Set layers programmatically - ios

so I have an application with several images, buttons, etc.. Now, I would like to control programmatically which object is in the foreground and which is further in the back. I know that in the storyboard this is possible, but since I declare a button in the AppDelegate (I don't have in the storyboard) I can't use this function.
Now, is there a way to do this?

You have to use the property .zPosition to accomplish that.

Look at the "Managing View Hierachy" section on UIView to accomplish this.
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/UIKit/Reference/UIView_Class/index.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40006816-CH3-SW46
You can bring views to the front or send them to the back or adjust their index among others.
- (void)bringSubviewToFront:(UIView *)view

Related

Place image on top of all "layers" on iOS screen

What are the constraints/alternatives to place an image that stays on top of all iOS "layers" and windows. Think of it as a lock screen but that still allows you to interact with you phone, meaning browse, answer calls, etc. The image will be displayed in a transparent way (say 40%) and will be launched by an application.
Not really sure what you are asking for but if you are looking for a way to add some code once and it shows everywhere on each of your ViewController then there really is no way to do that.
What you can do is
Use UIToolBar
add buttons to that tool bar
Add that tool bar to each ViewController in storyboard (where you need them)
Create a global function / method that you can call in from any ViewController that has the button actions in it. That way you edit the code once in one place and use it every where.
If you don't like UIToolBar then
you can add your own UIImageView and add a transparent background to it
Add your buttons on the UIImageView. (You will have to add constraints)
then show that on every ViewController
If all this seems to much work then you can use existing controls HERE and see which one fits your needs.
This maybe a good one - FCVerticalMenu

iOS add view to Button in IB

I am trying to add a view on a UIButton inside IB. The only problem it doesn't allow me to put in inside the button only on top?
Is this not possible through IB or am I doing it wrong?
It's not possible in Interface Builder. You have to add it in code.
You should not do this:
Do Not Customize Controls by Embedding Subviews
Although it is technically possible to add subviews to the standard system controls—objects that inherit from UIControl—you should never customize them in this way. Controls that support customizations do so through explicit and well-documented interfaces in the control class itself. For example, the UIButton class contains methods for setting the title and background images for the button. Using the defined customization points means that your code will always work correctly. Circumventing these methods, by embedding a custom image view or label inside the button, might cause your application to behave incorrectly now or at some point in the future if the button’s implementation changes.
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/WindowsViews/Conceptual/ViewPG_iPhoneOS/WindowsandViews/WindowsandViews.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40009503-CH2-SW26
If you need to add a UIView on your UIButton you can achieve it in 2 different ways
The easy way is to follow Cyrille answer: you can do it programmatically because IB doesn't allow you to modify a UIBUtton adding a view on it
The hard way is to create your custom button (let me call it "MYCustomButton"), that extends a UIButton, and use it in your application. With this way when you need to modify the buttons in your interface, you can achieve it modifying the XIB of the "MYCustomButton".

Component in iOS to make a selector option

I wonder which component is being used to create a selector option like the one used in iBooks where we can adjust the Font Size and also the Theme, but without moving to a new view controller.
In my application I would like to implement it giving 3 small options to the user to choose, but without moving the view controller being presented. Its a small square area with an arrow at the bottom or top side giving the impression where it's coming from. (Let me know if I am not clear with the explanation).
Does anybody know how to use it??
Thank you all in advance
ibooks is using UIView. In that UIView you can add any controls you like. You need to use delegate methods so that I can perform communication between two objects(send message to another object). You will be able to make you custom UIView as controls.

How can I create a dynamic overlay for a UIButton?

My application has a few portions that have really big buttons (640x130, 230x150, etc.) What I need is to have a way to update different portions of the button, with different text. Initially, I assumed that in my code I could create various UILabels and then add them as subviews to my button. However, as soon as I try to add a UILabel to the button as a sub-view, my app crashes.
What is the easiest way to create an overlay for a button, that I can completely layout myself, without preventing button taps from being interested using overlay controls?
I imagine there are multiple ways to solve this problem. However, the best solution for my case should use the fewest lines of code (I have quite a few of these types of buttons) and I'd like to be able to continue using some form of configurable button within IB.
I'm not opposed to subclassing UIButton but, if I do, I would like to be able to use it in IB. I've never created a custom UIView for such a circumstance, so I'd need help defining that type of subclass so that it will work correctly in IB.
You need to add the subview to the containing view - not the button. To ensure that is doesn't interfere with button presses, be sure to set it to:
[myCustomTextOverlay setUserInteractionEnabled:NO];

Animating a complete change in the toolbar

I have a toolbar that, at some point in the application, is completely replaced by another toolbar (i.e. another set of toolbar items). How do I animate this replacement?
Note: An ideal animation would be that of sliding the old toolbar items out and sliding the new ones in.
I found the best way to do this is to use setToolbarItems:animate: on the active view, thus avoiding the need for another toolbar.
Please check this,
http://www.iphonedevsdk.com/forum/iphone-sdk-development/25045-navigation-controller-custom-animation.html
There is also a UIToolbar method that is called - (void)setItems:(NSArray *)items animated:(BOOL)animated which does the same as the one mentioned by nessup.

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