Determining the current state of a cell

Question

I know that a subclass of UITableViewCell can implement willTransitionToState and execute custom code at the time of transition. But is there any way to find the current state of a cell?

If not, should I subclass UITableViewCell and define a property currentState, which I always update in my willTransitionToState? I will then always have a way to know the state of any particular cell.

Seems strange that I can't ask a cell what its current state is (0, 1, 2, or 3).

Answer 1

The current states are UITableViewCellStateDefaultMask (0), UITableViewCellStateShowingEditControlMask (1), UITableViewCellStateShowingDeleteConfirmationMask (2), and UITableViewCellStateShowingEditControlMask | UITableViewCellStateShowingDeleteConfirmationMask (3).

These states correspond to the values of the properties editing and showingDeleteConfirmation. It can be tested as follows:

if (!cell.editing && !cell.showingDeleteConfirmation) {
    // 0 - UITableViewCellStateDefaultMask
} else if (cell.editing && !cell.showingDeleteConfirmation) {
    // 1 - UITableViewCellStateShowingEditControlMask
} else if (!cell.editing && cell.showingDeleteConfirmation) {
    // 2 - UITableViewCellStateShowingDeleteConfirmationMask
} else if (cell.editing && cell.showingDeleteConfirmation) {
    // 3 - UITableViewCellStateShowingEditControlMask | UITableViewCellStateShowingDeleteConfirmationMask
}

Answer 2

For iOS 6, here's my solution:

Works for any of the transition states AND handles the swipe to delete gesture as well. Place this code in your subclass of UITableviewCell.

- (void)willTransitionToState:(UITableViewCellStateMask)state {

    [super willTransitionToState:state];

    if (state == UITableViewCellStateDefaultMask) {

        NSLog(@"Default");
        // When the cell returns to normal (not editing)
        // Do something...

    } else if ((state & UITableViewCellStateShowingEditControlMask) && (state & UITableViewCellStateShowingDeleteConfirmationMask)) {

        NSLog(@"Edit Control + Delete Button");
        // When the cell goes from Showing-the-Edit-Control (-) to Showing-the-Edit-Control (-) AND the Delete Button [Delete]
        // !!! It's important to have this BEFORE just showing the Edit Control because the edit control applies to both cases.!!!
        // Do something...

    } else if (state & UITableViewCellStateShowingEditControlMask) {

        NSLog(@"Edit Control Only");
        // When the cell goes into edit mode and Shows-the-Edit-Control (-)
        // Do something...

    } else if (state == UITableViewCellStateShowingDeleteConfirmationMask) {

        NSLog(@"Swipe to Delete [Delete] button only");
        // When the user swipes a row to delete without using the edit button.
        // Do something...
    }
}