iOS Swift access string in array

Question

I set up an array like this:

let modelArray = [
    "Casual":   ["health": 17, "weapon": 8, "crafting": 15, "social": 30],
    "Soldier":  ["health": 25, "weapon": 32, "crafting": 8, "social": 5],
    "Doctor":   ["health": 35, "weapon": 5, "crafting": 15, "social": 15],
    "Dorothy":  ["health": 15, "weapon": 15, "crafting": 20, "social": 20],
    "Asian":    ["health": 13, "weapon": 5, "crafting": 7, "social": 45],
    "Police":   ["health": 23, "weapon": 22, "crafting": 5, "social": 20]
]

How do I access the String (for example "Casual") value when looping?

for (index, model) in character.modelArray.enumerate()
{
    print("\(index) carries: \(model[0]")
}

This gives me Type '(String, Dictionary)' has no subscript members

model is of type Dictionary<String, Dictionary<String, Int>> — Khundragpan
– Khundragpan, Commented Aug 6, 2016 at 17:17

cpimhoff · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-09 02:29:43Z

3

As Josh points out, your modelArray object is a dictionary of dictionaries. (let modelArray : [String: [String:Int]] is the full type information).

The dictionary within can't be subscripted using an Int, only a String.

Here's a version of your code, which will get some the health stat of each character:

for statDictionary in characters.modelArray {
    let health = statDictionary["health"]
    print(health)
}

further suggestion

Storing data like this in a dictionary is fine for some purposes, but you may find a cleaner, safer API can be made by creating structs (or classes) for holding this state information.

struct CharacterStats {
     let health : Int
     let weaponNumber : Int
    // etc.
}

Then enumerating would be even simpler and require no loose string keys (which could be mistyped).

 for stat in characters {
     let health = stat.health
}

edited Dec 9, 2016 at 2:29

answered Aug 6, 2016 at 17:16

cpimhoff

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2 Comments

Mihai Fratu Over a year ago

Your answer did help the OP. But your first sentence is not correct. His modelArray is a dictionary of dictionaries and not an array. That makes it's definition to look like this: let modelArray : [String: [String:Int]].

cpimhoff Over a year ago

Huh, I had it correct before, and for some reason I changed it to an incorrect definition today. Don't know what got into me. Thanks for catching my mistake, I reverted back to my original answer (which includes the accurate type information).

Luca Angeletti · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-06 21:01:41Z

2

Just my point of view.

A dictionary of dictionaries is ugly

Create a model type

struct Model {
    let name: String
    let health: Int
    let weapon: Int
    let crafting: Int
    let social: Int
}

and then your array

let models = [
    Model(name: "Casual", health: 17, weapon: 8, crafting: 15, social: 30),
    Model(name: "Soldier", health: 25, weapon: 32, crafting: 8, social: 5),
    Model(name: "Doctor", health: 35, weapon: 5, crafting: 15, social: 15),
    Model(name: "Dorothy", health: 15, weapon: 15, crafting: 20, social: 20),
    Model(name: "Asian", health: 13, weapon: 5, crafting: 7, social: 45),
    Model(name: "Police", health: 23, weapon: 22, crafting: 5, social: 20),
]

Looping

Now you can simply

for model in models {
    print(model.name)
}

Update: Searching

if let doctor = models.filter({ $0.name == "Doctor" }).first {
    print(doctor.health)
}

edited Aug 6, 2016 at 21:01

answered Aug 6, 2016 at 19:57

Luca Angeletti

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1 Comment

Fredrik Over a year ago

I agree, it is indeed ugly. Will change it up like this instead. Thanks!

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