2 different types of custom UITableViewCells in UITableView

Question

hello, in my UITableView i want to set for the first news of an rss feed a custom tableViewCell(Type A lets say) and for the other news second, third etc.. another custom tableViewCell(trype B) the problem is that the custom tableViewCell(trype A) created for the first news is reused, but curiously the number of rows between the first use of the customViewCell(type A) and the second appearance of the same type of customViewCell is not equal..

my cellForRowAtIndexPath it looks like this.

- (UITableViewCell *) tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath{

    int feedIndex = [indexPath indexAtPosition:[indexPath length] - 1];
    Feed *item = [[[[self selectedButton] category] feedsList] objectAtIndex:feedIndex + 1];
    static NSString *CellIdentifier = @"Cell";

    if(feedIndex == 0){
     MainArticleTableViewCell *cell = (MainArticleTableViewCell *)[tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];

     if (cell == nil)
     {
      cell = [[[MainArticleTableViewCell alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectZero reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier] autorelease];
      [[[cell subviews] objectAtIndex:0] setTag:111];
     }

     cell.feed = item;

     return cell;

    }
    else{
     NewsTableViewCell *cell = (NewsTableViewCell *)[tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];

     if (cell == nil)
     {
      cell = [[[NewsTableViewCell alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectZero reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier orientation:currentOrientation] autorelease];
      [[[cell subviews] objectAtIndex:0] setTag:111];
     }

     cell.feed = item;

     return cell;

    }
    return nil;
}

the the two types of cells have different heights which is set correctly. could someone point me in the right direction on how to make the type A custom cell to appear only for the first news(not being reused)? thank you

Answer 1

You should create a different cell identifier for the two styles of cell:

- (UITableViewCell *) tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath{

int feedIndex = [indexPath indexAtPosition:[indexPath length] - 1];
Feed *item = [[[[self selectedButton] category] feedsList] objectAtIndex:feedIndex + 1];

static NSString *CellIdentifier1 = @"Cell1";
static NSString *CellIdentifier2 = @"Cell2";

if(feedIndex == 0) {

   MainArticleTableViewCell *cell = (MainArticleTableViewCell *)[tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier1];

   if (cell == nil) {
       cell = [[[MainArticleTableViewCell alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectZero reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier1] autorelease];
       [[[cell subviews] objectAtIndex:0] setTag:111];
   }

   cell.feed = item;

   return cell;
}
else {
   NewsTableViewCell *cell = (NewsTableViewCell *)[tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier2];

   if (cell == nil) {
       cell = [[[NewsTableViewCell alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectZero reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier2 orientation:currentOrientation] autorelease];
       [[[cell subviews] objectAtIndex:0] setTag:111];
   }

   cell.feed = item;

   return cell;
}

return nil;
}

Answer 2

I don't entirely understand your question, but noticed two curious things. If you're using two different cell types you need to use two distinct cell identifiers when calling 'dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier'. You're currently using the same identifier for both, which is incorrect. Try something like:

static NSString *MainArticleIdentifier = @"MainArticle";
static NSString *NewsIdentifier = @"News";

Also, I've never seen anything like:

int feedIndex = [indexPath indexAtPosition:[indexPath length] - 1];

Why not just use:

int feedIndex = indexPath.row;

Answer 3

gr8 and thanks... i was struck in this issue since 2-3 days.. this things works for me .. thanks and keep up the good work buddies

Answer 4

@Chris

I am not 100% sure of this answer, but why you wouldnt use

int feedIndex = indexPath.row;

is because I notice when I scroll while using that, it gets confused about the indexPath.row being 0. The other way seems to have no problem understanding the first cell in the table, not the first cell visible.

Correct me if I am wrong, please.

Hope that helps,

Mike