Using a variable inside a variable objective-C - objective-c

Question

EDIT: {
No longer need help!
I used tags and a bunch of loops to reference them at anytime.
I never knew you could store so many images in one UIImageView!
}
I have an application that deals with a a lot of images and what i want to do is use an integer inside the variable name so i don't have to write code for each image. Ex:
- (void)addIconClicked {
if (icons < 28) {
icons += 1;
}
if (icons == 2) {
UIImageView * iconImage2 = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:#"icon1.png"]];
//modify image view like setting the frame, setting the title, etc... (not important)
}
else if (icons == 3) {
// iconImage 3 set up
}
this continues all the way up to iconImage26!
so i was wondering if i could use the integer "icons" as part of the variable name so i don't have to run the code 26 different times!!
Ex:
- (void)addIconClicked {
if (icons < 28) {
icons += 1;
}
/*some how insert the "icons" int where (icons) is. Like NSString uses
stringWithFormat ([NSString stringWithFormat:#"%i", icons])*/
UIImageView * iconImage(icons) = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"icon%i.png", icons]]];
}
-----edit----- (to clarify what i want)
my problem is that i want to make an unlimited amount of image views but if i use the same variable more than once, it would show up on the view fine, but it would be released and i can't edit it anymore.
Ex:
- (void)addIconClicked {
if (icons < 28) {
icons += 1;
}
NSString * iconName = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"icon%i.png", icons];
//if i ran this 100 times, 100 images would show up, but i can no longer edit any of them except the newest.
iconImage = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:iconName]];
}
so i need to know how to make an unlimited amount of images that i can still edit individually.
i thought i might be able to use the integer's value inside a variable name when i create it, but i guess i can't:(
so if anyone knows, please explain!!
so to sum it up...
my exact problem is that i want to create an unlimited number of UIImageView's using a different image each time.
You think i could just use 1 variable for all of the images (which would show up) but then i can't edit them at all because they are released.
I just need a way to create an unlimited amount of Global UIImageViews that i can edit and access at any time.

Answer 1

The best way to do this is with an array.
NSMutableArray* allIcons = [NSMutableArray array]; //First, you'll need this empty array.
//Then, when you create your icon...
NSString* iconName = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"icon%lx.png",icons];
UIImageView * newIcon = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:iconName]];
[allIcons addObject:newIcon]; //This adds the icon at the next index, starting at 0.
Then, when you use your icons, instead of icon1, icon2, and so on, use [allIcons objectAtIndex:0], [allIcons objectAtIndex:1], and so on.
This is a pretty common concept--you should consider checking out a few beginning Cocoa tutorials; you might find it in use.

Answer 2

You can use an array for storing UIImageView references. Or you can set their tags and find them later using viewWithTag.
EDIT: Ok I am home now and I can explain:
Use tagging:
UIImageView * anImageView= [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:[NSString stringWithFormat#"icon%i.png",icons]]];
anImageView.tag=icons;
[parentView addSubview: anImageView];
UIImageView *theOneYouWant = (UIImageView)[parentView viewWithTag:someTag];
or use a c-array of UIImageView pointers to store references if you don't mind scope:
UIImageView * imageViews[28]; // put this into class interface
imageViews[icons]= [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:[NSString stringWithFormat#"icon%i.png",icons]]];