UITableView custom cell IBOutlets are nil

Question

I have created a class which is a subclass of UITableViewCell and I have also created an xib file for the same.

In the xib file I am adding a UITableViewCell and then giving it an identifier "ChatCell" and then in my class I am trying to use this custom cell like this:

static NSString *CellIdentifier =  @"ChatCell";
ChatCustomCell *cell = (ChatCustomCell *)[tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];

In the class I have provided an IBOutlet of UIlabel and connected it to one of the UILabel I have created in the xib but when ever the cell gets created the UILabel stays nil.

Why is this happening?

if you are using storyboard to create prototype cell you don't need to register the nib else you should — Prajeet Shrestha, Aug 16 '16 at 11:32
You can design multiple cells as prototype cells directly in the table view. An extra nib is not needed. — vadian, Aug 16 '16 at 11:42

NSNoob · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-16T11:52:19.270

3

You need to register your Custom Xib file in your ViewController first.

From Apple Docs on registerClass:forCellReuseIdentifier::

call this method or the registerClass:forCellReuseIdentifier: method to tell the table view how to create new cells. If a cell of the specified type is not currently in a reuse queue, the table view uses the provided information to create a new cell object automatically.

E.g. Write this line in your viewDidLoad, after setting tableView delegate and dataSource:

[yourTableView registerNib:[UINib nibWithNibName:@"ChatCustomCell" bundle:nil] forCellReuseIdentifier:@"ChatCell"];

If you don't, your TableView won't be able to load the Cell Nib file, which would result in nil IBOutlets of Cell.

edited Aug 16 '16 at 11:52

answered Aug 16 '16 at 11:32

NSNoob

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Thank you this works I was trying this before too but maybe was wrong somewhere. – Avinash Sharma Aug 16 '16 at 11:43
@Avinash : use [tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier: forIndexPath: ] for cell reuse. this is new API for not nil return of cell. – kaushal Aug 16 '16 at 11:43

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 16 '16 at 11:41

for your xib cell may be it returns nil for your cell, write this code may be it helps you.

ChatCustomCell *cell = (ChatCustomCell *)[tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier]

if (cell == nil)
{
    NSArray *nibArray = [[NSBundle mainBundle] loadNibNamed:@"nibName" owner:self options:nil];
    cell = [nibArray objectAtIndex:0];
}

UITableView custom cell IBOutlets are nil

2 Answers2