How to adjust space between two UIBarButtonItem in rightBarButtonItems - iphone

Question

I am using the following codes to add two button to self.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItems, and I think in iOS7, the space between two buttons are too wide, is there a way to decrease the space between these two buttons?
UIBarButtonItem *saveStyleButton = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"save.png"] style:UIBarButtonItemStyleBordered target:self action:#selector(saveStyle)];
UIBarButtonItem *shareStyleButton = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithBarButtonSystemItem:UIBarButtonSystemItemAction target:self action:#selector(shareStyle)];
NSArray *arr= [[NSArray alloc] initWithObjects:shareStyleButton,saveStyleButton,nil];
self.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItems=arr;
Appreciate any hint or idea.

Answer 1

Updated at Jul 2015
A better way to do this is to use storyboard (tested in Xcode 6.4). First, add a UINavigationItem; secondly, add a Bar Button Item; thirdly, add a view to the Bar Button Item you just created in step 2; fourthly, add as many buttons as you wish into that view you just dragged in; lastly, adjust the space with your mouse and constraints.
Related Questions
Can't assign multiple Buttons to UINavigationItem when using Storyboard with iOS 5
How to add buttons to navigation controller visible after segueing?
Old Answer (Only acceptable for small insets)
Use imageInsets property:
leftButton.imageInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0.0, 0.0, 0, -15);
rightButton.imageInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0.0, -15, 0, 0);
for three or more buttons, the middle one(s) get both insets:
leftButton.imageInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0.0, 0.0, 0, -15);
middleButton.imageInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0.0, -15, 0, -15);
rightButton.imageInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0.0, -15, 0, 0);
For the right side buttons, be careful: the FIRST button in the item array is the RIGHT one:
rightButton.imageInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0.0, -15, 0, 0);
middleButton.imageInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0.0, -15, 0, -15);
leftButton.imageInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0.0, 0.0, 0, -15);
IMPORTANT: Split the inset between the two neighbors; if apply the entire inset to one edge, it will become obvious that the buttons are overlapping in the "blank" space - one button gets all of the "gap" touches. Even when "split" the adjustment like this, at -40 on both edges, the tap will definitely go to wrong button sometimes. -15 or -20 is the most to consider using with this technique.
By applying this method, the button could even be moved around in four directions.

Answer 2

My solution is using a custom view for right bar buttons.
Create a horizontal stackview with equal spacing and add any number of buttons as subview.
Sample code:
func addRightBarButtonItems()
{
let btnSearch = UIButton.init(type: .custom)
btnSearch.setImage(UIImage(systemName: "magnifyingglass"), for: .normal)
btnSearch.addTarget(self, action: #selector(MyPageContainerViewController.searchButtonPressed), for: .touchUpInside)
let btnEdit = UIButton.init(type: .custom)
btnEdit.setImage(UIImage(systemName: "pencil"), for: .normal)
btnEdit.addTarget(self, action: #selector(MyPageContainerViewController.editButtonPressed), for: .touchUpInside)
let stackview = UIStackView.init(arrangedSubviews: [btnEdit, btnSearch])
stackview.distribution = .equalSpacing
stackview.axis = .horizontal
stackview.alignment = .center
stackview.spacing = 8
let rightBarButton = UIBarButtonItem(customView: stackview)
self.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItem = rightBarButton
}

Answer 3

Swift 5
In your AppDelegate add this code:
let stackViewAppearance = UIStackView.appearance(whenContainedInInstancesOf: [UINavigationBar.self])
stackViewAppearance.spacing = -10
This will work with no additional code in more recent SDK versions as UIBarButtonItems are already contained in a horizontal UIStackView

Answer 4

First:
For UIBarButtonItem you must use constructor init(customView: UIView)
Second:
Use fixedSpace for set space between buttons
example:
let firstButton = UIButton()
let firstButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(customView: firstButton)
let secondButton = UIButton()
let secondButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(customView: secondButton)
let space = UIBarButtonItem(barButtonSystemItem: .fixedSpace, target: nil, action: nil)
space.width = WIDTH
self.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItems = [firstButtonItem, space, secondButtonItem]

Answer 5

One line of code is all you need to decrease the space between buttons in the navigation bar:
UIStackView.appearance(whenContainedInInstancesOf: [UINavigationBar.self]).spacing = -10
You must place this line in your code before you add the buttons to the navigation bar.

Answer 6

If you are looking to have 2 buttons on the top right with no space in between them or on the right, this has worked for me.
let imgLeft = UIImage(named: "buttonLeft")?.imageWithRenderingMode(.AlwaysOriginal)
let bLeft = UIBarButtonItem(image: imgLeft, style: UIBarButtonItemStyle.Done, target: self, action: "action1:")
let space = UIBarButtonItem(barButtonSystemItem: UIBarButtonSystemItem.FixedSpace, target: nil, action: nil)
space.width = -16.0
bLeft.imageInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0, 0, 0, -25.0)
let imgRight = UIImage(named: "buttonRight")?.imageWithRenderingMode(.AlwaysOriginal)
let bRight = UIBarButtonItem(image: imgRight, style: UIBarButtonItemStyle.Done, target: self, action: "action2:")
bRight.imageInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0, -25, 0, 0)
self.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItems = [space,bLeft,bRight ]

Answer 7

My situation was about giving horizontal space to logOut Button to the right edge.
func addLogOutButtonToNavigationBar(triggerToMethodName: String)
{
let button: UIButton = UIButton()
button.setImage(UIImage(named: "logOff.png"), forState: .Normal)
button.frame = CGRectMake(20, 0, 30, 25)
button.contentEdgeInsets = UIEdgeInsets.init(top: 0, left: 10, bottom: 0, right: -10)
button .addTarget(self, action:Selector(triggerToMethodName), forControlEvents: UIControlEvents.TouchUpInside)
let rightItem:UIBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem()
rightItem.customView = button
self.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItem = rightItem
}

Answer 8

Might be a bit late for this answer however this can help the newest IOS+Swift combination (IOS 10 and Swift 3 in my case). Here I describe a general approach for how to move items right/left for rightBarButtonItems/leftBarButtonItems:
The property you we have use here to move a barButtonItem is "imageEdgeInsets" . So, Here how to use this property -
yourBarButtonItem.imageEdgeInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(top, left, bottom, right)
These top, left, bottom, right are of type CGFloat and these are basically margin value that pushes your item from/to each other.
For decreasing a space, we can just use minus (-) values like this " -10 ".
So, for example if we want to use this for a group of leftBatButtonItems and say, if we want to move a item to the a bit right, then we can do this -
ourBarButtonItem.imageEdgeInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, -15)
I hope we get the general idea here and hope it helps :)

Answer 9

Without any code. I just put another UIBarButtonItem in-between the buttons that need spacing in storyboard. The button is just a placeholder for spacing and the UIBarButton should have UIView as subview of the UIBarButtonItem. adjust the view's width for your spacing. See Screen shots.

Answer 10

Create a UIBarButtonItem with type flexible or fixed space. Set the width and add it to the array of barbuttonitems. Try using a negative width, see if that works.
Or, you could maybe adjust your image. The system buttons i think have a fixed size, and might include some transparent part, so even when packed together the still seem spaced.

Answer 11

Swift 5
If you want to add space between two Bar Button items then add a flexible space in between, the two buttons will be pushed to the left and right edge as the flexible space expands to take up most of the toolbar.
For Example:
let toolBar = UIToolbar()
var items = [UIBarButtonItem]()
let backBarButton = UIBarButtonItem(image: UIImage(named: "icon-back.png"), style: .done, target: self, action: #selector(backButtonTapped))
let nextBarButton = UIBarButtonItem(image: UIImage(named: "icon-next.png"), style: .done, target: self, action: #selector(nextButtonTapped))
let spacer = UIBarButtonItem(barButtonSystemItem: .flexibleSpace, target: nil, action: nil)
items.append(backBarButton)
items.append(spacer)
items.append(nextBarButton)
toolBar.setItems(items, animated: true)

Answer 12

To accomplish this in code without adding an extra container view, use a UIBarButtonItem with the system item type set to FixedSpace. Then set the width of the fixed space to -10 and place it between the two buttons.

Answer 13

another answer :
It works in ios 9 - 12.
You should call fixNavigationItemsMargin(margin:) in function viewDidAppear(_ animated: Bool) and viewDidLayoutSubviews().
fixNavigationItemsMargin(margin:) would modify the UINavigationController stack.
you could call fixNavigationItemsMargin(margin:) in BaseNavigationController ,do the common work. And call fixNavigationItemsMargin(margin:) in UIViewController do precise layout.
// do common initilizer
class BaseNavigationController: UINavigationController {
override func viewDidLayoutSubviews() {
super.viewDidLayoutSubviews()
fixNavigationItemsMargin()
}
override func viewDidAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
super.viewDidAppear(animated)
fixNavigationItemsMargin()
}
}
extension UINavigationController {
func fixNavigationItemsMargin(_ margin: CGFloat = 8) {
let systemMajorVersion = ProcessInfo.processInfo.operatingSystemVersion.majorVersion
if systemMajorVersion >= 11 {
// iOS >= 11
guard let contentView = navigationBar.subviews
.first(
where: { sub in
String(describing: sub).contains("ContentView")
}) else { return }
// refer to: https://www.matrixprojects.net/p/uibarbuttonitem-ios11/
// if rightBarButtonItems has not any custom views, then margin would be 8(320|375)/12(414)
// should use customView
let needAdjustRightItems: Bool
if let currentVC = viewControllers.last,
let rightItems = currentVC.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItems,
rightItems.count > 0,
rightItems.filter({ $0.customView != nil }).count > 0 {
needAdjustRightItems = true
} else {
print("Use 8(320|375)/12(414), if need precious margin ,use UIBarButtonItem(customView:)!!!")
needAdjustRightItems = false
}
let needAdjustLeftItems: Bool
if let currentVC = viewControllers.last,
let leftItems = currentVC.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItems,
leftItems.count > 0,
leftItems.filter({ $0.customView != nil }).count > 0 {
needAdjustLeftItems = true
} else {
print("Use 8(320|375)/12(414), if need precious margin ,use UIBarButtonItem(customView:)!!!")
needAdjustLeftItems = false
}
let layoutMargins: UIEdgeInsets
if #available(iOS 11.0, *) {
let directionInsets = contentView.directionalLayoutMargins
layoutMargins = UIEdgeInsets(
top: directionInsets.top,
left: directionInsets.leading,
bottom: directionInsets.bottom,
right: directionInsets.trailing)
} else {
layoutMargins = contentView.layoutMargins
}
contentView.constraints.forEach(
{ cst in
// iOS 11 the distance between rightest item and NavigationBar should be margin
// rightStackView trailing space is -margin / 2
// rightestItem trailing to rightStackView trailing is -margin / 2
let rightConstant = -margin / 2
switch (cst.firstAttribute, cst.secondAttribute) {
case (.leading, .leading), (.trailing, .trailing):
if let stackView = cst.firstItem as? UIStackView,
stackView.frame.minX < navigationBar.frame.midX {
// is leftItems
if needAdjustLeftItems {
cst.constant = margin - layoutMargins.left
}
} else if let layoutGuide = cst.firstItem as? UILayoutGuide,
layoutGuide.layoutFrame.minX < navigationBar.frame.midX {
// is leftItems
if needAdjustLeftItems {
cst.constant = margin - layoutMargins.left
}
}
if let stackView = cst.firstItem as? UIStackView,
stackView.frame.maxX > navigationBar.frame.midX {
// is rightItems
if needAdjustRightItems {
cst.constant = rightConstant
}
} else if let layoutGuide = cst.firstItem as? UILayoutGuide,
layoutGuide.layoutFrame.maxX > navigationBar.frame.midX {
// is rightItems
if needAdjustRightItems {
cst.constant = rightConstant
}
}
default: break
}
})
// ensure items space == 8， minispcae
contentView.subviews.forEach(
{ subsub in
guard subsub is UIStackView else { return }
subsub.constraints.forEach(
{ cst in
guard cst.firstAttribute == .width
|| cst.secondAttribute == .width
else { return }
cst.constant = 0
})
})
} else {
// iOS < 11
let versionItemsCount: Int
if systemMajorVersion == 10 {
// iOS 10 navigationItem.rightBarButtonItems == 0
// space = 16(320|375) / 20(414)
// should adjust margin
versionItemsCount = 0
} else {
// iOS 9 navigationItem.rightBarButtonItems == 0
// space = 8(320|375) / 12(414)
// should not adjust margin
versionItemsCount = 1
}
let spaceProducer = { () -> UIBarButtonItem in
let spaceItem = UIBarButtonItem(
barButtonSystemItem: .fixedSpace,
target: nil,
action: nil)
spaceItem.width = margin - 16
return spaceItem
}
if let currentVC = viewControllers.last,
var rightItems = currentVC.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItems,
rightItems.count > versionItemsCount,
let first = rightItems.first {
// ensure the first BarButtonItem is NOT fixedSpace
if first.title == nil && first.image == nil && first.customView == nil {
print("rightBarButtonItems SPACE SETTED!!! SPACE: ", abs(first.width))
} else {
rightItems.insert(spaceProducer(), at: 0)
// arranged right -> left
currentVC.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItems = rightItems
}
}
if let currentVC = viewControllers.last,
var leftItems = currentVC.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItems,
leftItems.count > versionItemsCount,
let first = leftItems.first {
if first.title == nil && first.image == nil && first.customView == nil {
print("leftBarButtonItems SPACE SETTED!!! SPACE: ", abs(first.width))
} else {
leftItems.insert(spaceProducer(), at: 0)
// arranged left -> right
currentVC.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItems = leftItems
}
}
}
}
}
// do precise layout
class ViewController: UIViewController {
override func viewDidLayoutSubviews() {
super.viewDidLayoutSubviews()
navigationController?.fixNavigationItemsMargin(40)
}
override func viewDidAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
super.viewDidAppear(animated)
navigationController?.fixNavigationItemsMargin(40)
}

Answer 14

Found a crazy idea that works.
func createCustomToolbar(items: [UIBarButtonItem]) -> UIToolbar
{
// no spacing between bar buttons
let customToolbar = UIToolbar(frame: CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: items.count*45, height: 44))
customToolbar.items = items
customToolbar.barStyle = UIBarStyle(rawValue: -1)!
customToolbar.clearsContextBeforeDrawing = false
customToolbar.backgroundColor = UIColor.clearColor()
customToolbar.tintColor = UIColor.clearColor()
customToolbar.translucent = true
return customToolbar
}
let customToolbar = createCustomToolbar([item0,item1,item2,item3])
navigationItem.rightBarButtonItems = [UIBarButtonItem(customView: customToolbar)]
Tested on iOS7 and upper. Even this is written in swift the concept is clear.

Answer 15

I gave up with fighting this bug, and came up with the following extension:
import UIKit
extension UIBarButtonItem {
convenience init(buttonImage: UIImage?, target: Any?, action: Selector?) {
let button = UIButton(type: .system)
button.frame = CGRect(origin: CGPoint.zero, size: buttonImage != nil ? buttonImage!.size : CGSize.zero)
button.setImage(buttonImage, for: .normal)
if let action = action {
button.addTarget(target, action: action, for: .touchUpInside)
}
self.init(customView: button)
}
public func updateButton(image: UIImage?) {
if let button = self.customView as? UIButton {
button.setImage(image, for: .normal)
let size = image != nil ? image!.size : CGSize.zero
let frame = button.frame
button.frame = frame.insetBy(dx: ceil((frame.size.width - size.width) / 2), dy: ceil((frame.size.height - size.height) / 2))
}
}
}