xcode - Is it possible to create one tableViewCell that can be used in multiple Table Controllers?

Question

I have about 3 or 4 table controllers that will all use the same tableview cell. I keep going back on fourth of the possible logic. Can I use the same tableViewCell in multiple tableView Controllers assuming the information is between the two is the same? Or will I have to create a new cell for each controller?

Answer 1

Yes you can.

I am assuming that you are using Swift.

Goto File -> New and select cocoaTouch class as follows.

Now name Your class for custom cell and make it subClass of UITableViewCell. also check the box which says "Also create Xib file"

Now design your cell in this Xib and create outlets in its .Swift file. Lets say you have a custom tableView cell which looks something like this

Which contains a label or ImageView or anyThing that you have in your cell. Now in your swift file of custom cell you can write a method like so

class func cellForTableView(tableView: UITableView, atIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath) -> YourCustomTableViewCell {
let kYourCustomTableViewCellIdentifier = "kYourCustomTableViewCellIdentifier"
tableView.registerNib(UINib(nibName: "YourCustomTableViewCell", bundle: NSBundle.mainBundle()), forCellReuseIdentifier: kYourCustomTableViewCellIdentifier)

let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier(kYourCustomTableViewCellIdentifier, forIndexPath: indexPath) as! YourCustomTableViewCell

return cell
}

Now you can use this cell in any tableView in your application just like below

func tableView(tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAtIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {

let cell = YourCustomTableViewCell.cellForTableView(tableView, atIndexPath: indexPath)
cell.backgroundColor = UIColor.clearColor()
// do something with your cell

}

I hope it helps.

Update for Swift 3 and Swift 4:

class func cellForTableView(tableView: UITableView, atIndexPath indexPath: IndexPath) -> YourCustomTableViewCell {
    let kYourCustomTableViewCellIdentifier = "kYourCustomTableViewCellIdentifier"
    tableView.register(UINib(nibName: "YourCustomTableViewCell", bundle: Bundle.main), forCellReuseIdentifier: kYourCustomTableViewCellIdentifier)

    let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: kYourCustomTableViewCellIdentifier, for: indexPath) as! YourCustomTableViewCell

    return cell
}