How to properly Init a custom UITableviewCell? - ios

Question

I am using the following 2 methods to return a custom cell:
- (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {
NSString *key = [self keyForIndexPath:indexPath];
UITableViewCell *cell;
if ([key isEqualToString:DoneButtonCellKey]) {
cell = [self [self doneButtonCellForIndexPath:indexPath];
return cell;
} else {
//code to return default cell...
}
}
Then:
- (DoneButtonCell *)doneButtonCellForIndexPath: (NSIndexPath *)indexPath {
DoneButtonCell *cell = [self.tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:DoneButtonCellIdentifier forIndexPath:indexPath];
return cell;
}
What is the correct init method to use with the cell here so I can change some properties of the cell when it is initialized?
EDIT: I found the problem, as the init/awakeFromNib methods were not being called for me. I tracked down the error and it was that I had not changed the "Custom Class" from UITableViewCell to my custom class. Now awakeFromNib AND initWithCoder work as described below.

Answer 1

You can do your changes inside the DoneButtonCell's class, either in the
- (void)awakeFromNib
{
.. essential to call super ..
super.awakeFromNib()
//Changes done directly here, we have an object
}
Or the initWithCoder: method:
-(id)initWithCoder:(NSCoder*)aDecoder
{
self = [super initWithCoder:aDecoder];
if(self)
{
//Changes here after init'ing self
}
return self;
}

Answer 2

If you're using Swift, remember the easy way to ensure a view is initialized when it is created is to use the didSet method. For example, to make a UIImageView into a round shape you could add code like this:
#IBOutlet weak var profileImageView: UIImageView! {
didSet {
// Make the profile icon circle.
profileImageView.layer.cornerRadius = self.profileImageView.frame.size.width / 2
profileImageView.clipsToBounds = true
}
}

Answer 3

This is how I am initialising custom cells
- (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
static NSString *simpleTableIdentifier = #"FileTableViewCell";
FileTableViewCell *cell = (FileTableViewCell *)[tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:simpleTableIdentifier];
if (cell == nil)
{
NSArray *nib = [[NSBundle mainBundle] loadNibNamed:#"FileTableViewCell" owner:self options:nil];
cell = [nib objectAtIndex:0];
}
// Configure the cell here...
// Configure the cell.
FileRepresentation* fileRepresentation = _fileList[indexPath.row];
cell.textLabel.text = [self userFilename:[fileRepresentation.fileName stringByDeletingPathExtension]];
cell.detailTextLabel.text = [fileRepresentation modifiedDate];
cell.accessoryView=nil;
cell.accessoryType = UITableViewCellAccessoryDisclosureIndicator;
[cell.progressIndicator setHidden:YES];
cell.imageView.image = [UIImage imageNamed:_fileImageName];
// Disable any user interaction while processing a request
if (_fileIsOpen || _creatingDocument || _deletingDocument) {
cell.selectionStyle = UITableViewCellSelectionStyleNone;
cell.textLabel.textColor = [UIColor grayColor];
} else {
cell.textLabel.textColor = [UIColor blackColor];
cell.selectionStyle = UITableViewCellSelectionStyleDefault;
}
}

Answer 4

First try to dequeue a cell if possible using dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier method of UITableView.
If cell is not available (nil) use [[NSBundle mainBundle] loadNibNamed:#"<#your custom cell nib name#>" owner:nil options:nil][0] to initialize it.
In your custom cell's .m file, implement initWithCoder: initializer for custom initialization code:
- (id)initWithCoder:(NSCoder *)aDecoder {
self = [super initWithCoder:aDecoder];
//your custom initialization code
return self;
}
This is the designated initializer that is called when any view is loaded from a nib with loadNibNamed, like a custom table view cell.