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iOS Training from beginner to advanced
Swift Swift: UI View Controllers
It was hard to tell if the cheers of joy or cries of fear were louder when Swift was announced, the next generation programming language to provide rapid development and more error free code than its predecessor Objective-C. There is nothing to fear. Grabbing the best from many different languages Swift makes for a completely new, faster and better programming experience which you will come to love.
Not as noticed in iOS8, but with as big an impact was size classes powered by auto layout. Size classes change the use of story boards, and present view controllers in new ways programmatically to make truly universal apps without extra code for each device.
In this book, you will learn to use auto layout, size classes and new Swift implementations for all the major types of view controllers including:
- Modal views
- Popovers
- Alerts
- Action Sheets
- Navigation Controllers
- Tab Bar Controllers
- Table Views
- Split Views
- Page views
- Collection Views
With plenty of color illustrations and code snippets, Swift Swift View Controllers will take you step by step through many easy demonstrations, teaching you the stuff you really need to know to implement any of these view controllers. The book will help you understand how to move data between all these view controllers with delegates, segues and more for an efficient and well-written app.
If you are an intermediate programmer getting into auto layout or Swift’s view controllers, or you just finished a beginning guide to Swift and want more, Swift Swift: UI View Controllers will be invaluable.
Downloading Source Code and Assets
NOTE: All the source code available below is for Swift 1.0. It is obsolete. If you want to work through converting it to Swift 3.0 I’d suggest watching the WWDC2016 presentation Swift API design guidelines. I will be updating the code as I finish the Xcode 8 version of the book. That process will begin in November 2016.
I’m paranoid about zip files from strangers and of sending too much information. It’s too easy to stick something not so good in something. I feel that keeping what you download from me as secure as possible is a good thing. I also know a lot of people who can’t figure out Github. So I get old-fashioned about this: I send only source code files when possible and keep my downloads small.
You will find downloads on the website for each chapter as a .zip file. There will be .swift files and one .storyboard file in each exercise. In a few cases there will be .png files which are graphics you need for the demo. For example, for section 2 of Chapter Two you will find the following files:
Main.storyboard
Pizza.swift
ViewController.swift
Open a new project as described in each of the sections. Once you have a blank project, send ViewController.swift and Main.storyboard to the garbage can. From the place you downloaded and unpacked the source code, drag the code into the new project’s navigator. You will get the following:
Make sure Copy items if needed is checked and click Finish. Your source files are transferred. For graphics, follow the directions in the section for each graphic’s use.
Book Resources
Complete asset and source code in one zip file:
Chapter 1 :Introduction
In chapter 1 I introduce what we will cover in the rest of the book, and how to read and use the code found throughout the book.
Chapter 2: MVC and Connections
In Chapter 2 I explain the Model View Controller programming pattern, a pattern so fundamental Xcode forces you to use it. I explain what MVC is, why to use it, and then using navigation controllers demonstrate how to communicate between view controllers using MVC. I then explain the most misunderstood but necessary programming pattern of all for iOS programming: delegation.
Assets
Section 1 : The Model View Controller Pattern
Section 2 : A Model View Controller Example
Section 3 : Using Segues
Section 4 : Protocols and Delegation
Section 5 : Property Observers
Chapter 3: Auto Layout and Size Classes
In Chapter 3 we’ll introduce size classes. As a prerequisite, we’ll introduce and use auto layout. We’ll work through a universal layout that displays differently on different devices on a single storyboard.
Section 1: Beginning Auto Layout
Section 2: Working with Auto Layout
MySizePizzaDemo_NoLayout_Sources
Section 3: Starting with Size Classes
Section 4: Compact Size Classes
Section 5: Regular Class Sizes
Section 6: Fixing Conflicting Constraints
Chapter 4: Modal View Controllers
In Chapter 4, we discuss modal view controllers. We show how to present them from the storyboard, and then a xib. We discuss how size classes relate to their presentation, as well as transition styles. There are three special controllers that are now modal controllers in iOS8: popovers, alerts and action sheets. We complete the chapter discussing each of these.
Section 1: Presenting Modal Controllers
Section 2: Xibs and Modal Delegates
Section 3: Presenting Modals Universally
Section 4: Using Popovers
Section 5: Using Alerts and Action Sheets
Assets
Chapter 5: Embedded Controllers
In Chapter 5 we discuss two controllers that affect navigation: navigation controllers and tab bar controllers. As many topics about navigation controllers get covered in the fundamentals, we discuss some programmatic and customizing techniques for navigation controllers. The rest of the chapter covers setting up and sharing data in tab bar controllers.
Section 1: Navigation Controllers
SwiftProgNavControllerDemo_Sources
Section 2: Tab Bar Controllers
Section 3: Coding Tab Bar Controllers
Section 4: Models and Tab Bar controllers
Assets
Chapter 6: Delegate Controllers
Some controllers use delegates and data sources for much of their operation. In Chapter 6 we cover how to use these controllers: table view controllers, the split view controller, the page view controller and the collection view controller. We discuss how to implement them, configure their appearance and how to use data with them.
Section 1: Table view Controllers
Section 2: Split View Controllers
SwiftTemplateSplitView_Sources
Section 3: Page View Controllers
Section 4: Collection View Controllers
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Erratum code (Chapter 2, Section 5: SwiftMVCPizzaDemo5_Sources): In the method priceDidFinish in the ViewController class, the pizza delegate needs to be set back to the ViewController instance: i.e. pizza.delegate = self
If not, the property observers won’t update the current view when altering pizza properties after returning from the PriceVC
Erratum code (Chapter 6.1 The Model Delegate)
Missing a call to tableView.reloadData() in the didSelectMenuItem() delegate function in RootTableViewController.swift
// MARK: – Delegates
func didSelectMenuItem(controller: UITableViewController, order: OrderModel) {
orderList.addList(order)
tableView.reloadData()
controller.navigationController?.popViewControllerAnimated(true)
}
Without the reloadData() call the Save button will pass the order back to the RootTableViewController just fine but won’t display.
This line of code is missing in both the book content and the resource files and is particularly irksome as all of the subsequent custom UITableViewCell formatting is all in the Order List table display.
Really enjoying the book so far but it needs to be updated for Swift 1.2 changes in order to get successful compiles/builds.
There are also a number of typos that should be corrected. One example is in this same chapter 6 where PizzaMenuTableViewController.swift is created but then frequently referred to as PizzaMenuViewController, .e.g. ‘Table’ is missing.
Thank you. I will try to get those corrected as soon as possible. I’m aware of the reloadData issue.
This page has a heading stating that the code and assets can be downloaded in a single zip file, but there’s no link. Could you please provide the link? Thanks!
Unfortunately there is no link because ther is no file. The copy in the website was wrong. Due to lots of changes in the Swift language, it is near impossible to keep an up,to date single zip file. the current chapter files are mostly correct, but the are a few I am updating this week to Swift 1.2
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On the page 115,
Drag the picture pizza_em does not work. Tell me what is wrong.
I drag the UIImage view from object library. But he won’t receive image.
Xcode is 6.4
You can also drag an UI image controller into the new view controller scene then change its image to pizza_sm.
running Xcode7, for Chapter 2 section 2 getting the error:
Thread 1:signal SIGABRT
In the app delegate screen
@UIApplicationMain
class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {
You most likely have an outlet or action connected improperly
Hi Steven. I have read auto layout and it was amazing. Any chance you could update Swift View Controllers for Swift 2.0? Feels like there have been some massive changes from swift 1.2 to Swift 2.0 and its tough to pay $20 for a book slightly out of date.
Thanks
Edward
I’m working on it. As soon as the Autolayout is out the door, I’m going to start working on it. Unlike auto layout, it’s a lot easier edit. Apple is different than Amazon in that I can update books instead of having to write brand new ones. I’m planning to have it done by the end of the year, while I’m writing the WatchOS2 book which also has to be done by the first of the year.
I love iBooks, but I am hasitating to buy it. because, considering the TOC, it does not cover about nested view contollers that divide the screen or switching between them patially using conainder view contoller. I would be nicer if you cover more advanced topic. Updating it rather than new book would be greatful.
and let me know if you also publish Cocoa Development for OS X books.
Thanks for the input. There’s a lot of things missing that would be advanced topics. There’s a few things I’m still adding, such as custom table views. I’ll have to consider that for a future edition.
I have no plans to work on an OSX book. I got enough on my plate with iOS and Apple’s annual version changes.
Are you aware of the problem that the iPhone 6+ simulator ( and perhaps the iPhone 6+ ) does (do) not present a popover in landscape mode because the traits collection incorrectly returns a horizontal value of “compact”, and not “regular”.
Check out “Radar: Incorrect Horizontal Size Class” (ref: 18893122)
P.S. I’m enjoying the book but unfortunately it has many typos and misprints.
I was, and I thought that was in there. Maybe I’m mistaken and I discuss this in Practical Auto Layout. I’ll do another round of typo checks when Xcode 7.3 posts and I update for Xcode 7.3. If you want to put together a list of waht you found I’d be grateful for the help.
Actually now that I think about it I mentioned it but didn’t put a workaround in. Maybe that would be something I should do. Hmmmm. Thanks for the idea. It’s hard trying to write two more books, keep the two I have up to date and run a website with new weekly content in three hours a day and $1000/yr budget. I’ll try to do better. I look forward to the day I can afford an editor.
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Hi Steve,
I recently bought your iBook ‘SWIFT SWIFT: UI View Controllers’ after finding your other book ‘Practical Auto Layout’ extremely informative and useful. I am running the latest XCODE 8, but even after loading your source code for Chapter 2, Section 2 A Model View Controller Example I get the following errors in ViewController.swift from the compiler. I tried making the compiler suggestions, but to no avail.
1)
pizza.pizzaType = sender.titleForSegmentAtIndex(index)!
… ‘titleForSegmentAtIndex’ has been renamed to ‘titleForSegment(at:)’
2)
An error in the sizeButton Function:
pizza.pizzaDiameter = pizza.diameterFromString(sender.titleLabel!.text!)//2
… Missing argument a label ‘aString:’ in call
3)
An error in the displayPizza Function:
resultsDisplayLabel.text = displayString
‘NSString’ is not implicitly convertible to ‘String’; did you mean to use ‘as’ explicitly convert?
Can you please either update the source code so it works with XCODE 8 or provide the necessary corrections please?
Cheers John
My apologies for that. It’s in the works. I’m trying to get another book that is Affected by Xcode 8 out first and that should be next week. IAs soon as that is done, I’ll try to get updates Chapter by chapter out for View controllers. THe others book comprises chapter 3 of View Controllers, so you will be getting that in the updates too.
Again my apologies
In the meantime here’s how to fix those errors:
1)
pizza.pizzaType = sender.titleForSegmentAtIndex(index)!
That should be
pizza.pizzaType = sender.titleForSegment(at:index)!
2)
An error in the sizeButton Function:
pizza.pizzaDiameter = pizza.diameterFromString(sender.titleLabel!.text!)//2
… Missing argument a label ‘aString:’ in call
You have two options: change the function to
func diameterFromString(_aString:sender.titleLabel!.text!)
The underscore will hide the parameter. Or you can change each call of the function to this
pizza.diameterFromString(aString:sender.titleLabel!.text!)
3)
An error in the displayPizza Function:
resultsDisplayLabel.text = displayString
Remove all declarations for NSString. I can’t find where you are getting a NSString because in the Xcode 7 edition everything should be the Swift String Type.
Many thanks Steve for the quick response, I will continue with the book which I am finding very interesting.
Cheers John