Custom cell: fatal error: unexpectedly found nil while unwrapping an Optional value - iphone

Question

I have a table view with custom cell that was created as .xib . I didnt use storyboard. I have a problem that I couldnt fill my table with the data which came from webservice result. Also, I have 4 labels in the custom cell. In my custom cell class, when I try to set labels for each items, It gives me fatal error like above.
Here is my code:
class ViewController: UIViewController, UITableViewDataSource, UITableViewDelegate {
...
func tableView(tableView: UITableView!, cellForRowAtIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath!) -> UITableViewCell!
{
let cell: ItemManagementTVCell = tableView?.dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier("cell") as ItemManagementTVCell
if let ip = indexPath
{
let item: Item = self.itemList[indexPath.row] as Item
cell.setCell(item.itemName, status: item.itemStatus, duration: item.itemDuration, price: item.itemPrice)
}
return cell
}
}
And my custom cell class is here :
import UIKit
class ItemManagementTVCell: UITableViewCell {
#IBOutlet var lblItemName: UILabel!
#IBOutlet var lblItemPrice: UILabel!
#IBOutlet var lblItemDuration: UILabel!
#IBOutlet var lblItemStatus: UILabel!
override func awakeFromNib()
{
super.awakeFromNib()
}
override func setSelected(selected: Bool, animated: Bool)
{
super.setSelected(selected, animated: animated)
}
func setCell(name: String, status: Int, duration: Int, price: Int)
{
self.lblItemName.text = name
self.lblItemStatus.text = String(status)
self.lblItemDuration.text = "Duration: \(String(duration)) months"
self.lblItemPrice.text = String(price) + " $"
}
}
I am getting the error inside of "setCell" method block.
I have read a lot of questions and solutions and I tried all of them it doesnt work for me.
Thank you for your answers,
Best regards.
SOLUTION: I've solved this problem by linking the cell items to cell's own instead of linking to File's Owner. My problem has gone by doing this.

Answer 1

Another solution to the problem without having to link cell items to the cell owner:
let nib = UINib(nibName: "YOUR_CUSTOM_CELL_NIB_NAME", bundle: nil)
tableView.register(nib, forCellReuseIdentifier: "YOUR_CUSTOM_CELL_ID")

Answer 2

Your "cell" must be nil.
Using
tableView.dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier("cell") as ItemManagementTVCell
Can return nil. You should use:
tableView.dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier("cell" forIndexPath:indexPath) as ItemManagementTVCell
This way it guarantees cells is not nil.
EDIT: Maybe you can prevent the crash by putting if statements inside "setCell"
if var itemName = self.lblItemName {
itemName.text = name
}
Do that for every label you set inside it and check if the crash still happens. If it don't you must check why those labels are nil.