UITableViewCell Subclass with XIB Swift

Question

I have a UITableViewCell subclass NameInput that connects to an xib with a custom init method.

class NameInput: UITableViewCell {

    class func make(label: String, placeholder: String) -> NameInput {

        let input = NSBundle.mainBundle().loadNibNamed("NameInput", owner: nil, options: nil)[0] as NameInput

        input.label.text = label
        input.valueField.placeholder = placeholder
        input.valueField.autocapitalizationType = .Words

        return input
    }

}

Is there a way I can initialize this cell in the viewDidLoad method and still reuse it? Or do I have to register the class itself with a reuse identifier?

Answer 1

The customary NIB process is:

1. Register your NIB with the reuse identifier. In Swift 3:

   override func viewDidLoad() {
       super.viewDidLoad()
   
       tableView.register(UINib(nibName: "NameInput", bundle: nil), forCellReuseIdentifier: "Cell")
   }
   

   In Swift 2:

   override func viewDidLoad() {
       super.viewDidLoad()
   
       tableView.registerNib(UINib(nibName: "NameInput", bundle: nil), forCellReuseIdentifier: "Cell")
   }
   

2. Define your custom cell class:

   import UIKit
   
   class NameInput: UITableViewCell {
   
       @IBOutlet weak var firstNameLabel: UILabel!
       @IBOutlet weak var lastNameLabel: UILabel!
   
   }
   

3. Create a NIB file in Interface Builder (with the same name referenced in step 1):

   • Specify the base class of the tableview cell in the NIB to reference your custom cell class (defined in step 2).

   • Hook up references between the controls in the cell in the NIB to the @IBOutlet references in the custom cell class.

4. Your cellForRowAtIndexPath would then instantiate the cell and set the labels. In Swift 3:

   override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
       let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "Cell", for: indexPath) as! NameInput
   
       let person = people[indexPath.row]
       cell.firstNameLabel.text = person.firstName
       cell.lastNameLabel.text = person.lastName
   
       return cell
   }
   

   In Swift 2:

   override func tableView(tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAtIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
       let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier("Cell", forIndexPath: indexPath) as! NameInput
   
       let person = people[indexPath.row]
       cell.firstNameLabel.text = person.firstName
       cell.lastNameLabel.text = person.lastName
   
       return cell
   }
   

I wasn't entirely sure from your example what controls you placed on your cell, but the above has two UILabel controls. Hook up whatever @IBOutlet references make sense for your app.

Answer 2

You don't initialize cells in viewDidLoad. You should register the XIB, not the class, with your table view. You should set up the label and text field in tableView:cellForRowAtIndexPath: (possibly by calling an instance method on NameInput).