iOS 5 SDK Create methods that work everywhere - ios

Question

How do you make methods that work across multiple views? For example. I created this:
- (void)setPageTitle:(UILabel *)title withText:(NSString *)text
{
UIColor *pageTextColor = [UIColor colorWithRed:18.0/255.0 green:79.0/255.0 blue:118.0/255.0 alpha:1.0];
// Set page title
UIFont *font = [UIFont fontWithName:#"PassionOne-Regular" size:23];
[title setFont:font];
[title setText: text];
title.textColor = pageTextColor;
title.shadowColor = [UIColor colorWithRed:255.0/255.0 green:255.0/255.0 blue:255.0/255.0 alpha:1.0];
title.shadowOffset = CGSizeMake(0, 1);
CGRect titleRect = [title textRectForBounds:title.bounds limitedToNumberOfLines:999];
CGRect tr = title.frame;
tr.size.height = titleRect.size.height;
title.frame = tr;
}
I want to be able to call the setPageTitle method on UILabels within different views. How do I go about doing this? Where do I put this code to make it work? I only want to put it in 1 file and have it work in different views. Thank you.

Answer 1

I would suggest making this a category on the UIView class.
UIView+PageTitle.h
#interface UIView (PageTitle)
- (void)setPageTitle:(UILabel *)title withText:(NSString *)text;
#end
UIView+PageTitle.m
#import "UIView+PageTitle.h"
#implementation UIView (PageTitle)
- (void)setPageTitle:(UILabel *)title withText:(NSString *)text {
// your implementation
}
#end

Answer 2

What you probably are looking for is either you create a subclass of a UIViewController (I believe is what you are using) and make it your class MyUIViewController with that one as a method, or, you can create a category of the UIViewController and add that method. Here is an explanation on how to create a category, plus some useful info. A category is an extension of the capabilities of a class, pretty much what you are trying to do.

Answer 3

If you want to use a category you should at least create a useful category. A instance method in a category that doesn't use self is misplaced.
Since you are manipulating a UILabel you should make that a UILabel category.
#interface UILabel (PageTitle)
- (void)setPageTitle:(NSString *)text {
UIColor *pageTextColor = [UIColor colorWithRed:18.0/255.0 green:79.0/255.0 blue:118.0/255.0 alpha:1.0];
// Set page title
UIFont *font = [UIFont fontWithName:#"PassionOne-Regular" size:23];
[self setFont:font];
[self setText: text];
self.textColor = pageTextColor;
self.shadowColor = [UIColor colorWithRed:255.0/255.0 green:255.0/255.0 blue:255.0/255.0 alpha:1.0];
self.shadowOffset = CGSizeMake(0, 1);
CGRect titleRect = [self textRectForBounds:self.bounds limitedToNumberOfLines:999];
CGRect tr = self.frame;
tr.size.height = titleRect.size.height;
self.frame = tr;
}
#end
use it like this:
UILabel *myLabel;
[myLabel setPageTitle:#"Foobar"];

Answer 4

Add quick way is to add a '+' making it a static method in another class:
UIKitUtilities.h
+ (void)setPageTitle:(UILabel *)title withText:(NSString *)text;
And in the m file:
+ (void)setPageTitle:(UILabel *)title withText:(NSString *)text { ...your code here... }