iOS - Allow default row movement in `UITableView` without editing mode

Question

I want to allow the default row movement in a UITableView without it being in editing mode, and without compromising the default behaviour of the UITableView.

The image above displays a cell in editing mode, with movement enabled.

I tried simply running for (UIView *subview in cell.subviews) (while my UITableView was in editing mode), but the button didn't turn up:

<UITableViewCellScrollView: 0x8cabd80; frame = (0 0; 320 44); autoresize = W+H; gestureRecognizers = <NSArray: 0x8c9ba20>; layer = <CALayer: 0x8ca14b0>; contentOffset: {0, 0}>

How can allow/add the movement "button" without enabling editing mode in my UITableView?

Creating and adding a UIButton with the default function for movement is also an option.

Answer 1

I actually do something similar for one of my apps. It uses the delegate methods for table editing and a bit of 'tricking' the user. 100% built-in Apple functionality.

1 - Set the table to editing (I do it in viewWillAppear)

-(void)viewWillAppear:(BOOL)animated{
    [super viewWillAppear:animated];
    [self.tableView setEditing:YES];
}

2 - Hide the default accessory icon:

-(UITableViewCellEditingStyle)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView 
        editingStyleForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath{
        //remove any editing accessories (AKA) delete button 
        return UITableViewCellAccessoryNone;
       }

3 - Keep editing mode from moving everything to the right (in the cell)

 -(BOOL)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView shouldIndentWhileEditingRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath{
return NO;
}

4 - At this point you should be able to drag the cells around without it looking like it is in editing mode. Here we trick the user. Create your own "move" icon (three lines in the default case, whatever icon you want in your case) and add the imageView right where it would normally go on the cell.

5 - Finally, implement the delegate method to actually rearrange your underlying datasource.

-(void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView moveRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)sourceIndexPath toIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)destinationIndexPath{

    //Get original id
    NSMutableArray *originalArray = [self.model.items objectAtIndex:sourceIndexPath.section];
    Item * original = [originalArray objectAtIndex:sourceIndexPath.row];

    //Get destination id
    NSMutableArray *destinationArray = [self.model.items objectAtIndex:destinationIndexPath.section];
    Item * destination = [destinationArray objectAtIndex:destinationIndexPath.row];

    CGPoint temp = CGPointMake([original.section intValue], [original.row intValue]);

    original.row = destination.row;
    original.section = destination.section;

    destination.section = @(temp.x);
    destination.row = @(temp.y);

    //Put destination value in original array
    [originalArray replaceObjectAtIndex:sourceIndexPath.row withObject:destination];

    //put original value in destination array
    [destinationArray replaceObjectAtIndex:destinationIndexPath.row withObject:original];

    //reload tableview smoothly to reflect changes
    dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^{
        [UIView transitionWithView:tableView duration:duration options:UIViewAnimationOptionTransitionCrossDissolve animations:^{
            [tableView reloadData];
        } completion:NULL];
    });
 }

Answer 2

William Falcon's answer in swift 3

1 - Set the table to editing (I do it in viewWillAppear)

override func viewWillAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
   super.viewWillAppear(animated: animated)
   tableView.setEditing(true, animated: false)
}

2 - Hide the default accessory icon:

override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, editingStyleForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCellEditingStyle {
    return .none
}

3 - Keep editing mode from moving everything to the right (in the cell)

override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, shouldIndentWhileEditingRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> Bool {
    return false
}

4 - Not required in swift 3

5 - Reorder your array

Extra Note

If you want to have your table cells selectable, add the following code within viewWillAppear() function.

tableView.allowsSelectionDuringEditing = true