how to keep track of 3 input strings using 1 UITextField

How can i keep track of 3 input strings from using 1 UITextField?

I am toggling between 3 different input types (departures, airlines, arrivals) using one UITextField for user input. I save each of the 3 in its own NSMutableString object like this(depending on what's being entered or whatever):

depart = [input.text copy];
arrive = [input.text copy];
airline = [input.text copy];

i set the value of the UITextField(depending on what user is entering) using

input.text = [arrive copy];
input.text = [depart copy];
input.text = [airline copy];

i am successfully keeping track of each of the 3 inputs using input.text copy yet i am seeing memory leaking issues while running an Instruments test for leaks. i have a feelin开发者_运维技巧g it is a result of my improper cleanup of using copy. how can i retain each input string and not cause memory leaking issues?

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Turn your strings into properties that are retained.

@property (retain) NSString *airline;

Set the value of the properties using self.

self.airline = input.text;

Without using self, you're manually setting the value and bypassing the property, so the text is not retained.

Release the objects in your -(void)dealloc method

Then, when you're editing specific information, you can use the properties to populate the textField

input.text = self.airline;

Does this make sense?

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Leaks tool should tell you where the leak is.

Here is pretty obvious though. You should release old data prior to assigning new. Thus, all calls like

depart = [input.text copy];

Should be like

[depart release]; depart = [input.text copy];

Also you should release all strings in the dealloc method of the class.