How to use UITableView for TextField input view - ios

Question

I currently have an app which uses UIPickerViews to allow users to select which answer they want for a text field (to avoid spelling mistakes etc).
However, I have found that the UIPickerView isn't really what I want to use because I haven't had great feedback from it when testing.
I have done some research into how to use a UITableView for text field inputs instead, so when the user clicks the Textfield, the user segues to a UITableView with the same options which would be provided by the UIPickerView. Once they click the cell with the option they are looking for it would segue back to the form with the result chosen inside the text field. I thought this would be a better user experience as I could also implement the search to help users narrow down the option they require quicker.
I have been trying to get this to work for a while now, but I'm quite new at coding and haven't been able to crack it yet. I would just like advice on how to approach this? I'm using Swift and the Storyboard to create my app.
Would I need to create a separate ViewController with a UITableView that loads the options and then move the value back to the form once the cell is clicked?

Answer 1

One approach would be to use a table view in separate view controller. lets call it choiceVC and pass data which text field was tapped.
Then send the data back to your form to show what user has selected.
Follow these steps
Detect user tap on text field and segue to choiceVC by implementing this delegate function of UITextField
func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
textField.resignFirstResponder()
//push your choiceVC and pass data
var textFeildTapped = ""
//note: chooseGameTextField should be text field's outlet
if textField == chooseGameTextField{
textFeildTapped = "games"
}else if textField == chooseActiviyTextField {
textFeildTapped = "activiy"
}
//first set identifier of your view controller by going to identity inspector and setting the value StoryBoard ID
if let controller = storyboard?.instantiateViewController(withIdentifier: "choiceVC") as? ProductDetailVc{
//pass which text field was tapped
controller.choicesToShow = textFeildTapped
navigationController?.pushViewController(controller, animated: true)
}
return true
}
Note: choiceVC should have a variable "choicesToShow" of type string
in viewdidload of choiceVC check the variable
if choicesToShow == "games" {
//populate your table view with games.
}else {
//check for other cases and proceed accordingly
//activiy, console etc
}
Implement didSelect delegate method of UITableView
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, didSelectRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) {
//Pass data back to your form using **delegate pattern**. see link in notes below
}
Notes:
See screen shot of setting storyBoard ID
see how to implement table view if you dont know
https://stackoverflow.com/a/33234181/7698092
See how to pass data backward using delegate pattern
https://medium.com/#mayooresan/passing-data-between-viewcontrollers-via-delegate-protocols-4ecde4b167de

Answer 2

If you are looking for an alternative for picker view to select options you can use dropdown like controls Eg.
DropDown
RSSelectionMenu
I hope these libraries can solve your issues, best of luck

Answer 3

I hope this code work for you. it's wroking for me.
First view controller for textfiled form where you want to open tableview.for that use textfield Delegate.
First View Controller
func doSomething(text: UITextField, with data: String) {
text.text = data
}
func textFieldDidBeginEditing(_ textField: UITextField) {
let objGametableVC = self.storyboard?.instantiateViewController(withIdentifier: "GametableVC") as! GametableVC;
objGametableVC.delegate = self
objGametableVC.selectedTextField = textField
if textField == txtActivity{
objGametableVC.tblData.removeAll()
objGametableVC.tblData = ["act1","act2"]
}
else if textField == txtGameName{
objGametableVC.tblData.removeAll()
objGametableVC.tblData = ["gam1","game2"]
}
textField.resignFirstResponder()
self.navigationController?.pushViewController(objGametableVC, animated: true);
}
Second view Controller For tableview show and pass data from second to first controller
Second view Controller
var delegate: Delegate?
var tblData: [String] = [String]()
var selectedTextField:UITextField? = nil
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
return tblData.count
}
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
let tblcell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "gamelblCell", for: indexPath) as! gamelblCell
tblcell.lblName.text = tblData[indexPath.row]
return tblcell
}
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, didSelectRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) {
let tblcell = tableView.cellForRow(at: indexPath) as! gamelblCell
let data = tblcell.lblName.text
delegate?.doSomething(text: selectedTextField!, with: data!)
self.navigationController?.popViewController(animated: true)
}