How to highlight a row in a UITableView

Question

The code below seems to have no effect. I want it to be highlighed in the same way it highlights when you tap on a row

- (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath 
{
   ...
   [cell.textLabel setHighlighted:YES];


   return cell;
}

Answer 1

This line will handle repainting the cell, label and accessory for you:

[tableView selectRowAtIndexPath:indexPath animated:NO scrollPosition:UITableViewScrollPositionNone];

Answer 2

As others have noted, you can programmatically select a cell using this method:

 [tableView selectRowAtIndexPath:indexPath animated:NO scrollPosition:UITableViewScrollPositionNone];

However, you should be careful not to call this method too soon.

The first time that the view controller containing said tableView is initialized, the earliest that you should call this method is within viewDidAppear:.

So, you should do something like this:

- (void)viewDidAppear:(BOOL)animated
{
   NSIndexPath *indexPath = [NSIndexPath indexPathForRow:0 inSection:0]; // set to whatever you want to be selected first 
   [tableView selectRowAtIndexPath:indexPath animated:NO  scrollPosition:UITableViewScrollPositionNone];
}

If you try putting this call into viewDidLoad, viewWillAppear:, or any other early view lifecycle calls, it will likely not work or have odd results (such as scrolling to the correct position but not selecting the cell).