Combine an array of objects for the same value in Objective-C iOS

Question

I have an array of custom object name finalBarListArray with entity BarCodeSKULists (refer to the attachment 1) which contains sales_sub_category_name (string type) , count (int type) and an array of another custom object name arrayBarCodeSKUList (BarCodeSKUList) (refer to the attachment 2/3/4).

Please see the below screenshots:

Now I need to create an array and have to check if there will be same sales_sub_category_name value then need to add their arrayBarCodeSKUList in one.

Like in above array finalBarListArray , there are three elements with sales_sub_category_name 'ENVY 17', 'ENVY 15' & 'ENVY 15' , so I need to merge second and third element into one for second index of array. It means Output should have only two elements, where first element should have ( count = 1 & one arrayBarCodeSKUList ) and the second element should have ( count = 2 & two arrayBarCodeSKUList ).

Answer 1

Use the following method to merge the array of custom objects, which has same sales_sub_category_names .

- (NSArray *)mergeDuplicate {

    NSMutableDictionary *mergedDictionary = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc]init];

    // Use sales_sub_category_name value as a key for the dictioanry.

    [finalBarListArray enumerateObjectsUsingBlock:^(BarCodeSKULists * _Nonnull object, NSUInteger idx, BOOL * _Nonnull stop) {

        id existingItem = [mergedDictionary valueForKey:object.sales_sub_category_name];
        if (existingItem) {
            // If object exist then check that type is NSMutableArray or not
            if ([existingItem isKindOfClass:[NSMutableArray class]]) {

                // If yes then append with existing array
                [existingItem addObject:object];
                mergedDictionary[object.sales_sub_category_name] = existingItem;
            } else if ([existingItem isKindOfClass:[BarCodeSKULists class]]) {
                // Else if the object is `BarCodeSKULists ` class then create array and added previous item and current item into one array
                NSMutableArray *itemList = [NSMutableArray arrayWithObjects:existingItem, object, nil];
                mergedDictionary[object.sales_sub_category_name] = itemList;
            }
        } else {
            // If it is first time then add it to the dictionary
            mergedDictionary[object.sales_sub_category_name] = object;
        }

    }];

    NSLog(@"%@", mergedDictionary.allValues);
    return mergedDictionary.allValues;
}

mergedDictionary.allValues will give the expected array of items

Update :

As per the discussion.

- (NSArray *)mergeDuplicate:(NSMutableArray *) list{

    NSMutableDictionary *mergedDictionary = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc]init];

    // Use sales_sub_category_name value as a key for the dictioanry.

    [list enumerateObjectsUsingBlock:^(BarCodeSKUList * _Nonnull object, NSUInteger idx, BOOL * _Nonnull stop) {

        BarCodeSKUList *existingItem = [mergedDictionary valueForKey:object.sales_sub_category_name];
        if (existingItem) {
            [existingItem.arrayBarCodeSKUList addObjectsFromArray:object.arrayBarCodeSKUList];
            mergedDictionary[object.sales_sub_category_name] = existingItem;
        } else {
            // If it is first time then add it to the dictionary
            mergedDictionary[object.sales_sub_category_name] = object;
        }

    }];


    return mergedDictionary.allValues;
}

Answer 2

- (NSArray *)mergeObject{

    NSMutableDictionary *dic = [NSMutableDictionary new];

    [_originArray enumerateObjectsUsingBlock:^(BarCodeSKULists*  _Nonnull obj, NSUInteger idx, BOOL * _Nonnull stop) {
        id item = [dic objectForKey:obj.sales_sub_category_name];

        if (item) {
            BarCodeSKULists *list = (BarCodeSKULists *)item;
            [list.arrayBarCodeSKUList addObject:obj.BarCodeSKUList];
            list.count = (int)list.arrayBarCodeSKUList.count;
            dic[obj.sales_sub_category_name] = list;
        }
        else{
            dic[obj.sales_sub_category_name] = obj;
        }
    }];

    return dic.allValues;
}