Custom UITableViewCell Not Loading - iphone

Question

I am creating my own custom UITableViewCell using interface builder. I am supporting iOS 5 & iOS 6 but I do not want to use Storyboard. Please do not suggest storyboard. I'm sticking to Interface Builder and writing programatically.
I created a class that subclasses UITableViewCell. Here's the .h file:
#interface CategoryCell : UITableViewCell
{
__weak IBOutlet UIImageView *image;
__weak IBOutlet UILabel *name;
__weak IBOutlet UILabel *distance;
__weak IBOutlet UILabel *number;
__weak IBOutlet UIImageView *rating;
}
#property (nonatomic, weak) IBOutlet UIImageView *image;
#property (nonatomic, weak) IBOutlet UILabel *name;
#property (nonatomic, weak) IBOutlet UILabel *distance;
#property (nonatomic, weak) IBOutlet UILabel *number;
#property (nonatomic, weak) IBOutlet UIImageView *rating;
#end
The XIB file is of type UIViewController and has a View of type CategoryCell. I connected the outlets as I have to.
The Problem
dequeueResuableCellWithIdentifier is not calling the custom cell. Here's what I have:
- (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
static NSString *cellIdentifier = #"CategoryCell";
CategoryCell *cell = [tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:cellIdentifier];
if (cell == nil) {
NSArray *topLevelObjects = [[NSBundle mainBundle] loadNibNamed:#"CategoryCell" owner:self options:nil];
cell = [topLevelObjects objectAtIndex:0];
.....
}
return cell
}
When I substitute the loadBundle line with: cell = [[CategoryCell alloc] initWithStyle:UITableViewCellStyleDefault reuseIdentifier:cellIdentifier];, it does work. But the nib does not load. So a cell loads, but not my own cell so I cannot set the labels and images that I want. When adding the regular load bundle line (as the sample above shows) and breakpoint the init method of the custom cell, it does not get called. Also, what I get is a full white screen that overrides the whole iPhone screen in the simulator.
Why's that happening? What am I doing wrong here? When I tried setting the outlets to strong (which I know I'm not supposed to), it does not work either.
EDIT:
I fixed it by replacing the NSBundle line with:
UIViewController *temporaryController = [[UIViewController alloc] initWithNibName:#"CategoryCell" bundle:nil];
cell = (CategoryCell *)temporaryController.view;
What is it that I've done wrong with the NSBundle method? Supposedly that's supposed to be the "easier" way to do it.

Answer 1

Have you ever try the registerNib method in tableview? It's very convenient for load nib start from iOS 5.
- (void)viewDidLoad
{
[super viewDidLoad];
[self.tableView registerNib:[UINib nibWithNibName:#"CategoryCell" bundle:nil]
forCellReuseIdentifier:#"CategoryCell"];
}
-(UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
static NSString *cellIdentifier = #"CategoryCell";
CategoryCell *cell = [tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:cellIdentifier];
return cell
}
make sure you have define identifier in the CategoryCell.nib , it's under Attribute inspector! Hope this work.

Answer 2

The XIB file is of type UIViewController and has a View of type CategoryCell. I connected the outlets as I have to.
The problem in this is that the root object of your XIB need to be a UITableViewCell or a subclass of it.
And be sure to have your reuse identifier set in your XIB.