UILabel not clickable in stack view programmatically created Swift - ios

Question

My question and code is based on this answer to one of my previous questions. I have programmatically created stackview where several labels are stored and I'm trying to make these labels clickable. I tried two different solutions:
Make clickable label. I created function and assigned it to the label in the gesture recognizer:
public func setTapListener(_ label: UILabel){
let tapGesture: UITapGestureRecognizer = UITapGestureRecognizer(target: self, action: #selector(tapGestureMethod(_:)))
tapGesture.numberOfTapsRequired = 1
tapGesture.numberOfTouchesRequired = 1
label.isUserInteractionEnabled = true
label.addGestureRecognizer(tapGesture)
}
#objc func tapGestureMethod(_ gesture: UITapGestureRecognizer) {
print(gesture.view?.tag)
}
but it does not work. Then below the second way....
I thought that maybe the 1st way does not work because the labels are in UIStackView so I decided to assign click listener to the stack view and then determine on which view we clicked. At first I assigned to each of labels in the stackview tag and listened to clicks:
let tap = UITapGestureRecognizer(target: self, action: #selector(didTapCard(sender:)))
labelsStack.addGestureRecognizer(tap)
....
#objc func didTapCard (sender: UITapGestureRecognizer) {
(sender.view as? UIStackView)?.arrangedSubviews.forEach({ label in
print((label as! UILabel).text)
})
}
but the problem is that the click listener works only on the part of the stack view and when I tried to determine on which view we clicked it was not possible.
I think that possibly the problem is with that I tried to assign one click listener to several views, but not sure that works as I thought. I'm trying to make each label in the stackview clickable, but after click I will only need getting text from the label, so that is why I used one click listener for all views.

Answer 1

Applying a transform to a view (button, label, view, etc) changes the visual appearance, not the structure.
Because you're working with rotated views, you need to implement hit-testing.
Quick example:
override func hitTest(_ point: CGPoint, with event: UIEvent?) -> UIView? {
// convert the point to the labels stack view coordinate space
let pt = labelsStack.convert(point, from: self)
// loop through arranged subviews
for i in 0..<labelsStack.arrangedSubviews.count {
let v = labelsStack.arrangedSubviews[i]
// if converted point is inside subview
if v.frame.contains(pt) {
return v
}
}
return super.hitTest(point, with: event)
}
Assuming you're still working with the MyCustomView class and layout from your previous questions, we'll build on that with a few changes for layout, and to allow tapping the labels.
Complete example:
class Step5VC: UIViewController {
// create the custom "left-side" view
let myView = MyCustomView()
// create the "main" stack view
let mainStackView = UIStackView()
// create the "bottom labels" stack view
let bottomLabelsStack = UIStackView()
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
view.backgroundColor = .systemYellow
guard let img = UIImage(named: "pro1") else {
fatalError("Need an image!")
}
// create the image view
let imgView = UIImageView()
imgView.contentMode = .scaleToFill
imgView.image = img
mainStackView.axis = .horizontal
bottomLabelsStack.axis = .horizontal
bottomLabelsStack.distribution = .fillEqually
// add views to the main stack view
mainStackView.addArrangedSubview(myView)
mainStackView.addArrangedSubview(imgView)
// add main stack view and bottom labels stack view to view
mainStackView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
view.addSubview(mainStackView)
bottomLabelsStack.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
view.addSubview(bottomLabelsStack)
let g = view.safeAreaLayoutGuide
NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
// constrain Top/Leading/Trailing
mainStackView.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: g.topAnchor, constant: 20.0),
mainStackView.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: g.leadingAnchor, constant: 20.0),
//mainStackView.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: g.trailingAnchor, constant: -20.0),
// we want the image view to be 270 x 270
imgView.widthAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: 270.0),
imgView.heightAnchor.constraint(equalTo: imgView.widthAnchor),
// constrain the bottom lables to the bottom of the main stack view
// same width as the image view
// aligned trailing
bottomLabelsStack.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: mainStackView.bottomAnchor),
bottomLabelsStack.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: mainStackView.trailingAnchor),
bottomLabelsStack.widthAnchor.constraint(equalTo: imgView.widthAnchor),
])
// setup the left-side custom view
myView.titleText = "Gefährdung"
let titles: [String] = [
"keine / gering", "mittlere", "erhöhte", "hohe",
]
let colors: [UIColor] = [
UIColor(red: 0.863, green: 0.894, blue: 0.527, alpha: 1.0),
UIColor(red: 0.942, green: 0.956, blue: 0.767, alpha: 1.0),
UIColor(red: 0.728, green: 0.828, blue: 0.838, alpha: 1.0),
UIColor(red: 0.499, green: 0.706, blue: 0.739, alpha: 1.0),
]
for (c, t) in zip(colors, titles) {
// because we'll be using hitTest in our Custom View
// we don't need to set .isUserInteractionEnabled = true
// create a "color label"
let cl = colorLabel(withColor: c, title: t, titleColor: .black)
// we're limiting the height to 270, so
// let's use a smaller font for the left-side labels
cl.font = .systemFont(ofSize: 12.0, weight: .light)
// create a tap recognizer
let t = UITapGestureRecognizer(target: self, action: #selector(didTapRotatedLeftLabel(_:)))
// add the recognizer to the label
cl.addGestureRecognizer(t)
// add the label to the custom myView
myView.addLabel(cl)
}
// rotate the left-side custom view 90-degrees counter-clockwise
myView.rotateTo(-.pi * 0.5)
// setup the bottom labels
let colorDictionary = [
"Red":UIColor.systemRed,
"Green":UIColor.systemGreen,
"Blue":UIColor.systemBlue,
]
for (myKey,myValue) in colorDictionary {
// bottom labels are not rotated, so we can add tap gesture recognizer directly
// create a "color label"
let cl = colorLabel(withColor: myValue, title: myKey, titleColor: .white)
// let's use a smaller, bold font for the left-side labels
cl.font = .systemFont(ofSize: 12.0, weight: .bold)
// by default, .isUserInteractionEnabled is False for UILabel
// so we must set .isUserInteractionEnabled = true
cl.isUserInteractionEnabled = true
// create a tap recognizer
let t = UITapGestureRecognizer(target: self, action: #selector(didTapBottomLabel(_:)))
// add the recognizer to the label
cl.addGestureRecognizer(t)
bottomLabelsStack.addArrangedSubview(cl)
}
}
#objc func didTapRotatedLeftLabel (_ sender: UITapGestureRecognizer) {
if let v = sender.view as? UILabel {
let title = v.text ?? "label with no text"
print("Tapped Label in Rotated Custom View:", title)
// do something based on the tapped label/view
}
}
#objc func didTapBottomLabel (_ sender: UITapGestureRecognizer) {
if let v = sender.view as? UILabel {
let title = v.text ?? "label with no text"
print("Tapped Bottom Label:", title)
// do something based on the tapped label/view
}
}
func colorLabel(withColor color:UIColor, title:String, titleColor:UIColor) -> UILabel {
let newLabel = PaddedLabel()
newLabel.padding = UIEdgeInsets(top: 6, left: 8, bottom: 6, right: 8)
newLabel.backgroundColor = color
newLabel.text = title
newLabel.textAlignment = .center
newLabel.textColor = titleColor
newLabel.setContentHuggingPriority(.required, for: .vertical)
return newLabel
}
}
class MyCustomView: UIView {
public var titleText: String = "" {
didSet { titleLabel.text = titleText }
}
public func addLabel(_ v: UIView) {
labelsStack.addArrangedSubview(v)
}
public func rotateTo(_ d: Double) {
// get the container view (in this case, it's the outer stack view)
if let v = subviews.first {
// set the rotation transform
if d == 0 {
self.transform = .identity
} else {
self.transform = CGAffineTransform(rotationAngle: d)
}
// remove the container view
v.removeFromSuperview()
// tell it to layout itself
v.setNeedsLayout()
v.layoutIfNeeded()
// get the frame of the container view
// apply the same transform as self
let r = v.frame.applying(self.transform)
wC.isActive = false
hC.isActive = false
// add it back
addSubview(v)
// set self's width and height anchors
// to the width and height of the container
wC = self.widthAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: r.width)
hC = self.heightAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: r.height)
guard let sv = v.superview else {
fatalError("no superview")
}
// apply the new constraints
NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
v.centerXAnchor.constraint(equalTo: self.centerXAnchor),
v.centerYAnchor.constraint(equalTo: self.centerYAnchor),
wC,
outerStack.widthAnchor.constraint(equalTo: sv.heightAnchor),
])
}
}
// our subviews
private let outerStack = UIStackView()
private let titleLabel = UILabel()
private let labelsStack = UIStackView()
private var wC: NSLayoutConstraint!
private var hC: NSLayoutConstraint!
override init(frame: CGRect) {
super.init(frame: frame)
commonInit()
}
required init?(coder: NSCoder) {
super.init(coder: coder)
commonInit()
}
private func commonInit() {
// stack views and label properties
outerStack.axis = .vertical
outerStack.distribution = .fillEqually
labelsStack.axis = .horizontal
// let's use .fillProportionally to help fit the labels
labelsStack.distribution = .fillProportionally
titleLabel.textAlignment = .center
titleLabel.backgroundColor = .lightGray
titleLabel.textColor = .white
// add title label and labels stack to outer stack
outerStack.addArrangedSubview(titleLabel)
outerStack.addArrangedSubview(labelsStack)
outerStack.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
addSubview(outerStack)
wC = self.widthAnchor.constraint(equalTo: outerStack.widthAnchor)
hC = self.heightAnchor.constraint(equalTo: outerStack.heightAnchor)
NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
outerStack.centerXAnchor.constraint(equalTo: self.centerXAnchor),
outerStack.centerYAnchor.constraint(equalTo: self.centerYAnchor),
wC, hC,
])
}
override func hitTest(_ point: CGPoint, with event: UIEvent?) -> UIView? {
// convert the point to the labels stack view coordinate space
let pt = labelsStack.convert(point, from: self)
// loop through arranged subviews
for i in 0..<labelsStack.arrangedSubviews.count {
let v = labelsStack.arrangedSubviews[i]
// if converted point is inside subview
if v.frame.contains(pt) {
return v
}
}
return super.hitTest(point, with: event)
}
}
class PaddedLabel: UILabel {
var padding: UIEdgeInsets = .zero
override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {
super.drawText(in: rect.inset(by: padding))
}
override var intrinsicContentSize : CGSize {
let sz = super.intrinsicContentSize
return CGSize(width: sz.width + padding.left + padding.right, height: sz.height + padding.top + padding.bottom)
}
}

Answer 2

The problem is with the the stackView's height. Once the label is rotated, the stackview's height is same as before and the tap gestures will only work within stackview's bounds.
I have checked it by changing the height of the stackview at the transform and observed tap gestures are working fine with the rotated label but with the part of it inside the stackview.
Now the problem is that you have to keep the bounds of the label inside the stackview either by changing it axis(again a new problem as need to handle the layout with it) or you have to handle it without the stackview.
You can check the observation by clicking the part of rotated label inside stackview and outside stackview.
Code to check it:
class ViewController: UIViewController {
var centerLabel = UILabel()
let mainStackView = UIStackView()
var stackViewHeightCons:NSLayoutConstraint?
var stackViewTopsCons:NSLayoutConstraint?
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
view.backgroundColor = .systemYellow
mainStackView.axis = .horizontal
mainStackView.alignment = .top
mainStackView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
view.addSubview(mainStackView)
mainStackView.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.leadingAnchor).isActive = true
mainStackView.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.trailingAnchor).isActive = true
stackViewTopsCons = mainStackView.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.topAnchor, constant: 300)
stackViewTopsCons?.isActive = true
stackViewHeightCons = mainStackView.heightAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: 30)
stackViewHeightCons?.isActive = true
centerLabel.textAlignment = .center
centerLabel.text = "Let's rotate this label"
centerLabel.backgroundColor = .green
centerLabel.tag = 11
setTapListener(centerLabel)
mainStackView.addArrangedSubview(centerLabel)
// outline the stack view so we can see its frame
mainStackView.layer.borderColor = UIColor.red.cgColor
mainStackView.layer.borderWidth = 1
}
public func setTapListener(_ label: UILabel){
let tapGesture: UITapGestureRecognizer = UITapGestureRecognizer(target: self, action: #selector(tapGestureMethod(_:)))
tapGesture.numberOfTapsRequired = 1
tapGesture.numberOfTouchesRequired = 1
label.isUserInteractionEnabled = true
label.addGestureRecognizer(tapGesture)
}
#objc func tapGestureMethod(_ gesture: UITapGestureRecognizer) {
print(gesture.view?.tag ?? 0)
var yCor:CGFloat = 300
if centerLabel.transform == .identity {
centerLabel.transform = CGAffineTransform(rotationAngle: -CGFloat.pi / 2)
yCor = mainStackView.frame.origin.y - (centerLabel.frame.size.height/2)
} else {
centerLabel.transform = .identity
}
updateStackViewHeight(topCons: yCor)
}
private func updateStackViewHeight(topCons:CGFloat) {
stackViewTopsCons?.constant = topCons
stackViewHeightCons?.constant = centerLabel.frame.size.height
}
}

Answer 3

Sorry. My assumption was incorrect.
Why are you decided to use Label instead of UIButton (with transparence background color and border line)?
Also you can use UITableView instead of stack & labels
Maybe this documentation will help too (it is written that usually in one view better to keep one gesture recognizer): https://developer.apple.com/documentation/uikit/touches_presses_and_gestures/coordinating_multiple_gesture_recognizers