Custom Cell init in 'cellForItemAtIndexPath' causing stacked cell to stack views - ios

Question

I create a cell using this func:
-(UICollectionViewCell *)collectionView:(UICollectionView *)collectionView cellForItemAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {
BOOL isFocusOn = [_userDefault boolForKey:#"mixFocusOn"];
CDCChannelStrip *cell = [collectionView dequeueReusableCellWithReuseIdentifier:#"cell" forIndexPath:indexPath];
if (isFocusOn == TRUE) {
NSNumber *setChan = [self.focusChannels objectAtIndex:indexPath.section];
NSInteger chanInt = [setChan intValue];
[cell initData:(chanInt)];
[self getParameters:(setChan)];
} else {
NSInteger chanInt = indexPath.section;
NSNumber *chanNum = [NSNumber numberWithInt:chanInt]; // doesnt matter
[cell initData:(chanInt)]; // init
[self getParameters:(chanNum)]; // params
}
[self.mixMonitorView setChannelsStripToType:(cell)];
cell.clipsToBounds = YES;
return cell;
}
The func in question is initData which looks like this:
- (void)initData:(NSInteger)channel {
self.isBus = false;
self.isSendChan = false;
self.recallSafeFade = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"recallSafe"]];
self.recallSafeFade.y = 80;
[self.recallSafeFade setUserInteractionEnabled:YES];
self.recallSafeHead = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"recallSafeHeadamp"]];
[self.recallSafeHead setUserInteractionEnabled:NO];
self.recallSafePan = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"recallSafePan"]];
self.recallSafePan.y = 768 - 141;
[self.recallSafePan setUserInteractionEnabled:YES];
self.channelNumber = channel;
[self setClipsToBounds:NO];
_background = [[UIView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, 80, 122, 547)];
[_background setBackgroundColor:[UIColor colorWithPatternImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"singleFader"]]];
[self addSubview:_background];
[self addChannelName];
[self addInput];
[self addPan];
[self addOn];
[self addMeter];
[self addFader];
}
So the issue im having is, i need to call this func to setup my custom cell to look and function how i need it to. However, every time i call reload on the collectionview due to state changes, it layers the new views over the top of the old views (due to reocurring imageview alloc's)
So how can i apply this func to each cell automatically, yet not reapply it over the top every time i reload the cell?
Image of the issue ina view debugger here:

Answer 1

UICollectionViewCells are reused. So, avoid doing addSubView: (directly or indirectly as in your case: collectionView:cellForRowAtIndexPath: is calling initData: which is calling addSubView:), each time in collectionView:cellForItemAtIndexPath:.
You are using a UICollectionView and UICollectionViewCell only by code.
So there is no XIB/Storyboard were is the cell, and no IBOutlet.
According to the doc of dequeueReusableCellWithReuseIdentifier:forIndexPath:, that's the part you fall into:
If you registered a class for the specified identifier and a new cell
must be created, this method initializes the cell by calling its
initWithFrame: method.
So, in CDCChannelStrip.m, override initWithFrame: and initialize its properties (that are "always" visible/used).
-(id)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame
{
self = [super initWithFrame:frame];
if (self)
{
_myImageViewProperty = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithFrame:someFrame];
[self addSubview:_myImageViewProperty];
etc.
}
return self;
}
-(void)updateWithChannel:(NSInteger)channel
{
self.channelNumber = channel;
self.channelLabelName = #"Something";
//etc.
}
You can also use prepareForReuse to "reinit" the cell as "virgin" (like it was just after initWithFrame: for instance.
-(void)prepareForReuse
{
[super prepareForReuse];
self.channelLabelName = #"";
self.backgroundColor = [UIColor clearColor];
//etc.
[self.sometimesThatImageIsShown setHidden:YES];
}

Answer 2

Simplest way is to create a separate xib for cell or prototype cell. Design you cell there and in cellForItemAtIndexPath you just manipulate your views and set values to your labels, images and other controllers.