#IBDesignable UIView not calling init within storyboard - ios

Question

I have a UIView that is is #IBDesignable
#IBDesignable
class MyView: UIView {
override init(frame: CGRect) {
super.init(frame: frame)
sharedInit()
}
required init?(coder aDecoder: NSCoder) {
super.init(coder: aDecoder)
sharedInit()
}
private func sharedInit(){
translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
backgroundColor = .blue
}
}
When I place this a UIView in the Storyboard, and assigned its class to MyView in the Identity inspector, the UIView still has a default background colour. Why is its background colour not UIColor.blue in the Storyboard? And, how can I make it like this, please?
Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

Initializer which initialize this view from storyboard will call on runtime, for updating view within storyboard in compile time you should try to include prepareForInterfaceBuilder which updates storyboard xib files in compile time.
I suggest you to do multiple things when you are going to create #IBDesignable classes :
Mark class with #IBDesignable tag
Mark UIView property with #IBInspectable, then you will be able to change the value for this property using StoryBoard
Set the configuration code in willSet of that property which is observer for changes before the property takes the value, or didSet after the property received the value.
Do your additional setup in prepareForInterfaceBuilder() which is overriding from its super class kind of UIView
Simple and easy !
Your code should looks like this :
Swift 5 :
import UIKit
#IBDesignable
class myView: UIView {
#IBInspectable var storyBoardColor : UIColor = .red {
willSet(myVariableNameToCatch) {
self.backgroundColor = myVariableNameToCatch
}
}
fileprivate func sharedInit(){
translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
backgroundColor = storyBoardColor
}
override func prepareForInterfaceBuilder() {
super.prepareForInterfaceBuilder()
sharedInit()
}
}
myView had initial value of red for storyBoardColor and you can change it from storyBoard ;)

Answer 2

Once you make your view with tag #IBDesignable. next thing is to set your properties with #IBInspectable.
#IBDesignable
class MyView: UIView {
#IBInspectable var myBackgroundColour: UIColor? = nil {
willSet(v) {
self.backgroundColor = v
}
}
// YOUR EXISTING CODE HERE
}
Now, when you set the MyView as a class name in Identity Inspector. You will be able to see your inspectable property in Attributes Inspector. there you can set the colour and it will be reflected instantly to your custom view.
I don't see any usefulness to set the background colour with your custom property because, UIView has the default property to set the background colour.
Hope it helps.

Answer 3

Swift 4.2 tested and working. This is the cleanest solution.
In Xcode make sure Editor -> Automatically refresh views is checked.
import UIKit
#IBDesignable
class BoxView: UIView {
override func prepareForInterfaceBuilder() {
super.prepareForInterfaceBuilder()
layer.borderColor = borderColor?.cgColor
layer.borderWidth = borderWidth
layer.cornerRadius = cornerRadius
}
#IBInspectable var borderColor: UIColor? {
didSet {
layer.borderColor = borderColor?.cgColor
setNeedsLayout()
}
}
#IBInspectable var borderWidth: CGFloat = 0.0 {
didSet {
layer.borderWidth = borderWidth
setNeedsLayout()
}
}
#IBInspectable var cornerRadius: CGFloat = 0.0 {
didSet {
layer.cornerRadius = cornerRadius
setNeedsLayout()
}
}
}
Create the BoxView.swift file above.
Select a UIView in InterfaceBuilder.
In the Identity Inspector select Custom Class -> Class to "BoxView".
In the Attributes Inspector set borderColor, borderWidth, and borderRadius.