This is more of a personal reminder about how to subclass a UITableViewCell, but this should be useful to the discerning reader. All the edits required to subclass are the lower code line in each section, the above is the default code (commented out).

.m file Modifications

#import “UITableViewCellFixed.h”

// Below is first the original then the subclassed
        //UITableViewCell *cell = [tableview dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
        UITableViewCellFixed *cell = (UITableViewCellFixed *)[tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
        
if (cell == nil) {
                // Below is first the original then the subclassed
//cell = [[[UITableViewCell alloc] initWithStyle:UITableViewCellStyleValue2 reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier] autorelease];
cell = [[[UITableViewCellFixed alloc] initWithStyle:UITableViewCellStyleValue2 reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier] autorelease];
                
                //Cell Accessories
                //cell.accessoryType = UITableViewCellAccessoryDisclosureIndicator;
                cell.editingAccessoryType = UITableViewCellAccessoryDisclosureIndicator;
                

}

Then the subclass file looks like:

// UITableViewCellFixed.h
//

#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>

@interface UITableViewCellFixed : UITableViewCell {

}

@end

//
// UITableViewCellFixed.m
//

#import “UITableViewCellFixed.h”

@implementation UITableViewCellFixed
- (void) layoutSubviews {
        [super layoutSubviews];
        self.textLabel.frame = CGRectMake(self.textLabel.frame.origin.x,
4.0,
self.textLabel.frame.size.width,
self.textLabel.frame.size.height);
        self.detailTextLabel.frame = CGRectMake(self.detailTextLabel.frame.origin.x,
                                                                                        8.0 + self.textLabel.frame.size.height,
                                                                                        self.detailTextLabel.frame.size.width,
                                                                                        self.detailTextLabel.frame.size.height);
}
@end

It may sometimes be useful to show a one time reminder to your user in your application. This might be asking for a iTunes review, additions to social networks or any other task that It may be rude to ask more than once.

That is exactly what I have put into my application SavingsGoal, with a single time popup in the about screen. This is shown in detail in the example below:

First in viewDidLoad(), I have a reference to the firstViewSocialPopup class.

- (void)viewDidLoad {
[super viewDidLoad];
        
        //Internet Links
        websiteURL = @“http://apps.duivesteyn.net“;
        supportEmail = @“apps@duivesteyn.net“;
        facebookURL = @“http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=107880612574963“;
        twitterURL = @“de_applications”;
        
        [self firstViewSocialPopup];
}

in my .h header file, I have of course added:

-(void)firstViewSocialPopup;

Back in the .m file class I have the method firstViewSocialPopup, which is just checking a NSUserDefaults setting and displaying a UIAlert.

-(void)firstViewSocialPopup{
        NSString *socialPopup = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@", [[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] objectForKey:@”toggle_social”]];
        NSLog(@”Social Reminder Status: %@”,socialPopup);
        
        if ([socialPopup isEqualToString: @"YES"]) {
                UIAlertView *alert = [[UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:@”Social Networking” message:@”Would you help the development team by adding them on Social Networks?” delegate:self cancelButtonTitle:@”No Thanks” otherButtonTitles:@”Twitter”,@”Facebook”,nil];
                [alert show];
                NSUserDefaults *defaults = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
                [defaults setObject:@"NO" forKey:@"toggle_social"];
        }
        
}

THe UIAlert has delegate self and so sends the button pressed to the UIAlertView delegate (which is its self). This will call the class: (void)alertView: (UIAlertView *)alertView clickedButtonAtIndex: (NSInteger)buttonIndex

And so, in the same class (.m file) I have the following method:

- (void)alertView: (UIAlertView *)alertView clickedButtonAtIndex: (NSInteger)buttonIndex
{
        NSLog(@“in alertView action, buttonIndex: %u”,buttonIndex);
        
        if (buttonIndex==1) {
                NSLog(@“Open Twitter”);

                //Custom Open Twitter Page Code
                deHelpers *dehelper = [[deHelpers alloc] init];
                [dehelper openTwitterAppForFollowingUser:@“de_applications"];
                
        } else if (buttonIndex==2) {
                NSLog(@“Open Facebook”);
                
                //Custom Open Twitter Page Code
                url = [NSURL URLWithString:@“http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=107880612574963"];
                
                NSURLRequest *request = [NSURLRequest requestWithURL:url];
                PWWebViewController *webController = [[PWWebViewController alloc] initWithRequest:request];
                
                UINavigationController *navigationController = [[UINavigationController alloc] initWithRootViewController:webController];
                UIBarButtonItem *cancelButton = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithBarButtonSystemItem:UIBarButtonSystemItemCancel
                                                                                                                                                                         target:self
                                                                                                                                                                         action:@selector(dismissModal)];
                webController.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItem = cancelButton;
                [cancelButton release];
                [self presentModalViewController:navigationController animated:YES];
                [navigationController release];
                
        }
        
}

Hopefully, you can see the idea, its quite simple. I have included some extra parts in the code for those who are interested exactly how I implement the popup actions. Its using a previously discussed control: PWWebViewController and some DrTouch code: openTwitterAppForFollowingUser.

The link is here: http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1004fk8d5gt/event/

Generating a random number is a simple task in Objective-C.

all you really need to do is:
int random = random();

Then you can use the integer as you normally would.

But wait..is it possible that I keep getting the same random numbers?

Try the following code in an empty Xcode Project:

int generated;

for (int i =0; i<10; i++) {
generated = abs(100000*(random()));
NSLog(@”New Random Key: %d”,generated);
}

This gives the output of:

And yes, they are the same 10 randomly generated numbers! The random number sequence by default is regular and is based off local computer properties. (Note: see how I ran the code twice and I get the same 10 random numbers).

There is one more line that can aid the initial random() function, and makes the start a little less random.

//Real Randomness
srandom(time(NULL));

Put this before the use of random().

This now sets a new starting point for the random number generator and gives output like one would expect.

//Real Randomness
srandom(time(NULL));

int generated;

for (int i =0; i<10; i++) {
generated = abs(100000*(random()));
NSLog(@”New Random Key: %d”,generated);
}

This gives the output:

There is one better function to use in place of all of the above. Just use

arc4random()

It seems to be more popular and improves generation with unique-randoms. I use arc4random and this is the best way to quickly generate a random number in Objective-C.