How to display temporary popup message on iPhone/iPad/iOS

Question

I'd like to display a temporary message on the iPhone/iPad displaying confirmation of an action, or some quick status about some background activity.

Is there a standard control to do this? I've seen apps do this. A rounded rectangle, dark and partially transparent with text inside. It does not ask for user input but disappears on its own in some short period of time. Android has a similar construct which is standard. Also similar to the windows displayed by Growl.

Suggestions appreciated.

Answer 1

There is a user library on cocoacontrols.com that emulates the Android-style Toast pop-ups. Might be what you are looking for.

http://www.cocoacontrols.com/platforms/ios/controls/altoastview

There's also this one that follows the same idea.

http://www.cocoacontrols.com/platforms/ios/controls/itoast

Answer 2

Create a class that inherits from UIAlertView. In your constructor just call [super init] and then add any view you want as a subview. You can even design this view in Interface Builder. Something like this:

- (id)initWithMessage:(NSString *)message dismissAfter:(NSTimeInterval)interval {   if ((self = [super init]))   {      CustomView * customView = [[[CustomView alloc] init] autorelease]; // or load from NIB      [self addSubview:customView];      [self performSelector:@selector(dismissAfterDelay) withObject:nil afterDelay:interval];   }   return self; }  - (void)dismissAfterDelay {   [self dismissWithClickedButtonIndex:0 animated:YES];  } 

To display your custom alert view just init it, and call show as with a regular UIAlertView.

CustomAlertView * cav = [[CustomAlertView alloc] initWithMessage:@"Doing Something]; [cav show]; [cav release]; 

As an nice side-effect, when you present this view the background will darken and you will get the nice wobbly animation for any alert view.