creating a reusable control - iphone

Question

(Using IOS 6, XCode 4.6, ARC, Storyboard)
I'm Trying to create a reusable UIView (like user control in C#), because I have two viewControllers having the same data one for input and other for display.
I read here that the way to do it is by creating a separate xib file for the ReusableUIView, as well as creating corresponding h + m files for it. Adding all the controls and linking the outlets to them.
In the storyboard I have UIViewController, in its viewDidLoad i wrote the following code:
NSArray *myNibsArray = [[NSBundle mainBundle] loadNibNamed:#"ReusableUIView" owner:self options:nil];
ReusableUIView *myCustomView = [myNibsArray objectAtIndex:0];
Few questions:
nothing happens at this point so I'm guessing i have to connect somehow self (the UIViewController) with myCustomView
The ReusableUIView is one of many controls in the UIViewController how do i set it's place
In the xib file i can't find a way to set the size of the UIView, where and when we set the size of it

Answer 1

It is better to custom view loading it its class itself - add some static method in your custom view class that will look like this:
'+' (ReusableUIView *) loadView {
ReusableUIView *loadedView = nil;
NSArray *nibs = [[NSBundle mainBundle] loadNibNamed:#"ReusableUIView"
owner:self options:nil];
if ([nibs count] > 0) {
loadedView = [myNibsArray objectAtIndex:0];
}
return loadedView;
}
As ReusableUIView inherits UIView you can easily config its sizes and positions using frame property and adding it as a subview on parent view.
I am not sure what is the problem, but you can change view sizes in xib easily.
Also, please note two things:
When you are loading view from nib then - (id) initWithCoder(NSCoder *)aDecoder constructor method is calles. So if you need any additional setups - you have to implement then in this method.
When you are making custom view with xib and .h/.m files you have to mark you custom class in xib not on files owner but directly on your UIView.