Calling NSObject superclass method with [self performSelector:#selector]? - objective-c

Question

I have a Subclass of NSObject in which I want to call IMMEDIATELY (a sort of -(void)viewDidLoad) a method (in this case to load a MkMapView): what's the better way to do this? I think I cant use viewDidLoad, so can I use performSelector?
SubClass.h
#interface Mysubclass : NSObject <MKMapViewDelegate> {
}
SubClass.m (1st alternative)
-(id)init{
self = [super init];
if ( self != nil ) {
// THE CODE TO INITIALIZE MKMAPVIEW
}
return self
}
OR
SubClass.m (2nd alternative)
-(id)init{
[self performSelector:#selector(myMethod)];
return self;
}
-myMethod{
// THE CODE TO INITIALIZE MKMAPVIEW
}
What's the better (or correct) alternative? Its possible to avoid -(id)init? Or everytime I add a subclass, to call a method I have to write it into -(id)init? Thank you!

Answer 1

There is no reason to use -performSelector: in this context. If you want to add a method that initializes the MKMapView when your object is created, call the method from within the if (self) block:
- (id)init
{
self = [super init];
if (self) {
[self setupMapView];
}
return self;
}
- (void)setupMapView
{
// THE CODE TO INITIALIZE MKMAPVIEW
}
It is a matter of personal preference/style whether to have a second method -setupMapView or to simply leave the code for setting up the MKMapView in the if (self) block of the -init method or to break the code off into a second method -setupMapView called from -init.
That being said, it sounds like other things may be off with your setup. Your MKMapView should [most likely] be within a UIViewController subclass (which will probably have an associated XIB), so you will be have access to -viewDidLoad. Note that your UIViewController subclass will serve as the delegate to your MKMapView.
Update 1
In your UIViewController subclass instance (I'll assume you called it ViewController, you should have an IBOutlet to an MKMapView object. Do this in ViewController.h either by (1) adding an instance variable
#interface ViewController : UIViewController
{
IBOutlet MKMapView *myMap;
}
#end
or by (2) adding a property
#interface ViewController : UIViewController
#property (nonatomic, strong, readwrite) IBOutlet MKMapView *myMap;
#end
Now open ViewController.xib in Interface Builder. You should have an MKMapView inside the view. If you don't already, add one from the Object Library. Right click on File's Owner. Locate the row with the item myMap. Drag from the circle on the right end of the row to the MKMapView in the visible view.
Your ViewController class now has an outlet to the MKMapView. You will be able to send messages to the MKMapView subview of your view controllers view after it has been loaded.
You should have a property or an instance variable for your SubClass instance so that it doesn't get destroyed as soon as -viewDidLoad returns. Do this again by either adding an instance variable to ViewController.h
#interface ViewController : UIViewController
{
IBOutlet MKMapView *myMap;
SubClass *istance;
}
#end
or by adding a property
#interface ViewController : UIViewController
#property (nonatomic, strong, readwrite) IBOutlet MKMapView *myMap;
#property (nonatomic, strong, readwrite) SubClass *istance;
#end
Now, in ViewController.m, you need to define -viewDidLoad so that self.istance is set as the delegate of self.myMap. In the comments, I had suggested creating your own initializer -initWithMapView:. If you plan on having SubClass do some extensive set-up of your MKMapView, that makes sense. If you just want SubClass to be the delegate of the MKMapView, there's no need for such a method.
Let's consider both cases:
(1) using a method -[SubClass initWithMapView:]:
In ViewController.m you'll have (within the #implementation of ViewController)
- (void)viewDidLoad
{
self.istance = [[SubClass alloc] initWithMapView:self.myMap];
}
In SubClass.h you'll have (within the #interface of SubClass)
- (id)initWithMapView:(MKMapView *)mapView;
#property (nonatomic, weak, readwrite) MKMapView *mapView;
In SubClass.m you'll have (within the #implementation of SubClass)
- (id)initWithMapView:(MKMapView *)mapView
{
self = [super init];
if (self) {
self.mapView = mapView;
self.mapView.delegate = self;
//more setup of mapView.
}
return self;
}
(2) using -[SubClass init]:
Instead, in ViewController.m you'll have
- (void)viewDidLoad
{
self.istance = [[SubClass alloc] init];
self.myMap.delegate = self.istance;
}