Can't call object from another class - ios

Question

I have a table view with expanding cells. The expanding cells come from a xib file. In the class of the table is where all of the code is that controls the expansion and pulling data from plist. I'm trying to add a close button but only want it to show when the cell is expanded. As it stands, I can't reference the button to hide it because it's in another class. Here is how I am trying to access it:
import UIKit
class SecondPolandViewController: UIViewController {
#IBOutlet weak var tableView: UITableView!
var customTableViewCell:CustomTableViewCell? = nil
var items = [[String:String]]()
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
**REFERENCING CLASS**
customTableViewCell = CustomTableViewCell()
let nib = UINib.init(nibName: "CustomTableViewCell", bundle: nil)
self.tableView.register(nib, forCellReuseIdentifier: "cell")
self.items = loadPlist()
}
func loadPlist()->[[String:String]]{
let path = Bundle.main.path(forResource: "PolandResourceList", ofType: "plist")
return NSArray.init(contentsOf: URL.init(fileURLWithPath: path!)) as! [[String:String]]
}
var selectedIndex:IndexPath?
var isExpanded = false
func didExpandCell(){
self.isExpanded = !isExpanded
self.tableView.reloadRows(at: [selectedIndex!], with: .automatic)
}
}
extension SecondPolandViewController:UITableViewDataSource, UITableViewDelegate{
***HIDING BUTTON***
let button = customTableViewCell?.closeButton
button?.isHidden = true
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, didSelectRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) {
self.selectedIndex = indexPath
self.didExpandCell()
}
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
return self.items.count
}
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "cell", for: indexPath) as! CustomTableViewCell
cell.selectionStyle = .none
let item = self.items[indexPath.row]
cell.titleLabel.text = item["title"]
cell.shortLabel.text = item["short"]
cell.otherImage.image = UIImage.init(named: item["image"]!)
cell.thumbImage.image = UIImage.init(named: item["image"]!)
cell.longLabel.text = item["long"]
return cell
}
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, heightForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> CGFloat {
let height = UIScreen.main.bounds.height
if isExpanded && self.selectedIndex == indexPath{
//return self.view.frame.size.height * 0.6
return 400
}
return 110
//return height * 0.2
}
}
This does not hide it though.
Here is the xib that I am calling from if it helps. It is probably simple, I am just a newly self taught developer.
import UIKit
class CustomTableViewCell: UITableViewCell {
#IBOutlet weak var closeButton: UIImageView!
#IBOutlet weak var otherImage: UIImageView!
#IBOutlet weak var thumbImage: UIImageView!
#IBOutlet weak var titleLabel: UILabel!
#IBOutlet weak var shortLabel: UILabel!
//#IBOutlet weak var longLabel: UITextView!
#IBOutlet weak var longLabel: UITextView!
override func awakeFromNib() {
super.awakeFromNib()
// Initialization code
//let width = UIScreen.main.bounds.width
//let height = UIScreen.main.bounds.height
//thumbImage.frame.size.width = height * 0.19
//thumbImage.frame.size.height = height * 0.19
}
}

Answer 1

It seems like that you just need to add these lines into cellForRowAt:indexPath method:
if indexPath == selectedIndexPath {
cell.closeButton.isHidden = false
} else {
cell.closeButton.isHidden = true
}
You may add them right before return line

Answer 2

The normal iOS answer for this is a delegate, but you could get away with a simple closure in this case.
In CustomTableViewCell, add
public var closeTapped: ((CustomTableViewCell) -> ())?
Then in that class, when close is tapped, call
self.closeTapped?(self)
In the VC, in cellForRowAt,
cell.closeTapped = { cell in
// do what you want with the VC
}
For delegates, this might help: https://medium.com/#jamesrochabrun/implementing-delegates-in-swift-step-by-step-d3211cbac3ef
The quick answer to why to prefer delegates over the closure is that its a handy way to group a bunch of these together. It's what UITableViewDelegate is (which you are using). Also, it's a common iOS idiom.
I wrote about this here: https://app-o-mat.com/post/how-to-pass-data-back-to-presenter for a similar situation (VC to VC communication)