Can we define a private IBOutlet?

Question

Does iOS allow developer define a private IBOutlet. For example, there are several buttons in a viewController, and I want to do something with these buttons both in Interface builder and code. However I do not want other class access these buttons. Can I define some "private" IBOutlets for this buttons

example code:

@interface myViewController : UIViewController<
{
@private:  
    UIButton *o_Button1;
    UIButton *o_Button2;
}

//Can I have these outlets as private???
@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UIButton *Button1;
@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UIButton *Button2;

@end

===============================================================

Just get one solution. Wish it will help you.

Combine Abizern and JustSid ideas together, I have a solution like this.

in .h file

    @interface myViewController : UIViewController
    {
    @private
         IBOutlet UIButton *Button1;
         IBOutlet UIButton *Button2;
    }

    @end

and in .m file

    @interface MyViewController ()

    @property (nonatomic, retain) UIButton *Button1;
    @property (nonatomic, retain) UIButton *Button2;

    @end  
    ...
    @synthesize Button1, Button2;

Thanks for help from Abizern and JustSid

Answer 1

Add the properties in a category at the top of the .m file:

@interface MyViewController ()

@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UIButton *Button1;
@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UIButton *Button2;

@end

In fact, this is how you can set up a property as readonly in the .h file and redeclare it as a readwrite property in the .m file - so you can have private setters.

Answer 2

@interface myViewController : UIViewController
{
@private
    IBOutlet UIButton *o_Button1;
    IBOutlet UIButton *o_Button2;
}

@end

This code allows you to have the outlet without a property that others might access.

Answer 3

The accepted answer above has the problem that IB won't be able to see the outlets.

The approach I use is to create a file called MyViewController-Protected.h and place the category with the private IBOutlets there. In your MyViewController.m you include the -Protected.h instead of the regular one.

The protected file could look like this:

// MyViewController-Protected.h
// Protected extensions to MyViewController

#import "MyViewController.h"

@interface MyViewController ()

@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UIButton *Button1;
@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UIButton *Button2;

@end

IBOutlets defined this way are only visible to classes including the Protected header file. This is only the class itself usually.

Once the category is in a protected header file, Interface Builder will be able to find the outlets. (For XCode3, you have to drag your -Protected.h file to IB, in Xcode4 it will work out of the box).