Doesn't Enter my constructor - objective-c

Question

Im using the tabbed view application in xcode 4.3.
Im am simply trying to initislise some variables i have declared in my .h file of my FirstViewController. Im attempting this by creating a constructor in my .m file like so.
.h file:
#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
#interface FirstViewController : UIViewController {
IBOutlet UITextField *currentGuess;
IBOutlet UILabel *attemptsMade;
IBOutlet UILabel *attemptsLeft;
IBOutlet UITextView *hints;
int numberToGuess;
int numberOfGuessesMade;
int maxGuesses;
int maxGenNumber;
NSMutableArray *allGuesses;
}
- (id) init;
#end
.m file
#import "FirstViewController.h"
#interface FirstViewController ()
#end
#implementation FirstViewController
- (id) init {
NSLog(#"entered constructor!");
if(self = [super init])
{
numberToGuess = 0;
numberOfGuessesMade = 0;
maxGuesses = 3;
maxGenNumber = 10;
}
return self;
}

Answer 1

A UIViewController doesn't make sense to initialize with the init method.
Normaly you need - (id)initWithNibName:(NSString *)nibName bundle:(NSBundle *)nibBundle
If you building it from a XIB file, than do it like this
You need to place your initialization code in - (void)awakeFromNib or -(void)viewDidLoad.
Something like this for your case
#implementation FirstViewController
- (id) awakeFromNib {
NSLog(#"entered XIB constructor!");
numberToGuess = 0;
numberOfGuessesMade = 0;
maxGuesses = 3;
maxGenNumber = 10;
}
if non xib then:
- (id)initWithNibName:(NSString *)nibName bundle:(NSBundle *)nibBundle {
NSLog(#"entered constructor!");
if(self = [super initWithNibName:nibName bundle:nibBundle])
{
numberToGuess = 0;
numberOfGuessesMade = 0;
maxGuesses = 3;
maxGenNumber = 10;
}
return self;
}
And remember. init is not a "real" constructor as you would learn in OO class.

Answer 2

As noted in the UIViewController documentation, the designated initializer for UIViewController is initWithNibName:bundle:. But depending on how your view controller is created (e.g. in code or as part of a storyboard), this might not even be called, and it might be initWithCoder: instead.

Answer 3

If you are using nib. awakeFromNib method will be called. Also check whether use variants of init method like , initWithNibName, initWithframe etc.

Answer 4

Can you post the code where you create the VC? If you do it from an XIB init will not be called, instead of that you should re-write:
initWithNibName