Get to the point: Detect Internet Connection
Feb 21st
We will be using Apple’s reachability class to detect the state of the Internet connection. Reachability is freely available from Apple’s website: http://developer.apple.com/iphone/library/samplecode/Reachability/
1- Create a View-based Application and name it InternetConnectionState
2- Download Apple’s Reachability App source code and copy reachability.h & reachability.m files to your application’s Classes folder.
3- Add these files to your XCode project. Right click the Classes folder and select Add->Existing Files (see Figure 1). Select the reachability.h & reachability.m files and add them to your XCode project. You should see these file under the Classes folder (see Figure 2).
Figure 1
Figure 2
4- Add the “SystemConfiguration” framework. Right click the Frameworks folder and select Add->Existing Frameworks. Select & Add the SystemConfiguration.framework (see Figure 3).
Figure 3
5- Open the InternetConnectionStateAppDelegate.h and add the following code below the #import <UIKit/UIkit.h> line:
@class Reachability;
Add the following lines inside @interface:
Reachability* hostReach;
Reachability* internetReach;
Reachability* wifiReach;
Finally, add these lines above the @end line:
- (void) updateInterfaceWithReachability: (Reachability*) curReach;
- (void) statusView: (NSString*) statusString;
6- Open the InternetConnectionStateAppDelegate.m and add this line below the last #import:
#import "Reachability.h"
7- Add the following lines of code to the applicationDidFinishLaunching function:
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver: self selector: @selector(reachabilityChanged:) name: kReachabilityChangedNotification object: nil];
hostReach = [[Reachability reachabilityWithHostName: @"www.google.com"] retain];
[hostReach startNotifer];
[self updateInterfaceWithReachability: hostReach];
internetReach = [[Reachability reachabilityForInternetConnection] retain];
[internetReach startNotifer];
[self updateInterfaceWithReachability: internetReach];
wifiReach = [[Reachability reachabilityForLocalWiFi] retain];
[wifiReach startNotifer];
[self updateInterfaceWithReachability: wifiReach];
8- Copy these functions below the applicationDidFinishLaunching function:
- (void) networkStatusChanged: (Reachability*) curReach
{
NetworkStatus netStatus = [curReach currentReachabilityStatus];
BOOL connectionRequired= [curReach connectionRequired];
NSString* statusString= @"";
switch (netStatus)
{
case NotReachable:
{
statusString = @"Access Not Available";
connectionRequired= NO;
[self statusView:statusString];
break;
}
case ReachableViaWWAN:
{
statusString = @"Reachable WWAN";
[self statusView:statusString];
break;
}
case ReachableViaWiFi:
{
statusString= @"Reachable WiFi";
[self statusView:statusString];
break;
}
}
if(connectionRequired)
{
statusString= [NSString stringWithFormat: @"%@, Connection Required", statusString];
}
}
- (void) statusView: (NSString *) statusString{
UILabel *titleLabel = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, 20, 320, 50)];
titleLabel.font = [UIFont systemFontOfSize:15];
titleLabel.textColor = [UIColor blackColor];
titleLabel.backgroundColor = [UIColor whiteColor];
titleLabel.opaque = YES;
titleLabel.textAlignment = UITextAlignmentCenter;
titleLabel.text = statusString;
[viewController.view addSubview: titleLabel];
}
- (void) updateInterfaceWithReachability: (Reachability*) curReach
{
if(curReach == hostReach)
{
BOOL connectionRequired= [curReach connectionRequired];
NSString* baseLabel= @"";
if(connectionRequired)
{
baseLabel= @"Cellular data network is available.\n Internet traffic will be routed through it after a connection is established.";
}
else
{
baseLabel= @"Cellular data network is active.\n Internet traffic will be routed through it.";
}
}
if(curReach == internetReach)
{
[self networkStatusChanged: curReach];
}
if(curReach == wifiReach)
{
[self networkStatusChanged: curReach];
}
}
- (void) reachabilityChanged: (NSNotification* )note
{
Reachability* curReach = [note object];
NSParameterAssert([curReach isKindOfClass: [Reachability class]]);
[self updateInterfaceWithReachability: curReach];
}
9- Save & Build your application. If there were no errors you should get something similar to Figure 4.
Figure 4
Get to the point – Code Snippets: Dialing a number, sending SMS & Email from within your app
Feb 8th
These code snippets will allow you to dial a number, send an SMS & send an e-mail from within your application. They will all open up the selected application and close yours.
Dialing a number
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:[NSURL URLWithString:@"tel://123456"]];
Sending an SMS
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:[NSURL URLWithString:@"sms:123456"]];
Sending an E-mail
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:[NSURL URLWithString:@"mailto:amasso@amasso.info?subject=Hello&body=Testing your code snippet."]];
Get to the point: Tab Bar Application – Adding an UITableView to a Navigation Controller
Feb 7th
Get to the point: Tab Bar Application – Adding an UITableView to a Navigation Controller
1- Open the previous tutorial sources (Tab Bar Application – Navigation Controller Embedded).
2- Edit the NavigationContentsViewController.h file. Change the source code so it looks like this:
#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
@interface NavigationContentsViewController : UIViewController <UITableViewDelegate, UITableViewDataSource> {
NSMutableArray *itemsList;
UITableView *myTableView;
}
@property(nonatomic,retain)NSMutableArray *itemsList;
@property(nonatomic,retain)UITableView *myTableView;
@end
Notice the <UITableViewDelegate, UITableViewDataSource> protocols we’ve added.
3- Edit the NavigationContnensViewController.m file and add the following code after the @implementation line:
@synthesize itemsList;
@synthesize myTableView;
4- Add the TableView functions to the NavigationContnensViewController.m file.
- (NSInteger)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView numberOfRowsInSection:(NSInteger)section {
return [itemsList count];
}
- (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {
static NSString *CellIdentifier = @"Cell";
UITableViewCell *cell = [tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
if (cell == nil) {
cell = [[[UITableViewCell alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectZero reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier] autorelease];
}
// Set up the cell...
NSString *cellValue = [itemsList objectAtIndex:indexPath.row];
cell.textLabel.text = cellValue;
return cell;
}
- (void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView didSelectRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {
NSString *selectedCellItem = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%d", indexPath.row];
TableViewController *fvController = [[TableViewController alloc] initWithNibName:@"TableViewController" bundle:[NSBundle mainBundle]];
fvController.selectedCellItem = selectedCellItem;
[self.navigationController pushViewController:fvController animated:YES];
[fvController release];
fvController = nil;
}
5- Add these lines of code below the previous added code.
-(void)loadView{
myTableView = [[UITableView alloc] initWithFrame:[[UIScreen mainScreen] applicationFrame] style:UITableViewStylePlain];
myTableView.delegate = self;
myTableView.dataSource = self;
myTableView.autoresizesSubviews = YES;
itemsList = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
[itemsList addObject:@"Item1"];
[itemsList addObject:@"Item2"];
self.navigationItem.title = @"Test List";
self.view = myTableView;
}
6- Remember to release the itemsList array. Do so by adding [itemsList release]; to the dealloc function.
7- We will need a View Controller so go ahead and create it (File->New File ->Cocoa Touch Class->UIViewController subclass) and name it TableViewController (Figure 1). Make sure the “With XIB for user interface” option is marked.
8- Open the TableViewController.h file and change the source code so it looks like this:
#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
@interface TableViewController : UIViewController {
NSString *selectedCellItem;
}
@property (nonatomic, retain) NSString *selectedCellItem;
@end
9- Now open the TableViewController.m file and add this line of code below the @implementation:
@synthesize selectedCellItem;
10- Uncomment the viewDidLoad function and add these lines of code:
self.navigationItem.title = @"Selected Item";
CGRect frame = CGRectMake(0, 0, 320, 180);
self.view = [[UIView alloc] initWithFrame:frame];
self.view.backgroundColor = [UIColor whiteColor];
frame = CGRectMake(100, 20, 100, 50);
UILabel *label = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:frame];
label.text = selectedCellItem;
[self.view addSubview:label];
[label release];
[super viewDidLoad];
11- Go back to the NavigationContentsViewController.m file and add this code below the #import “NavigationContentsViewController.h”:
#import "TableViewController.h"
12- That’s it, if you have followed all the previous steps, your project should compile & run without errors.
Get to the point – Code Snippets: NSString to NSInteger & vice versa
Feb 7th
NSString to NSInteger code snippet:
NSString *strTest = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%d", 10];
NSInteger to NSString code snippet:
NSInteger iTest = [strTest integerValue];
Get to the point – iPhone Development: Embed a Navigation controller to a Tab Bar Application
Jan 31st
Get to the point – iPhone Development: Embed a Navigation controller to a Tab Bar Application
This tutorial is a continuation of the previous Tab Bar Application tutorial.
1- Open the tabbartest Xcode project. Create a new UIViewController subclass (File->New File) and name it TabBarNavigationController (see Figure 1). Make sure the “With XIB for user interface” option is marked. Three new files will be added to your Xcode project: TabBarNavigationController.h, TabBarNavigationController.m and TabBarNavigationController.xib.
2- Open the TabBarNavigationController.h file and replace the text UIViewController with UINavigationController.
3- We need to add a view controller to display contents. Create a new UIViewController subclass named NavigationContentsViewController (File->New File->UIViewController subclass).
4- Create a new view to add to the newly created UIViewController (File->New file->View XIB). This is not a Cocoa Touch Class file, be sure to select User Interface. Name the view FirstNavigationView. Open the file FirstNavigationView.xib and select File’s Owner. In the Identity tab of the Inspector, change the class to NavigationContentsViewController. Go to the “View Connection” tab, click on the view outlet, then drag & release it on the view canvas.
5- Open the MainWindow.xib file and add a new Tab Bar Item. Be sure the new Tab Bar Item is selected. Open the Inspector window (Tools->Inspector if it’s not already opened). On the Identity tab change the selected Class to TabBarNavigationController (see Figure 2).
Figure 2
6- Select the Tab Bar Controller (see Figure 3). Select the attributes tab from the Inspector Window. Select the second item in the View Controllers list. Choose the Navigation Controller class (see Figure 4).
Figure 3
Figure 4
7- Expand the “Tab Bar Controller” and expand the “Selected Navigation Controller (Item)”. Select the “View Controller (Item)” and change the class to NavigationContentsViewController (see Figure 5). You’ll see the name has changed to “Navigation Contents View Controller (Item)”. Click on the Attributes tab and set the NIB Name to FirstNavigationView in the Inspector window.
Figure 5
8- Save all files, click on the “Build and Run” button from Xcode, your app will be executed (see Figure 6).
Figure 6
Get to the point – iPhone Development: Tab Bar Application
Jan 30th
Get to the point, iPhone development tutorials for those programmers who want concise step by step tutorials, but do not have the time to watch a 30 min video tutorial.
Get to the point – iPhone Development: Tab Bar Application (Adding new views)
1- Open Xcode and create a new “Tab Bar Application” (see Figure 1). Name it tabbartest (see Figure 2).
Figure 1
Figure 2
2- Xcode will create the necessary files for a basic Tab Bar Application (see Figure 3).
Figure 3
3- By double clicking the MainWindow.xib file Interface Builder will show up (see Figure 4). If the Inspector and Library windows don’t appear, open them (Tools->Library, Tools->Inspector).
Figure 4
4- Go back to Xcode and create a new file (File->New File). From the User Interface menu list select “View XIB” (see Figure 5). Name this view as ThirdView.xib (see Figure 6).
Figure 5
Figure 6
5- From Xcode double click the ThirdView.xib file. Interface Builder will show up again (see Figure 7).
Figure 7
6- Click on the File’s Owner icon. Go to the Inspector window and click on the “View Identity” icon. From the Class list select FirstViewController (see Figure 8).
Figure 8
7- Click on the “View Connection” menu option. Click on the view outlet, then drag & release it on the view canvas (see Figure 9). If you do this correctly the “View Connection” window should look like Figure 10.
Figure 9
Figure 10
8- Go back to Xcode and open the MainWindow.xib file. Add a new Tab Bar Item (see Figure 11) by selecting it from the Library. Drag the Tab Bar Item to the Tab Bar Controller (see Figure 12).
Figure 11
Figure 12
9- Click on the newly added Tab Bar Item and select the “View Controller Attributes” from the Inspector Window (see Figure 13). Set the NIB Name parameter to ThirdView (see Figure 14). Once the NIB Name is set, your MainWindow file should show the text “Loaded From ThirdView” (see Figure 15).
Figure 13
Figure 14
Figure 15
10- Save all your Xcode & Interface Builder files. Click “Build and Run” from Xcode. The Tab Bar Application will show up on the iPhone Simulator with a third Tab Bar Item (see Figure 16).
Figure 16
clouding.me beta launched!
Aug 26th
The beta version of www.clouding.me is online. Register to beta test this new clouding service. I will soon add an iPhone web version. The iPhone app version is on its way, hopefully Apple will approve it.
Follow me on Twitter
Dynamic username as subdomain system with .htaccess
Feb 8th
Create an .htaccess file with the following code to build a dynamic username as subdomain.
RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\.mydomain\.com
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ([^.]+)\.mydomain\.com [NC]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php?username=%1 [L]
All visits to http://username.mydomain.com will redirect to index.php?username=subdomain. You can then assign that username to a cookie and build the user’s web page.
Follow me on Twitter