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How do I create a custom iOS view class and instantiate multiple copies of it (in IB)?

Asked 2012-02-12T18:02:45.253
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I am currently making an app that will have multiple timers, which are basically all the same.

I want to create a custom class that uses all of the code for the timers as well as the layout/animations, so I can have 5 identical timers that operate independently of each other.

I created the layout using IB (xcode 4.2) and all the code for the timers is currently just in the viewcontroller class.

I am having difficulty wrapping my brain around how to encapsulate everything into a custom class and then add it to the viewcontroller, any help would be much appreciated.

ios xcode class uiview uiviewcontroller
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Well to answer conceptually, your timer should likely be a subclass of UIView instead of NSObject.

To instantiate an instance of your timer in IB simply drag out a UIView drop it on your view controller's view, and set it's class to your timer's class name.

enter image description here

Remember to #import your timer class in your view controller.

Edit: for IB design (for code instantiation see revision history)

I'm not very familiar at all with storyboard, but I do know that you can construct your interface in IB using a .xib file which is nearly identical to using the storyboard version; You should even be able to copy & paste your views as a whole from your existing interface to the .xib file.

To test this out I created a new empty .xib named "MyCustomTimerView.xib". Then I added a view, and to that added a label and two buttons. Like So:

enter image description here

I created a new objective-C class subclassing UIView named "MyCustomTimer". In my .xib I set my File's Owner class to be MyCustomTimer. Now I'm free to connect actions and outlets just like any other view/controller. The resulting .h file looks like this:

@interface MyCustomTimer : UIView
@property (strong, nonatomic) IBOutlet UILabel *displayLabel;
@property (strong, nonatomic) IBOutlet UIButton *startButton;
@property (strong, nonatomic) IBOutlet UIButton *stopButton;
- (IBAction)startButtonPush:(id)sender;
- (IBAction)stopButtonPush:(id)sender;
@end

The only hurdle left to jump is getting this .xib on my UIView subclass. Using a .xib dramatically cuts down the setup required. And s

answered 2012-02-12T18:08:57.530

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