Hide map pin annotation image - swift

Question

I am creating a map application which allows emojis to be attached to locations. Currently, the image is displayed above the stock apple map annotation.
I wish to hide the stock pin image while still displaying the selected emoji by the user. Is this possible?
I have this code so far to perform this:
func mapView(mapView: MKMapView, viewForAnnotation annotation: MKAnnotation) -> MKAnnotationView? {
//let identifier = "MyPin"
if annotation.isKindOfClass(MKUserLocation) {
return nil
}
let dictName = arrLocation[((annotation as? MyAnnotation)?.index)!]
let imgName = dictName.valueForKey("pin_img") as? String
var annotationView = mapView.dequeueReusableAnnotationViewWithIdentifier(imgName!)
if annotationView == nil
{
annotationView = MKPinAnnotationView(annotation: annotation, reuseIdentifier: imgName)
annotationView!.canShowCallout = false
let name = dictName.valueForKey("name") as! String
let annot = MyAnnotation(titleName:name)
annotationView?.annotation = annot
}
else
{
annotationView!.annotation = annotation
}
let detailButton: UIButton = UIButton(type: UIButtonType.Custom)
// size and placement of emoji on map
detailButton.frame = CGRectMake(-34,-25,85,85)
detailButton.tag = ((annotation as? MyAnnotation)?.index)!
detailButton.addTarget(self, action:"emojiTap:", forControlEvents: UIControlEvents.TouchUpInside)
detailButton.setBackgroundImage(UIImage(named:(dictName.valueForKey("pin_img") as? String)!), forState: UIControlState.Normal)
annotationView!.addSubview(detailButton)
return annotationView
}

Answer 1

Custom annotation view
Instead of using an MKPinAnnotationView, use its superclass MKAnnotationView.
Responding to input
To respond to the user tapping on an annotation implement the mapView:didSelectAnnotation: delegate method. This delegate method is called when the annotation is tapped.
Note that you do not need to use the button inside the annotation view. This means the functionality in emojiTap: must be implemented by the mapView:didSelectAnnotationMethod:.
Example
Combining these
func mapView(mapView: MKMapView, viewForAnnotation annotation: MKAnnotation) -> MKAnnotationView? {
if annotation.isKindOfClass(MKUserLocation) {
return nil
}
let dictName = arrLocation[((annotation as? MyAnnotation)?.index)!]
let imgName = dictName.valueForKey("pin_img") as? String
var annotationView = mapView.dequeueReusableAnnotationViewWithIdentifier(imgName!)
if annotationView == nil
{
annotationView = MKAnnotationView(annotation: annotation, reuseIdentifier: imgName)
let name = dictName.valueForKey("name") as! String
let annot = MyAnnotation(titleName:name)
annotationView?.annotation = annot
}
else
{
annotationView!.annotation = annotation
}
annotationView!.canShowCallout = false
return annotationView
}
func mapView(_ mapView: MKMapView, didSelectAnnotationView view: MKAnnotationView) {
guard let annotation = view.annotation as? MyAnnotation else {
return
}
print("tapped annotation: \(annotation.index)
// Implement the code from emojiTap: here.
}