UISplitViewController in a TabBar ( UITabBarController )?

Question

Hi all,

I am in kind of situation that I need to start with a tab based application and in that I need a split view for one or more tabs. But it seems that split view controller object can not be added to the tabbarController. (Although tabbar object can be added to the splitviewcontroller).

The problem can be seen otherways: I have a full screen in the left part I have a table view when any row is selected in the table a popover should come out pointing that row. Now when any row in the popover is selected the rows in this popover comes to the left under the selected row (only this row would be visible) and another popover comes out from the selected row. (Breadcrumb navigation type)

I think I am clear in what I explained. So guys any ideas or work arounds?

Please let me know if I am not clear in my question.

Thanks,

Madhup

Answer 1

How do you add tabbarcontroller to splitviewcontroller

Answer 2

To let a tabbarcontroller appear as a master view for splitviewcontroller you should rewrite tabbarcontroller so that it will support or orientations(so say, using a category for the class UITabBarController)

Answer 3

Using the interface builder, create a split view controller and a tab bar controller and link them to your outlets:

@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UITabBarController *tabBarController;
@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UISplitViewController *splitViewController;

In your app delegate didFinishLaunchingWithOption, assign your split view controller to the tab bar controller:

splitViewController.tabBarItem = [[[UITabBarItem alloc] initWithTitle:@"Title" image:nil tag:0] autorelease];
NSArray *controllers = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:splitViewController,  /* other controllers go here */ nil];
tabBarController.viewControllers = controllers;
[window addSubview:tabBarController.view];
[window makeKeyAndVisible];

This will create a tab bar controller (with only 1 tab in this case), which is displayed correctly in all orientations.

Answer 4

I made a sample application. and found we can do it programmatically like:

- (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions {    

        NSMutableArray *array = [NSMutableArray array];

        NSMutableArray *tabArray = [NSMutableArray array]; 

        UISplitViewController *splitViewConntroller = [[UISplitViewController alloc] init];

        MainViewController *viewCont = [[MainViewController alloc] initWithNibName:@"MainViewController" bundle:nil];
        [array addObject:viewCont];
        [viewCont release];

        viewCont = [[DetailViewController alloc] initWithNibName:@"DetailViewController" bundle:nil];
        [array addObject:viewCont];
        [viewCont release];




        [splitViewConntroller setViewControllers:array];

        [tabArray addObject:splitViewConntroller];

        [splitViewConntroller release];

        array = [NSMutableArray array];

        splitViewConntroller = [[UISplitViewController alloc] init];

        viewCont = [[MainViewController alloc] initWithNibName:@"MainViewController" bundle:nil];
        [array addObject:viewCont];
        [viewCont release];

        viewCont = [[DetailViewController alloc] initWithNibName:@"DetailViewController" bundle:nil];
        [array addObject:viewCont];
        [viewCont release];

        [splitViewConntroller setViewControllers:array];

        [tabArray addObject:splitViewConntroller];

        [splitViewConntroller release];

        // Add the tab bar controller's current view as a subview of the window
        [tabBarController setViewControllers:tabArray];

        [window addSubview:tabBarController.view];
        [window makeKeyAndVisible];

        return YES;
    }

Hope this helps,

Thanks,

Madhup

Answer 5

Hi Madhup, Can u tell ..how to call UIviewController from segmented control on the Navigation bar of the DetailViewController in a SplitViewController template

Answer 6

See my post about retrofitting split view controllers to an existing tab bar interface: http://markivsblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/retrofitting-ipad-uisplitviewcontroller.html

Answer 7

can you upload a simple come for semotration?

Answer 8

Keep in mind that OS 3.2 does not provide proper support for a splitview as a tabbar view.

You can make it "work" but it will have bugs - the biggest is that an orientation change made on another tab's view will often not propagate to the splitview tab view properly, making the view go wacky when you go back to it (left side view takes over the screen, or the barbutton item is missing, etc.).

I've reached the conclusion that I have to create my own splitview for use in a tabBarController because of this issue.

I had heard rumors that Apple was working on a fix but it's been months now and no iPad OS updates have occurred - maybe OS 4 for the iPad will address it.

Answer 9

Keep in mind that OS 3.2 does not provide proper support for a splitview as a tabbar view.

You can make it "work" but it will have bugs - the biggest is that an orientation change made on another tab's view will often not propagate to the splitview tab view properly, making the view go wacky when you go back to it (left side view takes over the screen, or the barbutton item is missing, etc.).

I've reached the conclusion that I have to create my own splitview for use in a tabBarController because of this issue.

I had heard rumors that Apple was working on a fix but it's been months now and no iPad OS updates have occurred - maybe OS 4 for the iPad will address it

i fix it, i'll post my custom SplitViewController and my custom TabBarController later

Answer 10

I am having the same problem. Can you please post your custom SplitViewController and custom TabbarControlller, Anthony MAUGENDRE? I'll greatly appreciate your kindness.

Answer 11

HI Anthony MAUGENDRE, could you post your solution? I'm interested too!

Answer 12

You can use IB to build tabtab and modify tabs to splitviewcontroller.

-(void) makeSplitViewController {
NSMutableArray *controllers = [NSMutableArray arrayWithArray:tabBarController.viewControllers];
int index = 0;

for (UIViewController *controller in tabBarController.viewControllers) {
    if ([controller.tabBarItem.title isEqualToString:@"Stock"]) {
        stockDetailController = [[StockDetailController alloc] initWithNibName:@"StockDetailController" bundle:nil];

        stockMasterController = [[StockMasterController alloc] initWithStyle:UITableViewStylePlain]; 
        stockMasterController.navigationItem.title = date;
        stockMasterController.stockDetailController = stockDetailController;

        UINavigationController *nav = [[[UINavigationController alloc] initWithRootViewController:stockMasterController] autorelease];

        splitViewController = [[UISplitViewController alloc] init];
        splitViewController.tabBarItem = controller.tabBarItem;
        splitViewController.viewControllers = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:nav, stockDetailController, nil];
        splitViewController.delegate = stockDetailController;

        [controllers replaceObjectAtIndex:index withObject:splitViewController];
    }

    index++;
}

tabBarController.viewControllers = controllers;

}