Update Image from Secondary View Controller - ios

Question

I need to update an image on the main view controller from a pop up view controller.
The button is called 'Feature2btn' on the Main View (EraViewController) but when I try the following code on the popup view controller it won't work.
It needs to be an immediate update as the main view is still showing in the background and does not reload so the change needs to be directly caused by the action on the pop up view.
- (IBAction)purchase:(id)sender {
HomeController = [[EraViewController alloc] initWithNibName:#"EraViewController" bundle:nil];
UIImage *image = [UIImage imageNamed:#"ico_plan.png"];
[(EraViewController*)HomeController setFeature2Btn:[feature2Btn setImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"image.png"] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
}

Answer 1

There is (at least) two ways to do this:
You use a notification that one controller listens to and the other sends at the appropriate time.
You create a delegate protocol that the first controller implements and the second on calls.
The delegate one is a bit more complicated but generally considered good style. The notification one is not bad, either, but slightly less "elegant".
I will describe the notification based one here, because it seems ok for your case and would also allow to react to the purchase in multiple places by just registering for the notification there, too.
In the controller that has the image to be updated, register for a notification in viewDidAppear::
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self selector:#selector(updateImage:) name:#"UpdateImageNotification" object:nil];
Implement the updateImage: method:
-(void)updateImage:(NSNotification*)note
{
NSString* newImageName = note.userInfo[#"imageFileKey"];
// ... update UI with the new image
}
Also make sure to deregister for that notification when the view goes away:
-(void)viewWillDisappear:(BOOL)animated
{
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] removeObserver:self];
[super viewWillDisappear:animated];
}
In the other controller, that triggers the update, fire the notification at the appropriate place:
-(IBAction)purchase:(id)sender
{
// ...
NSDictionary* userInfo = #{#"imageFileKey" : newImageName};
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter]
postNotificationName:#"UpdateImageNotification"
object:self userInfo:userInfo];
// ...
}
The object parameter in the notification context is to be used to specify if you want to listen to the notifications by any object or just by a very specific instance. In many cases the actual instance is not relevant, but you just discern the notifications by their name (like "UpdateImageNotification" in this case).
The userInfo dictionary is intended to carry along any information you need to provide with the notification. That's why I introduced a key "imageFileKey" that is associated with the new image name.

Answer 2

I think you made a small mistake. But before going ahead I just want to confirm whether following is the scenario. Correct me if I am wrong
1. You have mainViewController/HomeViewController (of type EraViewController), where you want to update the image
2. On mainViewController you have a popup screen, in which above code is written. The code is intended to change the button image on mainViewController/HomeViewController
If above is the scenario then I suggest following solution.
ERROR YOU MADE
You are creating a new object of EraViewController in the code you posted above and changing the image. According to OOPS concepts, new instance of that controller will be created(a second instance which is not visible on the screen) and you are applying new image in that instance. Now as that instance is not at all visible, you get a feeling that screen is not updating.
SOLUTION
There are at-least 3 solution to this problem
1. One solution will be Daniel Schneller gave in answer (with little bit modifications probably)
2. To achieve this through the delegates.
- You have to write the protocol in the PopViewController and have to implement that in the HomeViewController/mainViewController.
- As the image changes, in PopViewController, That has to be notified to the mainViewController, using delegate and protocol method.
- So that the mainViewController will get the notification and a protocol method will be executed. In that method you should have a code to update the image on the button.
3. (This is not suggested as this is not a good design)You have maintain the instance of the actual viewController which is visible on the screen (in a variable, lets say homeViewController). Then you can use following code in popupViewController
- (IBAction)purchase:(id)sender {
UIImage *image = [UIImage imageNamed:#"ico_plan.png"];
[(EraViewController*)homeViewController setFeature2Btn:[feature2Btn setImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"image.png"] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
}
Hoep this helps.
Thanks

Answer 3

Try this,
- (IBAction)purchase:(id)sender
{
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] postNotificationName:#"updateimage" object:imageName];
}
in mainviewcontroller
-(void)viewDidLoad
{
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] removeObserver:self];
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self selector:#selector(updateiimage:) name:#"updateimage" object:nil];
}
- (void) updateiimage:(NSNotification *)notification
{
NSString * text =[notification object];
//update Image
}