Navigating between UITextFields within UITableViewCell - iphone

In the Contacts app's add/edit view, if you hit the 'Return' key in a field, you cycle through each of the UITextFields. These fields seem to be inside a UITableViewCell. What's a good way to do this?
When I have a series of UITextFields not inside a Table, I can invoke
[self.view viewWithTag:tag] to get a list of the views and the use that to cycle through them. But within a table, I only get one view and I'm not sure how to convert this over.
-(BOOL)textFieldShouldReturn:(UITextField *)textField {
// Find the next entry field
for (UIView *view in [self entryFields]) {
if (view.tag == (textField.tag + 1)) {
[view becomeFirstResponder];
break;
}
}
return NO;
}
/*
Returns an array of all data entry fields in the view.
Fields are ordered by tag, and only fields with tag > 0 are included.
Returned fields are guaranteed to be a subclass of UIResponder.
From: http://iphoneincubator.com/blog/tag/uitextfield
*/
- (NSArray *)entryFields {
if (!entryFields) {
self.entryFields = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
NSInteger tag = 1;
UIView *aView;
while (aView = [self.view viewWithTag:tag]) {
if (aView && [[aView class] isSubclassOfClass:[UIResponder class]]) {
[entryFields addObject:aView];
}
tag++;
}
}
return entryFields;
}

Just discovered this while browsing for something myself - sorry for the delay.
If you haven't resolved the issue, you could create an array of uitextfield objects in the same order presented on screen. As you create the table, set the .tag property of the text field. Within the text field delegate method - read the tag, increment by 1 (to move to the next field), and issue the becomefirstresponder call.
You could also look at the textFieldDidEndEditing delegate method.

Related

On iOS, is there a way to search ONLY subviews with a certain tag?

Because right now, viewWithTag actually search for itself first, and then all subviews recursively down the whole subtree, for a view with that tag.
But what if I set the tags of the subviews to 100, 101, etc, and later on, look for tag 100, but the parent of this current view sets the current view's tag to 100? Then viewWithTag will return the current view instead of any subview.
It is also strange that if the code is
[fooView viewWithTag: 123]
why would the code want to search the subtree including fooView itself? It is like, the code doesn't know fooView good enough to want to search for it too. Or put it another way, fooView is told to search itself... which is strange. A view doesn't know itself? (need to do a search to look for itself?)
So is there a way to search for subviews and grand-subviews only (without searching for self)?
Take advantage of the recursive nature of -viewWithTag:
- (UIView *)viewWithTagNotCountingSelf:(NSInteger)tag
{
UIView *toReturn = nil;
for (UIView *subView in self.subviews) {
toReturn = [subView viewWithTag:tag];
if (toReturn) {
break;
}
}
return toReturn;
}
Edit: this will drill down farther than "grand-subviews": it will get any view within the hierarchy that is not self. Also this is to be implemented in a category on UIView.
let result = view.subviews.filter{$0.tag == tag}.first
After reviewing the documentation for -viewWithTag: and running a few tests, it appears the answer to OP's question is - This behavior is already provided.
Return Value
The view in the receiver’s hierarchy whose tag property matches the
value in the tag parameter.
Discussion
This method searches the current view and all of its subviews for the
specified view.
I am concluding this to mean that 'view' is also a 'subview', thus limiting the scope of the search.
do this:
NSMutableArray *arrSameViewTag = [NSMutableArray array];
for(UIView *subview in [yourView subviews]) //your view to find subview
{
if(subview.tag == 123) //specific tah here
{
[arrSameViewTag addObject:subview]; //view found add in array
}
}
NSlog(#"arrSameViewTag : %#",arrSameViewTag);
To find specific like UIButton or any UIElement then like this:
NSMutableArray *arrSameViewTag = [NSMutableArray array];
for(id *subview in [yourView subviews]) //your view to find subview
{
if([subview isKindofClass[UIButton class]) //any UIElement of specific type here
{
UIButton *btn = (UIButton *)subview; //same UIElement mentioned for checking it
if(btn.tag == 123) //specific tah here
{
[arrSameViewTag addObject:subview]; //view found add in array
}
}
}
NSlog(#"arrSameViewTag : %#",arrSameViewTag)
For 1 level:
UIView *view;
for (int i = 0; i < viewToSearch.subviews.count; i++){
UIView *subview = viewToSearch.subviews[i];
if (subview.tag == tagToSeach){
view = subview;
break;
}
}
To search a view hierarchy with multiple levels:
__block UIView *view;
BOOL (^__block searchViewForTag)(UIView *,NSInteger) = ^(UIView *aView, NSInteger tag){
for (UIView *subview in aView.subviews){
if (subview.tag == tag){
view = subview;
return YES;
}
if (searchViewForTag(subview,tag)) return YES;
}
return NO;
};
NSInteger tagToSearchFor = 1;
searchViewForTag(viewToSearch,tagToSearchFor);
//Do something with view

Why is UITextField's window nil?

I am trying to implement "previous," "next," and "done" buttons for a series of UITextFields, each of which is contained in a UITableViewCell in a grouped UITableView. I hold on to the UITextFields in an NSMutableArray, and keep an integer pointing to the UITextField that is currently active. Here are the two selectors that get fired when the Previous and Next buttons are tapped, respectively.
-(IBAction)didSelectPreviousButton:(id)sender
{
if ((textFieldIndex - 1) >= 0) {
UITextField *currentField = [self.testTextFields objectAtIndex:(textFieldIndex)];
UITextField *nextTextField = [self.testTextFields objectAtIndex:(--textFieldIndex)];
BOOL result = [nextTextField becomeFirstResponder];
NSLog([NSString stringWithFormat:#"currentField's window: %#", currentField.window]);
NSLog([NSString stringWithFormat:#"nextTextField's window: %#", nextTextField.window]);
} else {
[self dismissKeyboard:sender];
}
}
-(IBAction)didSelectNextButton:(id)sender
{
if ((textFieldIndex + 1) < [self.inspectionItemSpec.numberOfTests intValue]) {
UITextField *currentField = [self.testTextFields objectAtIndex:(textFieldIndex)];
UITextField *nextTextField = [self.testTextFields objectAtIndex:(++textFieldIndex)];
BOOL result = [nextTextField becomeFirstResponder];
NSLog([NSString stringWithFormat:#"currentField's window: %#", currentField.window]);
NSLog([NSString stringWithFormat:#"nextTextField's window: %#", nextTextField.window]);
} else {
[self dismissKeyboard:sender];
}
}
As you can see, I am logging the window property of the current & next text field, and in the didSelectNextButton, everything is correct. However, in didSelectPreviousButton, nextTextField.window is always nil. Why would this be happening?
(Note that the previous button is enabled only after the user has tapped the next button once.)
This may be because each UITextField is in a UITableViewCell while also being referenced in self.testTextFields. Because of the way cells are re-used by tables in iOS, you could (and probably will) end up in a situation where the next text field in your array is not the text field in the next visible row in the table.
If you post your tableView:cellForRowAtIndexPath: code, that may make the problem apparent.
The window is the root of the view hierarchy. If the window property is nil, the view hasn't been added to the view hierarchy via something like
[someViewInTheViewHierarchy addSubview:yourView].

How to remove everything fron the superView and not just the last item?

In my app i had to draw certain checkboxes at a same time and i used a single function to add all of them. Now when a user clicks one of them all of those checkboxes should get removed from the superview and currently its just removing the last one. Also i have issue to recognize those checkboxes like which one is clicked. i know it should be done through Tag property but don't know how exactly it should be implemented.
Any suggestions.
Removing all subviews
int numberOfSubviews = [[yourView subviews] count];
for(int i=0;i<numberOfSubviews-1;i++
{
[[youView subviews]objectAtIndex:i]removeFromSuperView];
}
//this will leave check box that you added at last.... for first one to remain loop from 1 to numberOfSubviews....
Using tag property...
when you are creating checkbox objects use
checkBoxObject.tag = i;
//I am considering i as looop count which you are using in a loop
to add checkboxes.
then whenever you need a object of checkbox
[yourViewonwhichYouAddedCheckBox viewWithTag:<your tag >];
Thanks
For identifying a "checkbox" or better said any view within an action-method:
- (void)someActionHandler:(id)sender
{
UIView *actionOriginView = (UIView *)sender;
NSLog(#"this action came from view:%d", actionOriginView.tag);
}
For assigning the tag, you may use the IB or within your code, while instantiating;
UIView *myFunkyView = [[UIView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectZero];
myFunkyView.tag = 1337;
For removing a bunch of views from your superview - lets assume their tag is set to 10 - 15;
for (int i=10;i <= 15;i++)
{
UIView *childView = [superview viewWithTag:i];
[childView removeFromSuperview];
}

Simulate Tab Key Press in iOS SDK

When a hardware keyboard is used with iOS, pressing tab or shift-tab automatically navigates to the next or previous logical responder, respectively. Is there a way to do the same programmatically (i.e. simulating the tab key rather than keeping track of the logical order manually)?
As William Niu is right but you can also use this code explained below.
I have used this and got success.Now consider the example of UITextField...
You can use UITextView's delegate method -(BOOL)textFieldShouldReturn:(UITextField*)textField as explained below.
But before doing this you should have to give tag to each UITextField in an Increment order...(Increment order is not required necessary ,but as for my code it is required, you can also use decrement order but some code changes for doing this)
- (BOOL)textFieldShouldReturn:(UITextField *)textField {
NSInteger nextTag = textField.tag + 1;
UIResponder* nextResponder = [self.view viewWithTag:nextTag];
if (nextResponder) {
[nextResponder becomeFirstResponder];
} else {
[textField resignFirstResponder];
}
return YES;
}
Hope this will work for you...
Happy coding....
You may define the "tab-order" using the tag property. The following post describes how to find the next tag index to go to for UITextFields,
How to navigate through textfields (Next / Done Buttons).
Here is a modified version of the code from that post. Instead of removing keyboard at the last tag index, this following code would try to loop back to the first tag index.
-(BOOL)textFieldShouldReturn:(UITextField*)textField;
{
NSInteger nextTag = textField.tag + 1;
// Try to find next responder
UIResponder* nextResponder = [textField.superview viewWithTag:nextTag];
if (nextResponder) {
// Found next responder, so set it.
[nextResponder becomeFirstResponder];
return NO;
}
// Try to find the first responder instead...
// Assuming the first tag index is 1
UIResponder* firstResponder = [textField.superview viewWithTag:1];
if (firstResponder) {
// loop back to the first responder
[firstResponder becomeFirstResponder];
} else {
// Not found, so remove keyboard.
[textField resignFirstResponder];
}
return NO; // We do not want UITextField to insert line-breaks.
}
If you want an UI element other than UITextField, you should still be able to use the same logic, with a few more checks.
Not sure if this helps, but in the context of a UITextFields, if you implement UITextFieldDelegate, - (BOOL)textFieldShouldReturn:(UITextField *)textField will get called when the return key of the soft keyboard is pressed.
I've tried to hit directly on my laptop keyboard and it seemed to jump between all the textfields in the order in which you've added them to the view, but didn't go to any other types of fields (Buttons etc.).
key on the keyboard is simulating the key on the soft keyboard of the simulator, which works as expected.

Can I hook into UISearchBar's Clear Button?

I've got a UISearchBar in my interface and I want to customise the behaviour of the the small clear button that appears in the search bar after some text has been entered (it's a small grey circle with a cross in it, appears on the right side of the search field).
Basically, I want it to not only clear the text of the search bar (which is the default implementation) but to also clear some other stuff from my interface, but calling one of my own methods.
I can't find anything in the docs for the UISearchBar class or the UISearchBarDelegate protocol - it doesn't look like you can directly get access to this behaviour.
The one thing I did note was that the docs explained that the delegate method:
- (void)searchBar:(UISearchBar *)searchBar textDidChange:(NSString *)searchText;
is called after the clear button is tapped.
I initially wrote some code in that method that checked the search bar's text property, and if it was empty, then it had been cleared and to do all my other stuff.
Two problems which this though:
Firstly, for some reason I cannot fathom, even though I tell the search bar to resignFirstResponder at the end of my method, something, somewhere is setting it back to becomeFirstResponder. Really annoying...
Secondly, if the user doesn't use the clear button, and simply deletes the text in the bar using the delete button on the keyboard, this method is fired off and their search results go away. Not good.
Any advice or pointers in the right direction would be great!
Thanks!
Found the better solution for this problem :)
- (void)searchBar:(UISearchBar *)searchBar textDidChange:(NSString *)searchText{
if ([searchText length] == 0) {
[self performSelector:#selector(hideKeyboardWithSearchBar:) withObject:searchBar afterDelay:0];
}
}
- (void)hideKeyboardWithSearchBar:(UISearchBar *)searchBar{
[searchBar resignFirstResponder];
}
The answer which was accepted is incorrect. This can be done, I just figured it out and posted it in another question:
UISearchbar clearButton forces the keyboard to appear
Best
I've got this code in my app. Difference is that I don't support 'live search', but instead start searching when the user touches the search button on the keyboard:
- (void)searchBarTextDidBeginEditing:(UISearchBar *)searchBar {
if ([searchBar.text isEqualToString:#""]) {
//Clear stuff here
}
}
Swift version handling close keyboard on clear button click :
func searchBar(searchBar: UISearchBar, textDidChange searchText: String) {
if searchText.characters.count == 0 {
performSelector("hideKeyboardWithSearchBar:", withObject:searchBar, afterDelay:0)
}
}
func hideKeyboardWithSearchBar(bar:UISearchBar) {
bar.resignFirstResponder()
}
You could try this:
- (void)viewDidLoad
{
[super viewDidLoad];
for (UIView *view in searchBar.subviews){
for (UITextField *tf in view.subviews) {
if ([tf isKindOfClass: [UITextField class]]) {
tf.delegate = self;
break;
}
}
}
}
- (BOOL)textFieldShouldClear:(UITextField *)textField {
// your code
return YES;
}
I would suggest using the rightView and rightViewMode methods of UITextField to create your own clear button that uses the same image. I'm assuming of course that UISearchBar will let you access the UITextField within it. I think it will.
Be aware of this from the iPhone OS Reference Library:
If an overlay view overlaps the clear button, however, the clear button always takes precedence in receiving events. By default, the right overlay view does overlap the clear button.
So you'll probably also need to disable the original clear button.
Since this comes up first, and far as I can see the question wasn't really adequately addressed, I thought I'd post my solution.
1) You need to get a reference to the textField inside the searchBar
2) You need to catch that textField's clear when it fires.
This is pretty simple. Here's one way.
a) Make sure you make your class a , since you will be using the delegate method of the textField inside the searchBar.
b) Also, connect your searchBar to an Outlet in your class. I just called mine searchBar.
c) from viewDidLoad you want to get ahold of the textField inside the searchBar. I did it like this.
UITextField *textField = [self.searchBar valueForKey:#"_searchField"];
if (textField) {
textField.delegate = self;
textField.tag = 1000;
}
Notice, I assigned a tag to that textField so that I can grab it again, and I made it a textField delegate. You could have created a property and assigned this textField to that property to grab it later, but I used a tag.
From here you just need to call the delegate method:
-(BOOL)textFieldShouldClear:(UITextField *)textField {
if (textField.tag == 1000) {
// do something
return YES;
}
return NO;
}
That's it. Since you are referring to a private valueForKey I can't guarantee that it will not get you into trouble.
Best solution from my experience is just to put a UIButton (with clear background and no text) above the system clear button and than connect an IBAction
- (IBAction)searchCancelButtonPressed:(id)sender {
[self.searchBar resignFirstResponder];
self.searchBar.text = #"";
// some of my stuff
self.model.fastSearchText = nil;
[self.model fetchData];
[self reloadTableViewAnimated:NO];
}
Wasn't able to find a solution here that didn't use a private API or wasn't upgrade proof incase Apple changes the view structure of the UISearchBar. Here is what I wrote that works:
- (void)viewDidLoad {
[super viewDidLoad];
UITextField* textfield = [self findTextFieldInside:self.searchBar];
[textfield setDelegate:self];
}
- (UITextField*)findTextFieldInside:(id)mainView {
for (id view in [mainView subviews]) {
if ([view isKindOfClass:[UITextField class]]) {
return view;
}
id subview = [self findTextFieldInside:view];
if (subview != nil) {
return subview;
}
}
return nil;
}
Then implement the UITextFieldDelegate protocol into your class and overwrite the textFieldShouldClear: method.
- (BOOL)textFieldShouldClear:(UITextField*)textField {
// Put your code in here.
return YES;
}
Edit: Setting the delegate on the textfield of a search bar in iOS8 will produce a crash. However it looks like the searchBar:textDidChange: method will get called on iOS8 on clear.