Complex animation of objects' images using Core Animation - ios

I got 5 objects with their images. I add them to array and shuffle them.
// Adding Things to Things Strip
[thingStrip removeAllObjects];
for (Thing *i in myThings) {
[self addThing:[i icon]];
}
// Randomizing Things' order in the Things Strip
for (int x = 0; x<thingStrip.count; x++) {
int randInt = (arc4random() % (thingStrip.count - x)) + x;
[thingStrip exchangeObjectAtIndex:x withObjectAtIndex:randInt];
}
// Adding Things' Images
for (int i=0; i<thingStrip.count; i++) {
UIImage *thingImage = thingStrip[i];
Then I add them to UIImage and create CALayers with them.
All I need is:
Make them move from right to left continuously without any gaps.
Scale them smoothly from 80x53 at right position to 120x80 at left position
Make opacity from 0.5 at right position to 1.0 at left position.
Each iteration lasts 0.5 seconds.
Whole animation lasts 5 seconds or stop on screen touch.
After animation is stopped I need left object proceed to the left end of the screen.
After animation is stopped I need to know which object image stopped at left end of the screen to use its' object data later.
For now I can do moving animation, but my solution is not so good.
// Adding Things' Images
for (int i=0; i<thingStrip.count; i++) {
UIImage *thingImage = thingStrip[i];
//for (int j = 0; j < 10; j++)
//{
CALayer *thingFrame = [CALayer layer];
thingFrame.bounds = CGRectMake(0.0, 0.0, 80.0, 53.0);
thingFrame.position = CGPointMake(i*thingFrame.frame.size.width, 515.0);
//thingFrame.position = CGPointMake(i*thingFrame.frame.size.width + j * thingStrip.count * thingFrame.frame.size.width, 515.0);
thingFrame.contents = (id)thingImage.CGImage;
[thingFrame setAnchorPoint:CGPointMake(0.0, 0.0)];
[self.view.layer addSublayer:thingFrame];
CGFloat currentPosition = [[thingFrame valueForKeyPath:#"position.x"] floatValue];
CGFloat newPosition = currentPosition - thingStrip.count * thingFrame.frame.size.width;
CABasicAnimation *thingMoveAnimation = [CABasicAnimation animationWithKeyPath:#"position.x"];
thingMoveAnimation.duration = 0.5f;
thingMoveAnimation.repeatDuration = 5.0f;
thingMoveAnimation.delegate = self;
thingMoveAnimation.fromValue = #(currentPosition);
thingMoveAnimation.toValue = #(newPosition);
thingMoveAnimation.fillMode = kCAFillModeForwards;
[thingFrame addAnimation:thingMoveAnimation forKey:#"position.x"];
//}
}
This code works only if I use for loop with 'j' (commented one) which adds 5 of each image. Only then I get smooth moving animation without any gaps. I guess it's not right solution. When I use only one for loop, I get animation of 5 images moving left again and again, but not continuously one after another.
I don't have working solution for scaling and opacity animation and I don't know how to end it by touching the screen and get needed image data.
I was trying to find similar solution for a while but found nothing.
I'm looking for help with working code.
Thanks in advance.

Related

increment rotation while spacing and loading sprites around parentnode

Progress so far:
So what I have at the moment is this:
(the green point represents the parent "BlankNode, adding children then rotating them around that node,
Im a bit stick how to get it work properly, for some reason they dont sit next to eachother but opposite (as showen in http://i.stack.imgur.com/w7QvS.png)
inGameLevel
myArc = [[Arcs alloc]initWithArcCount:myAmmountOfSprites];
[self addChild:myArc];
My wish is for the sprite.rotation to be slightly offset from the next loaded...here they are split...
(The diagram belows showing the arc shape I would like to load the sprites in)
**With one stick loaded, maybe its easier to spot the mistake
(if I load a second sprite it loads directly opposite to the previous and not at the expected angle incremented
In this version I have just loaded the stick and blanknode, positioned it using anchor points, Im confused how the rotation works... **
SKSpriteNode *blank = [[SKSpriteNode alloc]
///like the otherone
blank.zRotation=0;
blank.anchorPoint = CGPointMake(0.5, 0.5);
[self addChild:blank];
//set to 0 value so I can see what its natural state is (it is vertical and above the parent node)
//but this value will be incremented each time a new sprite is added
int rotationAmount = 0;
Rotation = Rotation-rotationAmount; //will increment
objectPic = [SKSpriteNode spriteNode....as normal
//use blank nodes anchorpoint
objectPic.anchorPoint = blank.anchorPoint;
//Rotation
objectPic.zRotation = Rotation;
float moveUp_donut = 0.3;
//"moveUp_donut" moving this value up moves the stick up
//and outward from the center
objectPic.anchorPoint =
CGPointMake(0.0,-moveUp_donut); //(0.0,-moveOutward);
[blank addChild:objectPic];
}
}
I have made an xcode project available for anyone interested to have a look at the problem, hopefully you can explain how to get the rotation working correctly.
at the moment it is just loading one sprite, so you might need to play with the setting,
myArc = [[Arcs alloc]initWithArcCount:addLotsOfSticks];
//and play with the rotation ammount
int rotationAmount = 3;
http://www.filedropper.com/rotationtest
Solution Found! see below:
🌸
A huge thanks to WangYudong for giving such a great answer!
I made a sample project and hope it can help. The algorithm is not base on your project, so make some change to fit your need.
Firstly, add a blank node to the middle of the scene:
self.blank = [[SKSpriteNode alloc] initWithColor:[SKColor greenColor]size:CGSizeMake(20, 20)];
self.blank.position = CGPointMake(CGRectGetMidX(self.frame), CGRectGetMidY(self.frame));
[self addChild:self.blank];
Then, create the stick:
- (SKSpriteNode *)newStick
{
SKSpriteNode *stick = [[SKSpriteNode alloc] initWithColor:[SKColor redColor]size:CGSizeMake(5, 100)];
return stick;
}
And given the amount of sticks, the radius (of the inner circle), the starting radian and ending radian, add a method:
- (void)loadStickArcWithStickAmount:(NSUInteger)amount radius:(CGFloat)radius startRadians:(CGFloat)startRad endRadians:(CGFloat)endRad
{
for (NSUInteger index = 0; index < amount; index++) {
SKSpriteNode *stick = [self newStick];
CGFloat halfStickLength = stick.size.height / 2;
CGFloat rotateRad = startRad + (endRad - startRad) / (amount - 1) * index;
stick.zRotation = M_PI_2 + rotateRad;
stick.position = CGPointMake((radius + halfStickLength) * cos(rotateRad),
(radius + halfStickLength) * sin(rotateRad));
[self.blank addChild:stick];
}
}
Some hints:
rotateRad divides radians of endRad - startRad.
M_PI_2 is an offset of zRotation.
Trigonometric maths calculates the position of sticks.
Both anchor points of blank node and stick remain default (0.5, 0.5).
Use the method:
[self loadStickArcWithStickAmount:27 radius:50.0 startRadians:M_PI endRadians:2*M_PI];
to achieve the following result:

Is it possible to rotate a Node around an arbitrary point in SpriteKit?

Is there a way to rotate a Node in SpriteKit around an arbitrary point?
I now I can manipulate the anchorPoint of my Node, but that is not sufficient if the rotation point I want to use lies outside of the Node.
What is the best way to achieve this kind of rotation in SpriteKit?
Since you're asking for the best way, here's one that works well (best is subjective):
Create an SKNode and set its position to the center of rotation. Add the node that should rotate around that center as child to the center node. Set the child node's position to the desired offset (ie radius, say x + 100). Change the rotation property of the center node to make the child node(s) rotate around the center point. The same works for cocos2d btw.
I was also trying to solve this problem a few weeks back, and did not implement the anchor points solution because I did not want to have to worry about removing the anchor point when lets say the object collides with another node and should leave its orbit and bounce away.
Instead, I came up with two solutions, both of which work if tweaked. The first took a long time to perfect, and is still not perfect. It involves calculating a certain number of points around a center position offset by a set radius, and then if a certain object comes in a certain distance of the center point, it will continually use physics to send the object on a trajectory path along the "circumference" of the circle, points that it calculated (see above).
There are two ways of calculating points with a radius
The first uses the pythagorean theorem, and the second ultimately uses trigonometry proper.
In the first, you increment a for loop by a certain amount, while it is less that 361 (degree), and for each iteration of the loop, calculate using sine and cosine a point with that angle at a certain radius from the center point.
The second uses the pythagorean theorem, and its code is below:
After you calculate points, you should create a scheduled selector [<object> scheduled selector...]; or a timer in your didMoveToView, or use a fixed update method, in addition to an instance variable called int which will hold the index of the next location to which your object will move. Every time the timer method is called, it will move the object to the next point in your calculate points array using your own or the below code labeled physicsMovement; You can play around with the physics values, and even the frequency of the ttimer for different movement effects. Just make sure that you are getting the index right.
Also, for more realism, I used a method which calculates the closest point in the array of calculated point to the object, which is called only once the collision begins. It is also below labeled nearestPointGoTo.
If you need any more help, just say so in the comments.
Keep Hacking!
I used the second, and here is the source code for it:
The code itself didn't go through
Second point calculation option
+(NSArray *)calculatePoints:(CGPoint)point withRadius:(CGFloat)radius numberOfPoints: (int)numberOfPoints{ //or sprite kit equivalent thereof
// [drawNode clear];
NSMutableArray *points = [[NSMutableArray alloc]init];
for (int j = 1; j < 5; j++) {
float currentDistance;
float myRadius = radius;
float xAdd;
float yAdd;
int xMultiplier;
int yMultiplier;
CCColor *color = [[CCColor alloc]init]; //Will be used later to draw the position of the node, for debugging only
for (int i = 0; i < numberOfPoints; i += 1){
//You also have to change the if (indextogoto == <value>) in the moveGumliMethod;
float opposite = sqrtf( powf(myRadius, 2) - powf(currentDistance, 2) );
currentDistance = i;
switch (j) {
case 1:
xMultiplier = 1;
yMultiplier = 1;
xAdd = currentDistance;
yAdd = opposite;
color = [CCColor blueColor];
break;
case 2:
xMultiplier = 1;
yMultiplier = -1;
xAdd = opposite;
yAdd = currentDistance;
color = [CCColor orangeColor];
break;
case 3:
xMultiplier = -1;
yMultiplier = -1;
xAdd = currentDistance;
yAdd = opposite;
color = [CCColor redColor];
break;
case 4:
xMultiplier = -1;
yMultiplier = 1;
xAdd = opposite;
yAdd = currentDistance;
color = [CCColor purpleColor];
break;
default:
break;
}
int x = (CGFloat)(point.x + xAdd * xMultiplier); //or sprite kit equivalent thereof
int y = (CGFloat)(point.y + yAdd * yMultiplier); //or sprite kit equivalent thereof
CGPoint newPoint = CGPointMake((CGFloat)x,(CGFloat)y); //or sprite kit equivalent thereof
NSValue *pointWrapper = [NSValue valueWithCGPoint:newPoint]; //or sprite kit equivalent thereof
NSLog(#"Point is %#",pointWrapper);
[points addObject:pointWrapper];
}
}
return points;
}
Calculating Nearest Point To Object
-(CGPoint)calculateNearestGumliPoint:(CGPoint)search point { // MY Character is named Gumli
float closestDist = 2000;
CGPoint closestPt = ccp(0,0);
for (NSValue *point in points) {
CGPoint cgPoint = [point CGPointValue];
float dist = sqrt(pow( (cgPoint.x - searchpoint.x), 2) + pow( (cgPoint.y - searchpoint.y), 2));
if (dist < closestDist) {
closestDist = dist;
closestPt = cgPoint;
}
}
return closestPt;
}
I think the best way to make this work is through two SKNode and joint them with SKPhysicsJointPin (Look at the pin example below)
I tried to hang a door sign (SKSpriteNode) on my door(`SkScene), and would like to rotate around on the hanging spot when someone touch it
What I did is making a 1x1 SKNode with a HUGH mass and disabled it's gravity effects.
var doorSignAnchor = SKSpriteNode(color: myUIColor, size: CGSize(width: 1, height: 1))
doorSignAnchor.physicsBody = SKPhysicsBody(rectangleOf: doorSignAnchor.frame.size)
doorSignAnchor.physicsBody!.affectedByGravity = false // MAGIC PART
doorSignAnchor.physicsBody!.mass = 9999999999 // MAGIC PART
var doorSignNode = SKSpriteNode(imageNamed:"doorSign")
doorSignNode.physicsBody = SKPhysicsBody(rectangleOf: doorSignNode.frame.size)
and created a SKPhysicsJointPin to connect them all
let joint = SKPhysicsJointPin.joint(
withBodyA: doorSignAnchor.physicsBody!,
bodyB: doorSignNode.physicsBody!,
anchor: doorSignAnchor.position)
mySkScene.physicsWorld.add(joint)
So it will move like actual door sign, rotate around an arbitrary point (doorSignAnchor)
Reference:
Official document about Sumulating Physics
How to Make Hanging Chains With SpriteKit Physis Joints

iOS Animation 2D game

I'm making an application, for the iPhone, which is a 2D game.
I have done all the spritesheets, but now i need to animate some of them particulary :
My game is a game where your hero should avoid some obstacles. The borders should move to give the impression that the game is more difficult by increasing the speed (so the hero looks like going faster and faster). I have my image of the border, but really don't know how to animate it dynamically, and when the end of the image is coming, put the top of the image to come after it.
Note : I know how to make a translation, to animate an image but here i need to animate it faster and faster, so to change dynamically the speed of the animation.
Thanks for your help !
Code or a UIImageView :
nuages_bas2 = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(-100, 0, 160, 1000)];
UIImage * ImageNuages = [UIImage imageNamed:#"Menu_nuage.png"];
nuages_bas2.image = ImageNuages;
nuages_bas2.alpha = 0.0f;
[menu_principale addSubview:nuages_bas2];
[nuages_bas2 release];
Code for one of the animations :
- (void)AnimationNuagesBas2
{
nuages_bas2.alpha = 1.0f;
CABasicAnimation * nuagesbas2 = [CABasicAnimation animationWithKeyPath:#"transform.translation.y"];
nuagesbas2.fromValue = [NSNumber numberWithFloat:480.0f];
nuagesbas2.toValue = [NSNumber numberWithFloat:-960.0f];
nuagesbas2.duration = 35.0f;
nuagesbas2.repeatCount = 10;
[nuages_bas2.layer addAnimation:nuagesbas2 forKey:#"nuagesbas2"];
}
First things first, if you're making a game, you probably should not be using UIKit unless it's something very simple. You should have a look at libraries like cocos2d
As for this question, you may want to look at CAKeyframeAnimation. I'll attempt to sketch out some code that will do something like this, but you'll probably want to modify it(Also, I don't have the means to test it).
Note, what follows below is a hack that consists of creating a keyframe animation where the object goes back and forth each time with a smaller duration.
- (void)AnimationNuagesBas2
{
nuages_bas2.alpha = 1.0f;
CAKeyframeAnimation * nuagesbas2 = [CAKeyframeAnimation animationWithKeyPath:#"transform.translation.y"];
float from = [NSNumber numberWithFloat:480];
float to = [NSNumber numberWithFloat:-960];
int repeatCount = 10;
float duration = 6;
float durationDecrease = 0.5;
float t = 0;
NSMutableArray * values = [NSMutableArray array];
NSMutableArray * times = [NSMutableArray array];
[values addObject:from];
[times addObject:[NSNumber numberWithFloat:0]];
for (int i = 0; i < repeatCount; i++){
t += duration/2;
[values addObject:to];
[times addObject:[NSNumber numberWithFloat:t]];
t += duration/2;
[values addObject:from];
[times addObject:[NSNumber numberWithFloat:t]];
duration -= durationDecrease;
}
[nuages_bas2.layer addAnimation:nuagesbas2 forKey:#"nuagesbas2"];
}
Another approach would be to set yourself as the delegate to the CABasicAnimation and set it with a repeatCount of 0. Then, every time it's done, you re-initiate it with a smaller duration.

Start new CAAnimation from current CAAnimation's state

I'm using a pair of CALayers as image masks, allowing me to animate a bulb filling or emptying at a set speed while also following the current touch position. That is, one mask jumps to follow the touch and the other slides to that position. Since I use an explicit animation I'm forced to set the position of the mask sliding mask when I add the animation. This means that if I start a fill and then start an empty before the fill completes the empty will begin from the completed fill position (the opposite is also true).
Is there a way to get the position of the animation, set the position at each step of the animation, or to have the new animation begin from the current state of the active animation?
The code handling the animating is below:
- (void)masksFillTo:(CGFloat)height {
// Clamp the height we fill to inside the bulb. Remember Y gets bigger going down.
height = MIN(MAX(BULB_TOP, height), BULB_BOTTOM);
// We can find the target Y location by subtracting the Y value for the top of the
// bulb from the height.
CGFloat targetY = height - BULB_TOP;
// Find the bottom of the transparent mask to determine where the solid fill
// is sitting. Then find how far that fill needs to move.
// TODO: This works with the new set position, so overriding old anime doesn't work
CGFloat bottom = transMask.frame.origin.y + transMask.frame.size.height;
// If the target is above the bottom of the solid, we want to fill up.
// This means the empty mask jumps and the transparent mask slides.
CALayer *jumper;
CALayer *slider;
if (bottom - targetY >= 0) {
jumper = emptyMask;
slider = transMask;
// We need to reset the bottom to the emptyMask
bottom = emptyMask.frame.origin.y + emptyMask.frame.size.height;
} else {
jumper = transMask;
slider = emptyMask;
}
[jumper removeAllAnimations];
[slider removeAllAnimations];
CGFloat dy = bottom - targetY;
[CATransaction begin];
[CATransaction setValue:(id)kCFBooleanTrue forKey:kCATransactionDisableActions];
[jumper setPosition:CGPointMake(jumper.position.x, jumper.position.y - dy)];
[self slideMaskFillTo:height withMask:slider]; // Do this inside here or an odd flash glitch appears.
[CATransaction commit];
}
// TODO: Always starts from new position, even if animation hasn't reached it.
- (void)slideMaskFillTo:(CGFloat)height withMask:(CALayer *)slider {
// We can find the target Y location by subtracting the Y value for the top of the
// bulb from the height.
CGFloat targetY = height - BULB_TOP;
// We then find the bottom of the mask.
CGFloat bottom = slider.frame.origin.y + slider.frame.size.height;
CGFloat dy = bottom - targetY;
// Do the animation. Animating with duration doesn't appear to work properly.
// Apparently "When modifying layer properties from threads that don’t have a runloop,
// you must use explicit transactions."
CABasicAnimation *a = [CABasicAnimation animationWithKeyPath:#"position"];
a.duration = (dy > 0 ? dy : -dy) / PXL_PER_SEC; // Should be 2 seconds for a full fill
a.fromValue = [NSValue valueWithCGPoint:slider.position];
CGPoint newPosition = slider.position;
newPosition.y -= dy;
a.toValue = [NSValue valueWithCGPoint:newPosition];
a.timingFunction = [CAMediaTimingFunction functionWithName:kCAMediaTimingFunctionLinear];
[slider addAnimation:a forKey:#"colorize"];
// Update the actual position
slider.position = newPosition;
}
And an example of how this is called. Notice this means it can be called mid-animation.
- (void)touchesBegan:(NSSet *)touches withEvent:(UIEvent *)event {
UITouch *touch = [touches anyObject];
CGPoint point = [touch locationInView:self.view];
[self masksFillTo:point.y];
}
If anyone finds it relevant, this is the creation of the images and masks.
// Instantiate the different bulb images - empty, transparent yellow, and solid yellow. This
// includes setting the frame sizes. This approach found at http://stackoverflow.com/a/11218097/264775
emptyBulb = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"Light.png"]];
transBulb = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"Light-moving.png"]];
solidBulb = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"Light-on.png"]];
[emptyBulb setFrame:CGRectMake(10, BULB_TOP, 300, BULB_HEIGHT)]; // 298 x 280
[transBulb setFrame:CGRectMake(10, BULB_TOP, 300, BULB_HEIGHT)]; // 298 x 280
[solidBulb setFrame:CGRectMake(10, BULB_TOP, 300, BULB_HEIGHT)]; // 298 x 280
[self.view addSubview:solidBulb]; // Empty on top, then trans, then solid.
[self.view addSubview:transBulb];
[self.view addSubview:emptyBulb];
// Create a mask for the empty layer so it will cover the other layers.
emptyMask = [CALayer layer];
[emptyMask setContentsScale:emptyBulb.layer.contentsScale]; // handle retina scaling
[emptyMask setFrame:emptyBulb.layer.bounds];
[emptyMask setBackgroundColor:[UIColor blackColor].CGColor];
emptyBulb.layer.mask = emptyMask;
// Also create a mask for the transparent image.
transMask = [CALayer layer];
[transMask setContentsScale:transBulb.layer.contentsScale]; // handle retina scaling
[transMask setFrame:transBulb.layer.bounds];
[transMask setBackgroundColor:[UIColor blackColor].CGColor];
transBulb.layer.mask = transMask;
Was just led to a solution via this answer. If one looks in the right part of the docs, you'll find the following:
- (id)presentationLayer
Returns a copy of the layer containing all properties as they were at the start of the current transaction, with any active animations applied.
So if I add this code before I first check the transparent mask location (aka solid level), I grab the current animated position and can switch between fill up and fill down.
CALayer *temp;
if (transMask.animationKeys.count > 0) {
temp = transMask.presentationLayer;
transMask.position = temp.position;
}
if (emptyMask.animationKeys.count > 0) {
temp = emptyMask.presentationLayer;
emptyMask.position = temp.position;
}
layer.presentation() makes copy of original layer each time you get it, and you need to override init(layer: Any) for every custom CALayer you have.
Another possible way to start from current state is to set animation's beginTime using current animation's beginTime. It allows to start new animation with offset.
In your case it could be (Swift):
if let currentAnimation = slider.animation(forKey: "colorize") {
let currentTime = CACurrentMediaTime()
let animationElapsedTime = currentAnimation.beginTime + currentAnimation.duration - currentTime
a.beginTime = currentTime - animationElapsedTime
}
However this works great for linear timings, but for others it could be difficult to calculate the proper time.

Bounce type animation. When you apply it to the same property

If I want to animate UITableViewCell so it would bounce from left to right a few times, How can I do that? I'm trying that:
var bounds = activeCell.Bounds;
var originalLocation = bounds.Location;
var loc = originalLocation;
UIView.Animate(0.2,()=>{
loc.X = originalLocation.X + 20;
activeCell.Bounds = new RectangleF (loc, bounds.Size);
loc.X = originalLocation.X - 20;
activeCell.Bounds = new RectangleF (loc, bounds.Size);
});
It animates only the last state (i.e. moves element to the left). I tried to put them in separated Animate blocks - it didn't help. Tried to use different UIAnimationOptions - the same.
Here is a nice article explaining how to make it bounce.
http://khanlou.com/2012/01/cakeyframeanimation-make-it-bounce/
Moreover, there is an explanation the formula used to compute the bounce path.
For my personal use, I've taken the absolute value of the computation to simulate a rebound on ground.
- (void) displayNoCommentWithAnimation{
CAKeyframeAnimation *animation = [CAKeyframeAnimation animationWithKeyPath:#"position.y"];
animation.timingFunction = [CAMediaTimingFunction functionWithName:kCAMediaTimingFunctionLinear];
animation.duration = 2;
int steps = 120;
NSMutableArray *values = [NSMutableArray arrayWithCapacity:steps];
double value = 0;
float e = 2.71;
for (int t = 0; t < steps; t++) {
value = 210 - abs(105 * pow(e, -0.025*t) * cos(0.12*t));
[values addObject:[NSNumber numberWithFloat:value]];
}
animation.values = values;
animation.removedOnCompletion = NO;
animation.fillMode = kCAFillModeForwards;
animation.delegate = self;
[viewThatNeedToBounce.layer addAnimation:animation forKey:nil];
}
- (void) animationDidStop:(CAAnimation *)animation finished:(BOOL)flag {
CAKeyframeAnimation *keyframeAnimation = (CAKeyframeAnimation*)animation;
[viewThatNeedToBounce.layer setValue:[NSNumber numberWithInt:210] forKeyPath:keyframeAnimation.keyPath];
[viewThatNeedToBounce.layer removeAllAnimations];
}
The problem with your approach is that UIView.Animate will record the changes that you make to your view, but only the final state for them.
If you change the Bounds property one hundred times in your animate block, only the last one is the one that will matter from the perspective of the animation framework.
CoreAnimation has a couple of quirks that are explained in the WWDC 2010 and WWDC2011 videos. They have great material and they explain a few of the tricks that are not very obvious.
That being said, animating cells in a UITableView is a complicated matter because you are really poking at a UITableView internals, so expect various strange side effects. You could lift the code from TweetStation that does that animation and deals with various corner cases. But even TweetStation and the Twitter for iOS app do not manage to be perfect, because you are animating things behind the back of a UIView that is constantly updating and making changes to very same properties you are animating.
From the top of my head, the easiest approach would be to put the animation code into a method and call that recursive as often as you want. Code untested, but it should work or at least give you an idea.
// Repeat 10 times, move 20 right and the left and right etc.
FancyAnim(activeCell, activeCell.Bounds.Location, 10, 20);
private void FancyAnim(UITableViewCell activeCell, PointF originalLocation, int repeat, float offset)
{
var bounds = activeCell.Bounds;
var loc = originalLocation;
UIView.Animate(0.2,
delegate
{
// Called when animation starts.
loc.X = originalLocation.X + offset;
activeCell.Bounds = new RectangleF (loc, bounds.Size);
},
delegate
{
// Called when animation ends.
repeat--;
// Call the animation method again but invert the movement.
// If you don't do this too often, you should not run out of memory because of a stack overflow.
if(repeat >= 0)
{
FancyAnim(activeCell, originalLocation, repeat, -offset);
}
});
You can however also use a path animation. You would define a path "20 units right, back to center, 20 units left, back to center" and repeat that animation as often as you like.
This requires you to deal with CAKeyFrameAnimation and will be slightly more code.
This site can get you jump started: http://www.bdunagan.com/2009/04/26/core-animation-on-the-iphone/
Lack of documentation and good samples sometimes really makes even simple tasks so annoyingly challenging.
Here is the solution
Sure code isn't elegant, but it works. Hope it will someday help somebody else, so he or she wouldn't need to spend half a day on something stupidly simple like that
var activeCell = ((Element)sender).GetActiveCell();
var animation =
(CAKeyFrameAnimation)CAKeyFrameAnimation.FromKeyPath ("transform.translation.x");
animation.Duration = 0.3;
animation.TimingFunction = // small details matter :)
CAMediaTimingFunction.FromName(CAMediaTimingFunction.EaseOut.ToString());
animation.Values = new NSObject[]{
NSObject.FromObject (20),
NSObject.FromObject (-20),
NSObject.FromObject (10),
NSObject.FromObject (-10),
NSObject.FromObject (15),
NSObject.FromObject (-15),
};
activeCell.Layer.AddAnimation (animation,"bounce");

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