Configuration API for PubNub Cocoa Objective-C SDK

Cocoa complete API reference for building real-time applications on PubNub, including basic usage and sample code.

Configuration

PNConfiguration instance is storage for user-provided information which describe further PubNub client behavior. Configuration instance contain additional set of properties which allow to perform precise PubNub client configuration.

Method(s)

To create configuration instance you can use the following function in the Cocoa SDK:

+ (instancetype)configurationWithPublishKey:(NSString *)publishKey
subscribeKey:(NSString *)subscribeKey;
ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
publishKeyNSStringYesKey which allow client to use data push API.
subscribeKeyNSStringYesKey which allow client to subscribe on live feeds pushed from PubNub service.
heartbeatNotificationOptionsPNHeartbeatNotificationOptionsNoThese are bitmask options, they can be combined. When client instances are notified about heartbeat operations, this happens through the PNObjectEventListener callback for statuses.
PNHeartbeatNotifySuccess: explicitly tells client to notify on successful heartbeat operations.
PNHeartbeatNotifyFailure: explicitly tells client to notify on failed heartbeat operations (default is only this option)
PNHeartbeatNotifyAll: This is a combination of PNHeartbeatNotifySuccess and PNHeartbeatNotifyFailure
PNHeartbeatNotifyNone: This means the client will not provide any callback notifications for heartbeat operations.
stripMobilePayloadBOOLNoStores whether client should strip out received messages (real-time and history) from data which has been appended by client (like mobile payload for mobile push notifications).
cipherKeyNSStringNoKey which is used to encrypt messages pushed to PubNub service and decrypt messages received from live feeds on which client subscribed at this moment.
subscribeMaximumIdleTimeNSTimeIntervalNoMaximum number of seconds which client should wait for events from live feed.
Default 310.
nonSubscribeRequestTimeoutNSTimeIntervalNoNumber of seconds which is used by client during non-subscription operations to check whether response potentially failed with timeout or not.
Default 10.
presenceHeartbeatValueNSIntegerNoNumber of seconds which is used by server to track whether client still subscribed on remote data objects live feed or not.
presenceHeartbeatIntervalNSIntegerNoNumber of seconds which is used by client to issue heartbeat requests to PubNub service.
keepTimeTokenOnListChangeBOOLNoWhether client should keep previous timetoken when subscribe on new set of remote data objects live feeds.
Default YES.
catchUpOnSubscriptionRestoreBOOLNoWhether client should try to catch up for events which occurred on previously subscribed remote data objects feed while client was off-line.
Default YES.
applicationExtensionSharedGroupIdentifierNSStringNoReference on group identifier which is used to share request cache between application extension and it's containing application.
This property should be set to valid registered group only if PubNub client is used inside of application's extension (iOS 8.0+, macOS 10.10+).
requestMessageCountThresholdNSUIntegerNoNumber of maximum expected messages from PubNub service in single response.
maximumMessagesCacheSizeNSUIntegerNoMessages de-duplication cache size
Default 100.
completeRequestsBeforeSuspensionBOOLNoWhether client should try complete all API call which is done before application will be completely suspended.
Default YES.
suppressLeaveEventsBOOLNoIf YES, the client shouldn't send presence leave events during the unsubscribe process.
originNSStringNoIf a custom domain is required, SDK accepts it here.

Basic Usage

Required UUID

Always set the UUID to uniquely identify the user or device that connects to PubNub. This UUID should be persisted, and should remain unchanged for the lifetime of the user or the device. If you don't set the UUID, you won't be able to connect to PubNub.

PNConfiguration *config = [PNConfiguration configurationWithPublishKey:@"demo"
subscribeKey:@"demo"];
config.uuid = @"myUniqueUUID";
self.client = [PubNub clientWithConfiguration:config];
[self.client addListener:self];

Returns

Configured and ready to use client configuration instance.

Other Examples

Configure heartbeat notifications

PNConfiguration
PNConfiguration *config = [PNConfiguration configurationWithPublishKey:@"<pub key>" subscribeKey:@"<sub key>"];
/**
This is where you need to adjust the PNConfiguration object for the types of heartbeat notifications you want.
This is a bitmask of options located at https://github.com/pubnub/objective-c/blob/1f1c7a41a3bd8c32b644a6ad98fe179d45397c2b/PubNub/Misc/PNStructures.h#L24
*/
config.heartbeatNotificationOptions = PNHeartbeatNotifyAll;

self.client = [PubNub clientWithConfiguration:config];
[self.client addListener:self];
Listener
- (void)client:(PubNub *)client didReceiveStatus:(PNStatus *)status {

if (status.operation == PNHeartbeatOperation) {

/**
Heartbeat operations can in fact have errors, so it is important to check first for an error.
For more information on how to configure heartbeat notifications through the status
PNObjectEventListener callback, consult http://www.pubnub.com/docs/sdks/objective-c/api-reference/configuration#configuration_basic_usage
*/

if (!status.isError) { /* Heartbeat operation was successful. */ }
else { /* There was an error with the heartbeat operation, handle here. */ }
}
}

Initialization

Include PubNub SDK in your project you need to use CocoaPods

Install CocoaPods gem by following the procedure defined in the Getting Started guide. To add the PubNub SDK to your project with CocoaPods, there are four basic tasks to complete which are covered below:

  1. Create new Xcode project.

  2. Create Podfile in new Xcode project root folder

    touch Podfile
  3. The PubNub client can be added as module (only with a deployment target of OS X 10.9 and above):

    source 'https://github.com/CocoaPods/Specs.git'
    platform :osx, "10.9"
    use_frameworks!

    target 'application-target-name' do
    pod "PubNub", "~> 4.1"
    end

    If you have any other pods you'd like to include, or if you have other targets you'd to add (like a test target) add those entries to this Podfile as well. See the CocoaPods documentation for more information on Podfile configuration.

  4. Install your pods by running pod install via the command line from the directory that contains your Podfile.

Work within the workspace

After installing your Pods, you should only be working within the workspace generated by CocoaPods or specified by you in Podfile. Always open the newly generated workspace file, not the original project file!

To be able to use PubNub SDK within your application code you need to import it. Import PubNub SDK headers in implementation files for classes where you need to use it using this import statement:

#import <PubNub/PubNub.h>

Complete application delegate configuration

Add the PNObjectEventListener protocol to AppDelegate in implementation file to anonymous category:

Required UUID

Always set the UUID to uniquely identify the user or device that connects to PubNub. This UUID should be persisted, and should remain unchanged for the lifetime of the user or the device. If you don't set the UUID, you won't be able to connect to PubNub.

#import <PubNub/PubNub.h>

@interface AppDelegate () <PNObjectEventListener>

// Stores reference on PubNub client to make sure what it won't be released.
@property (nonatomic, strong) PubNub *client;

@end

Description

This function is used for initializing the PubNub Client API context. This function must be called before attempting to utilize any API functionality in order to establish account level credentials such as publishKey and subscribeKey.

Method(s)

To Initialize PubNub you can use the following method(s) in the Cocoa SDK:

Initialize PubNub

+ (instancetype)clientWithConfiguration:(PNConfiguration *)configuration;
ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
configurationPNConfigurationYesReference on instance which store all user-provided information about how client should operate and handle events.

Initialize PubNub with callback queue

+ (instancetype)clientWithConfiguration:(PNConfiguration *)configuration
callbackQueue:(dispatch_queue_t)callbackQueue;
ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
configurationPNConfigurationYesReference on instance which store all user-provided information about how client should operate and handle events.
callbackQueuedispatch_queue_tNoReference on queue which should be used by client for completion block and delegate calls.

Basic Usage

Initialize the PubNub client API

Required UUID

Always set the UUID to uniquely identify the user or device that connects to PubNub. This UUID should be persisted, and should remain unchanged for the lifetime of the user or the device. If you don't set the UUID, you won't be able to connect to PubNub.

PNConfiguration *configuration = [PNConfiguration configurationWithPublishKey:@"demo"
subscribeKey:@"demo"];
configuration.TLSEnabled = YES;
configuration.uuid = @"myUniqueUUID";
self.client = [PubNub clientWithConfiguration:configuration];

Returns

It returns the PubNub instance for invoking PubNub APIs like publish, subscribeToChannels, historyForChannel, hereNowForChannel, etc.

Other Examples

Initialize the client

Required UUID

Always set the UUID to uniquely identify the user or device that connects to PubNub. This UUID should be persisted, and should remain unchanged for the lifetime of the user or the device. If you don't set the UUID, you won't be able to connect to PubNub.

PNConfiguration *configuration = [PNConfiguration configurationWithPublishKey:@"demo"
subscribeKey:@"demo"];
configuration.uuid = @"myUniqueUUID";
self.client = [PubNub clientWithConfiguration:configuration];

Initialization for a Read-Only client

In the case where a client will only read messages and never publish to a channel, you can simply omit the publishKey when initializing the client:

Required UUID

Always set the UUID to uniquely identify the user or device that connects to PubNub. This UUID should be persisted, and should remain unchanged for the lifetime of the user or the device. If you don't set the UUID, you won't be able to connect to PubNub.

PNConfiguration *configuration = [PNConfiguration configurationWithPublishKey:@""
subscribeKey:@"demo"];
self.client = [PubNub clientWithConfiguration:configuration];

Use a custom UUID

Set a custom UUID to identify your users.

Required UUID

Always set the UUID to uniquely identify the user or device that connects to PubNub. This UUID should be persisted, and should remain unchanged for the lifetime of the user or the device. If you don't set the UUID, you won't be able to connect to PubNub.

PNConfiguration *configuration = [PNConfiguration configurationWithPublishKey:@"myPublishKey"
subscribeKey:@"mySubscribeKey"];
configuration.uuid = @"myUniqueUUID";
self.client = [PubNub clientWithConfiguration:configuration];

UUID

This function is used to set a user ID on the fly.

Method(s)

To set UUID you can use the following method(s) in Cocoa SDK:

@property (nonatomic, copy, setter = setUUID:) NSString *uuid;

Basic Usage

Required UUID

Always set the UUID to uniquely identify the user or device that connects to PubNub. This UUID should be persisted, and should remain unchanged for the lifetime of the user or the device. If you don't set the UUID, you won't be able to connect to PubNub.

// User authorized and we need to update used UUID
PNConfiguration *configuration = self.client.currentConfiguration;
configuration.uuid = @"myUniqueUUID";

__weak __typeof(self) weakSelf = self;
[self.client copyWithConfiguration:configuration completion:^(PubNub *client) {

weakSelf.client = client;
}];

Other Examples

Creating a function to subscribe a unique channel name

/**
Subscription process results arrive to listener which should adopt to
PNObjectEventListener protocol and registered using:
*/
[self.client addListener:self];
[self.client subscribeToChannels:@[[NSUUID UUID].UUIDString] withPresence:NO];

// Handle new message from one of channels on which client has been subscribed.
- (void)client:(PubNub *)client didReceiveMessage:(PNMessageResult *)message {

// Handle new message stored in message.data.message
if (![message.data.channel isEqualToString:message.data.subscription]) {

// Message has been received on channel group stored in message.data.subscription.
}
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Initializing with a custom uuid

Required UUID

Always set the UUID to uniquely identify the user or device that connects to PubNub. This UUID should be persisted, and should remain unchanged for the lifetime of the user or the device. If you don't set the UUID, you won't be able to connect to PubNub.

PNConfiguration *configuration = self.client.currentConfiguration;
configuration.uuid = @"myUniqueUUID";

__weak __typeof(self) weakSelf = self;
[self.client copyWithConfiguration:configuration completion:^(PubNub *client) {

// Store reference on new client with updated configuration.
weakSelf.client = client;
}];

Creating a unique auth_key for Access Manager on initialization

PNConfiguration *configuration = self.client.currentConfiguration;
configuration.authKey = [NSUUID UUID].UUIDString.lowercaseString;

__weak __typeof(self) weakSelf = self;
[self.client copyWithConfiguration:configuration completion:^(PubNub *client) {

// Store reference on new client with updated configuration.
weakSelf.client = client;
}];

Authentication Key

Setter and getter for users auth key.

Method(s)

Auth Key

@property (nonatomic, nullable, copy) NSString *authKey;

UUID

@property (nonatomic, copy, setter = setUUID:) NSString *uuid;

Basic Usage

Set Auth Key

PNConfiguration *configuration = self.client.currentConfiguration;
configuration.authKey = @"my_new_authkey";

__weak __typeof(self) weakSelf = self;
[self.client copyWithConfiguration:configuration completion:^(PubNub *client) {

// Store reference on new client with updated configuration.
weakSelf.client = client;
}];

Get Auth Key

// Request current client configuration and pull out authorisation key from it.
NSString *authorizationKey = self.client.currentConfiguration.authKey;

Returns

Get Auth key returns the current authentication key.

Filter Expression

Requires Stream Controller add-on

This method requires that the Stream Controller add-on is enabled for your key in the Admin Portal. Read the support page on enabling add-on features on your keys.

Stream filtering allows a subscriber to apply a filter to only receive messages that satisfy the conditions of the filter. The message filter is set by the subscribing client(s) but it is applied on the server side thus preventing unwanted messages (those that do not meet the conditions of the filter) from reaching the subscriber.

To set or get message filters, you can use the following property. To learn more about filtering, refer to the Publish Messages documentation.

Method(s)

@property (nonatomic, nullable, copy) NSString *filterExpression;

Basic Usage

Set Filter Expression

Required UUID

Always set the UUID to uniquely identify the user or device that connects to PubNub. This UUID should be persisted, and should remain unchanged for the lifetime of the user or the device. If you don't set the UUID, you won't be able to connect to PubNub.

PNConfiguration *configuration = [PNConfiguration configurationWithPublishKey:@"demo"
subscribeKey:@"demo"];
self.client = [PubNub clientWithConfiguration:configuration];
self.client.filterExpression = @"(senderID=='PubNub')";

Get Filter Expression

NSLog(@"Filtering expression: %@", self.client.filterExpression);

Returns

Get Filter Expression returns the Current filtering expression.

Malformed filter expression

If filter expression is malformed, PNObjectEventListener won't receive any messages and presence events from service (only error status).

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