Show "#" instead of "bullets" in UITextField for "Secure Text Entry" - ios

Question

I have a requirement to show "#" instead of bullets for password field.
But as there is no default option available for it in UITextField.
I have tried to write custom logic in "shouldChangeCharactersInRange"
But i am not able to handle the index when user will remove or add any specific character from in-between.
So here are my questions :-
1. Do i need to find any library
2. There is any other default option available for it?
3. Need to write custom logic for it? If so where i can handle it correctly "shouldChangeCharactersInRange" or "textFieldDidChange"

Answer 1

No you dont need to find any 3rd party library for this logic
No there is no default option available for your need
Yes, you need to write a custom logic for your demand, So here it goes...
var passwordText = String()
func textField(_ textField: UITextField, shouldChangeCharactersIn range: NSRange, replacementString string: String) -> Bool {
if textField == textFieldPassword {
var hashPassword = String()
let newChar = string.characters.first
let offsetToUpdate = passwordText.index(passwordText.startIndex, offsetBy: range.location)
if string == "" {
passwordText.remove(at: offsetToUpdate)
return true
}
else { passwordText.insert(newChar!, at: offsetToUpdate) }
for _ in passwordText.characters { hashPassword += "#" }
textField.text = hashPassword
return false
}
Swift 4:-
func textField(_ textField: UITextField, shouldChangeCharactersIn range: NSRange, replacementString string: String) -> Bool {
if textField == textFieldPassword {
var hashPassword = String()
let newChar = string.first
let offsetToUpdate = passwordText.index(passwordText.startIndex, offsetBy: range.location)
if string == "" {
passwordText.remove(at: offsetToUpdate)
return true
}
else { passwordText.insert(newChar!, at: offsetToUpdate) }
for _ in 0..<passwordText.count { hashPassword += "#" }
textField.text = hashPassword
return false
}
return true
}

Answer 2

Use a normal textfield without the secure input option. When a user enters a character, save it to a string variable, and replace it in the textfield with the character you wish to present instead of the bullets.
class ViewController: UIViewController,UITextFieldDelegate {
let textField = UITextField(frame :CGRect(x:16,y:50,width:200,height: 40))
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
textField.delegate = self
self.view.addSubview(textField)
textField.becomeFirstResponder()
}
var password: String = ""
func textField(textField: UITextField, shouldChangeCharactersInRange range: NSRange, replacementString string: String) -> Bool{
password = password+string
textField.text = textField.text!+"#"//Character you want
print("\(password)")
return false
}
}
This is in Swift 2. Hope it Helps!!

Answer 3

Improved Mr. Bean's answer in swift 5. To fix Copy&Paste bugs.
var passNSString : NSString = ""
func textField(_ textField: UITextField, shouldChangeCharactersIn range: NSRange, replacementString string: String) -> Bool {
var hashPassword = String()
passNSString = passNSString.replacingCharacters(in: range, with: string) as NSString
for _ in 0..<passNSString.length { hashPassword += "#" }
textField.text = hashPassword
print("str", passNSString)
return false
}