiles doesn’t work at all.

I also tried using the placeholder text and replacing it with the new data, which works but then there are other bugs.

Should we be using NSMutableArray instance instead of a plain record to send to OBJ-c array controllers?

Stumped, Rob