Can plist files be used for holding large data such as image data etc.

Question

Hi,

I want to use plist files to hold large data such as image data and other texts. Is this feasible or is it that plist are for holding small string such as needed for settings etc. Will there be any memory issues.

-- Regards,

U'suf

Answer 1

Yes. You can serialize anything into an NSData and put it into a plist.

But a plist is more suitable to store changeable settings, not large binary blobs.

Answer 2

Plists are indeed intended to store relatively small data. As an option you can save image to a file (it may be better solution even if you use database) and store path to the image in plist to load it from there when needed.

Answer 3

Hi all,

Thanks for the reply. I want to create a static app, which will hold all my data statically inside my application bundle.I am given the data already in the plist form.So with the above answers plist should be ruled out.Can any one suggest me any alternatives which my plist can be converted to and used in the application. I think i can't convert plists into sqlite.Any alternative solution.

Its a huge data. I mean there are number of plists. I am thinking of automating the conversion process.So, can any body suggest any alternative.

-- Regards,

U'suf