How to retrieve data from firebase in a collectionView inside a tableViewCell? - swift

Question

I'm trying to retrieve data from firebase, but I need the data to show up in a collectionView that's inside a tableViewCell (which makes it a bit confusing).
I have three files. FeedTableViewCell, FeedCollectionViewCell, FeedViewController.
Normally I would just call the retrieve function in the FeedViewController/ViewDidLoad function. But since I need it in the collectionView its not working in this case. Where can I add the function so I can use it in my collectionView? Or how can I reformat the code?
Code below isn't working (Fatal error in FeedTaabelViewCell file when run). I've tried adding the retrieve function inside FeedTableViewCell, but there isn't a ViewDidLoad function so its not working. The best I can come up with is to leave it in the main FeedViewController file, but then how do I call it in FeedTableViewCell file?
class FeedTableViewCell: UITableViewCell {
#IBOutlet weak var collectionView: UICollectionView!
var refArtists: DatabaseReference!
var userList = [UserModel]()
override func awakeFromNib() {
super.awakeFromNib()
collectionView.delegate = self
collectionView.dataSource = self
}
override func setSelected(_ selected: Bool, animated: Bool) {
super.setSelected(selected, animated: animated)
}
}
extension FeedTableViewCell: UICollectionViewDelegate, UICollectionViewDataSource, UICollectionViewDelegateFlowLayout {
func collectionView(_ collectionView: UICollectionView, numberOfItemsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
return 2
}
func collectionView(_ collectionView: UICollectionView, cellForItemAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UICollectionViewCell {
let cell = collectionView.dequeueReusableCell(withReuseIdentifier: "cell", for: indexPath) as! FeedCollectionViewCell
let artist: UserModel
//ERROR: INDEX OUT OF RANGE
artist = userList[indexPath.row]
cell.nameLabel.text = artist.name
return cell
}
func collectionView(_ collectionView: UICollectionView, layout collectionViewLayout: UICollectionViewLayout, sizeForItemAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> CGSize {
let itemWidth = collectionView.bounds.width
let itemHeight = collectionView.bounds.height
return CGSize(width: itemWidth, height: itemHeight)
}
}
class FeedCollectionViewCell: UICollectionViewCell {
#IBOutlet weak var nameLabel: UILabel!
#IBOutlet weak var passionLabel: UILabel!
#IBOutlet weak var distanceLabel: UILabel!
#IBOutlet weak var feedCellImage: UIImageView!
}
class FeedViewController: UIViewController, UITableViewDelegate, UITableViewDataSource {
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
return 4
}
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "tableCell", for: indexPath)
return cell
}
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, heightForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> CGFloat {
var bounds = UIScreen.main.bounds
return bounds.size.height - (self.tabBarController?.tabBar.frame.size.height)!
}
var refArtists: DatabaseReference!
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
refArtists = Database.database().reference().child("users");
//observing the data changes
refArtists.observe(DataEventType.value, with: { [self] (snapshot) in
//if the reference have some values
if snapshot.childrenCount > 0 {
//clearing the list
userList.removeAll()
//iterating through all the values
for artists in snapshot.children.allObjects as! [DataSnapshot] {
//getting values
let artistObject = artists.value as? [String: AnyObject]
let userName = artistObject?["name"]
let userId = artistObject?["id"]
let userInterest = artistObject?["interest"]
//creating artist object with model and fetched values
let artist = UserModel(id: userId as! String?, name: userName as! String?, interest: userInterest as! String?)
//appending it to list
userList.append(artist)
}
}
})
}

Answer 1

class FeedViewController: UIViewController, UITableViewDelegate, UITableViewDataSource {
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
return 4
}
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "tableCell", for: indexPath)
cell.userList = userList
return cell
}
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, heightForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> CGFloat {
var bounds = UIScreen.main.bounds
return bounds.size.height - (self.tabBarController?.tabBar.frame.size.height)!
}