objective c - Unable to use iOS framework which is internally using .xib file

Question

I am trying to make a universal framework, for iOS by following steps specified in this URL: Universal-framework-iOS

I have a viewController class within, that framework which internally loads a .xib file.

Below is a part of code which shows, how I am initializing that viewController and showing related view:

/*** Part of implementation of SomeViewController class, which is outside the framework ***/

- (void)viewDidLoad
{
    [super viewDidLoad];
    // Do any additional setup after loading the view, typically from a nib.

    self.viewControllerWithinFramework = [[ViewControllerWithinFramework alloc] initWithTitle:@"My custom view"];
}
- (IBAction)showSomeView:(id)sender {
    [self.viewControllerWithinFramework showRelatedView];
} 

/*** Part of implementation of ViewControllerWithinFramework class, which is inside the framework ***/

- (id)initWithTitle:(NSString *)aTitle
{
   self = [super initWithNibName:@"ViewControllerWithinFramework" bundle:nil]; // ViewControllerWithinFramework.xib is within the framework

   if (self)
   {
       _viewControllerTitle = aTitle;
   }

   return self;
}

While creating the framework, I included all .xib files, including ViewControllerWithinFramework.xib within its Copy Bundle Resources build phase.

Now my problem is when I try to integrate that framework within other project, it crashes with below stack trace:

Sample[3616:a0b] *** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInternalInconsistencyException', reason: 'Could not load NIB in bundle: 'NSBundle </Users/miraaj/Library/Application Support/iPhone Simulator/7.0/Applications/78CB9BC5-0FCE-40FC-8BCB-721EBA031296/Sample.app> (loaded)' with name 'ViewControllerWithinFramework''
*** First throw call stack:
(
    0   CoreFoundation                      0x017365e4 __exceptionPreprocess + 180
    1   libobjc.A.dylib                     0x014b98b6 objc_exception_throw + 44
    2   CoreFoundation                      0x017363bb +[NSException raise:format:] + 139
    3   UIKit                               0x004cc65c -[UINib instantiateWithOwner:options:] + 951
    4   UIKit                               0x0033ec95 -[UIViewController _loadViewFromNibNamed:bundle:] + 280
    5   UIKit                               0x0033f43d -[UIViewController loadView] + 302
    6   UIKit                               0x0033f73e -[UIViewController loadViewIfRequired] + 78
    7   UIKit                               0x0033fc44 -[UIViewController view] + 35

Any ideas, how could I resolve this problem?

Note: It works fine if there is no any xib within the framework.

Answer 1

If you're using Universal-framework-iOS all resources (including Nibs and images), will be copied inside a separate bundle (folder) such as MyApp.app/Myframework.bundle/MyNib.nib.

You need to specify this bundle by passing a NSBundle object instead of nil. Your can get your bundle object as follows:

NSString *path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:@"Myframework" ofType:@"bundle"];
NSBundle *resourcesBundle = [NSBundle bundleWithPath:path];

As for images you can just prepend Myframework.bundle/ to their names:

[UIImage imageNamed:@"Myframework.bundle/MyImage"

This also works in Interface Builder.

Finally your users to install/update a framework is a pain, specially with resources, so better try to use CocoaPods.