How to reference iOS UITextFields - ios

Question

I am creating a crossword puzzle-type app, and am using the following code to make the grid:
- (void) viewDidLoad{
[...]
//we are inside 2 loops (puzzleRow and i), 15 rows (puzzleRow), 15 cols (i)...
UITextField *inputBox = [[UITextField alloc] initWithFrame:letterFrame];
key = (puzzleRow * 100) + i;
[inputBox setTag:key];
[....]
}
Later, I want to reference the UITextField and get their value, check it against the correct answer, etc.
- (IBAction)checkSolutionButton:(id)sender {
int i = 1;
for (id obj in self.Puzzle) {
int len = [obj length];
for(int j = 0; j < len; j++){
NSRange range = NSMakeRange(j, 1);
NSString *answer = [obj substringWithRange:range];
int key = (i * 100) + j;
UIView *userGuessSquare = [self.view viewWithTag:key];
UITextField *userGuessTextField = [userGuessSquare viewWithTag:key];
NSString *guess = userGuessTextField.text;
NSLog(#"guess: %#", guess);
}
}
}
self.Puzzle is an NSArray of strings (ANSWER1..ANSWER2,ANSWER3..ANSWER4) constituting a crossword puzzle's rows, dots are black squares. The UIView are holders for the UITextField, each UIView and its UITextField has an identical key.
Here I am stuck. I get a warning Incompatible pointer types initializing UITextField with an expression type UIView I thought it was a subclass?
NSString *guess = userGuessTextField.text;
is a no go.
QUESTION:
How can I make a bunch of UITextField(s) and then access them and their values later?
(EDITED to include entire IBAction method).

Answer 1

Using the tags should be fine. To get the UITextField you should be doing this:
UITextField *userGuessTextField = (UITextField*) [self.view viewWithTag:key];
NSString *guess = userGuessTextField.text;
This will cast the UIView to the more specific UITextField, which is ok since you know you've used it. Make sure your tags start above 0 as well.