How to customize the background/border colors of a

Question

I would like to customize both the background and the border color of a grouped-style UITableView.

I was able to customize the background color by using the following:

tableView.contentView.backgroundColor = [UIColor greenColor];

But the border color is still something I don't know how to change.

How do I customize these two aspects of the grouped-style table view?

Answer 1

I know the answers are relating to changing grouped table cells, but in case someone is wanting to also change the tableview's background color:

Not only do you need to set:

tableview.backgroundColor = color;

You also need to change or get rid of the background view:

tableview.backgroundView = nil;  

Answer 2

You can customize the border color by setting

tableView.separatorColor

Answer 3

This task can be easily done using PrettyKit by adding about 5 lines of code. If you use nib files or storyboard, also do not forget to apply this little hack . When you use this approach, you should subclass your cell from PrettyTableViewCell:

#import <PrettyKit/PrettyKit.h>

@class RRSearchHistoryItem;

@interface RRSearchHistoryCell : PrettyTableViewCell

This is example of my cellForRowAtIndexPath:

- (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
  static NSString *cellIdentifier = @"RRSearchHistoryCell";

  RRSearchHistoryCell *cell = (RRSearchHistoryCell *)[tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:cellIdentifier];

  if ( cell == nil ) {

    NSArray *topLevelObjects = [[NSBundle mainBundle] loadNibNamed:@"RRSearchHistoryCell" owner:self options:nil];
    cell = topLevelObjects[0];
    cell.gradientStartColor = RGB(0xffffff);
    cell.gradientEndColor = RGB(0xf3f3f3);

  }

  RRSearchHistoryItem *item = _historyTableData[indexPath.row];
  [cell setHistoryItem:item];


  [cell prepareForTableView:tableView indexPath:indexPath];

  return cell;
}

Answer 4

Much thanks to all who posted their code. This is very useful.

I derived a similar solution to change the highlight color for grouped table view cells. Basically the UITableViewCell's selectedBackgroundView (not the backgroundView). Which even on iPhone OS 3.0 still needs this PITA solution, as far as I can tell...

The code below has the changes for rendering the highlight with a gradient instead of one solid color. Also the border rendering is removed. Enjoy.

//
//  CSCustomCellBackgroundView.h
//

#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>

typedef enum  
{
    CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionTop, 
    CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionMiddle, 
    CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionBottom,
    CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionSingle,
    CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionPlain
} CustomCellBackgroundViewPosition;

@interface CSCustomCellBackgroundView : UIView 
{
    CustomCellBackgroundViewPosition position;
 CGGradientRef gradient;
}

@property(nonatomic) CustomCellBackgroundViewPosition position;

@end



//
//  CSCustomCellBackgroundView.m
//

#import "CSCustomCellBackgroundView.h"



#define ROUND_SIZE 10


static void addRoundedRectToPath(CGContextRef context, CGRect rect,
         float ovalWidth,float ovalHeight);


@implementation CSCustomCellBackgroundView


@synthesize position;

- (BOOL) isOpaque 
{
    return NO;
}

- (id)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame 
{
    if (self = [super initWithFrame:frame]) 
 {
        // Initialization code
  const float* topCol = CGColorGetComponents([[UIColor redColor] CGColor]);
  const float* bottomCol = CGColorGetComponents([[UIColor blueColor] CGColor]);

  CGColorSpaceRef rgb = CGColorSpaceCreateDeviceRGB();
  /*
  CGFloat colors[] =
  {
   5.0 / 255.0, 140.0 / 255.0, 245.0 / 255.0, 1.00,
   1.0 / 255.0,  93.0 / 255.0, 230.0 / 255.0, 1.00,
  };*/
  CGFloat colors[]=
  {
   topCol[0], topCol[1], topCol[2], topCol[3],
   bottomCol[0], bottomCol[1], bottomCol[2], bottomCol[3]
  };
  gradient = CGGradientCreateWithColorComponents(rgb, colors, NULL, sizeof(colors)/(sizeof(colors[0])*4));
  CGColorSpaceRelease(rgb);
    }
    return self;
}


-(void)drawRect:(CGRect)rect 
{
    // Drawing code

    CGContextRef c = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext();

    if (position == CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionTop) 
 {

        CGFloat minx = CGRectGetMinX(rect) , midx = CGRectGetMidX(rect), maxx = CGRectGetMaxX(rect) ;
        CGFloat miny = CGRectGetMinY(rect) , maxy = CGRectGetMaxY(rect) ;
        minx = minx + 1;
        miny = miny + 1;

        maxx = maxx - 1;
        maxy = maxy ;

        CGContextMoveToPoint(c, minx, maxy);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, minx, miny, midx, miny, ROUND_SIZE);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, maxx, miny, maxx, maxy, ROUND_SIZE);
        CGContextAddLineToPoint(c, maxx, maxy);

        // Close the path
        CGContextClosePath(c);

  CGContextSaveGState(c);
  CGContextClip(c);
  CGContextDrawLinearGradient(c, gradient, CGPointMake(minx,miny), CGPointMake(minx,maxy), kCGGradientDrawsBeforeStartLocation | kCGGradientDrawsAfterEndLocation);
  CGContextRestoreGState(c);

        return;
    } 
 else if (position == CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionBottom) 
 {

        CGFloat minx = CGRectGetMinX(rect) , midx = CGRectGetMidX(rect), maxx = CGRectGetMaxX(rect) ;
        CGFloat miny = CGRectGetMinY(rect) , maxy = CGRectGetMaxY(rect) ;
        minx = minx + 1;
        miny = miny + 1;

        maxx = maxx - 1;
        maxy = maxy - 1;

        CGContextMoveToPoint(c, minx, miny);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, minx, maxy, midx, maxy, ROUND_SIZE);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, maxx, maxy, maxx, miny, ROUND_SIZE);
        CGContextAddLineToPoint(c, maxx, miny);
        // Close the path
        CGContextClosePath(c);

  CGContextSaveGState(c);
  CGContextClip(c);
  CGContextDrawLinearGradient(c, gradient, CGPointMake(minx,miny), CGPointMake(minx,maxy), kCGGradientDrawsBeforeStartLocation | kCGGradientDrawsAfterEndLocation);
  CGContextRestoreGState(c);

        return;
    } 
 else if (position == CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionMiddle) 
 {
        CGFloat minx = CGRectGetMinX(rect) , maxx = CGRectGetMaxX(rect) ;
        CGFloat miny = CGRectGetMinY(rect) , maxy = CGRectGetMaxY(rect) ;
        minx = minx + 1;
        miny = miny + 1;

        maxx = maxx - 1;
        maxy = maxy ;

        CGContextMoveToPoint(c, minx, miny);
        CGContextAddLineToPoint(c, maxx, miny);
        CGContextAddLineToPoint(c, maxx, maxy);
        CGContextAddLineToPoint(c, minx, maxy);
  // Close the path
        CGContextClosePath(c);

  CGContextSaveGState(c);
  CGContextClip(c);
  CGContextDrawLinearGradient(c, gradient, CGPointMake(minx,miny), CGPointMake(minx,maxy), kCGGradientDrawsBeforeStartLocation | kCGGradientDrawsAfterEndLocation);
  CGContextRestoreGState(c);

        return;
    }
 else if (position == CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionSingle)
 {
        CGFloat minx = CGRectGetMinX(rect) , midx = CGRectGetMidX(rect), maxx = CGRectGetMaxX(rect) ;
        CGFloat miny = CGRectGetMinY(rect) , midy = CGRectGetMidY(rect) , maxy = CGRectGetMaxY(rect) ;
        minx = minx + 1;
        miny = miny + 1;

        maxx = maxx - 1;
        maxy = maxy - 1;

        CGContextMoveToPoint(c, minx, midy);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, minx, miny, midx, miny, ROUND_SIZE);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, maxx, miny, maxx, midy, ROUND_SIZE);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, maxx, maxy, midx, maxy, ROUND_SIZE);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, minx, maxy, minx, midy, ROUND_SIZE);
        // Close the path
        CGContextClosePath(c);              

  CGContextSaveGState(c);
  CGContextClip(c);
  CGContextDrawLinearGradient(c, gradient, CGPointMake(minx,miny), CGPointMake(minx,maxy), kCGGradientDrawsBeforeStartLocation | kCGGradientDrawsAfterEndLocation);
  CGContextRestoreGState(c);

        return;         
 } 
 else if (position == CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionPlain) {
    CGFloat minx = CGRectGetMinX(rect);
    CGFloat miny = CGRectGetMinY(rect), maxy = CGRectGetMaxY(rect) ;
    CGContextDrawLinearGradient(c, gradient, CGPointMake(minx,miny), CGPointMake(minx,maxy), kCGGradientDrawsBeforeStartLocation | kCGGradientDrawsAfterEndLocation);
    return;
}

}

- (void)dealloc 
{
    CGGradientRelease(gradient);
    [super dealloc];
}


- (void) setPosition:(CustomCellBackgroundViewPosition)inPosition
{
 if(position != inPosition)
 {
  position = inPosition;
  [self setNeedsDisplay];
 }
}

@end


static void addRoundedRectToPath(CGContextRef context, CGRect rect,
         float ovalWidth,float ovalHeight)

{
    float fw, fh;

    if (ovalWidth == 0 || ovalHeight == 0) {// 1
        CGContextAddRect(context, rect);
        return;
    }

    CGContextSaveGState(context);// 2

    CGContextTranslateCTM (context, CGRectGetMinX(rect),// 3
         CGRectGetMinY(rect));
    CGContextScaleCTM (context, ovalWidth, ovalHeight);// 4
    fw = CGRectGetWidth (rect) / ovalWidth;// 5
    fh = CGRectGetHeight (rect) / ovalHeight;// 6

    CGContextMoveToPoint(context, fw, fh/2); // 7
    CGContextAddArcToPoint(context, fw, fh, fw/2, fh, 1);// 8
    CGContextAddArcToPoint(context, 0, fh, 0, fh/2, 1);// 9
    CGContextAddArcToPoint(context, 0, 0, fw/2, 0, 1);// 10
    CGContextAddArcToPoint(context, fw, 0, fw, fh/2, 1); // 11
    CGContextClosePath(context);// 12

    CGContextRestoreGState(context);// 13
}

Answer 5

Thank you for the code, it's just what I was looking for. I have also added the following code to Vimal's code, to implement the case of a CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionSingle cell. (All four corners are rounded.)

else if (position == CustomCellBackgroundViewPositionSingle)
{
        CGFloat minx = CGRectGetMinX(rect) , midx = CGRectGetMidX(rect), maxx = CGRectGetMaxX(rect) ;
        CGFloat miny = CGRectGetMinY(rect) , midy = CGRectGetMidY(rect) , maxy = CGRectGetMaxY(rect) ;
        minx = minx + 1;
        miny = miny + 1;

        maxx = maxx - 1;
        maxy = maxy - 1;

        CGContextMoveToPoint(c, minx, midy);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, minx, miny, midx, miny, ROUND_SIZE);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, maxx, miny, maxx, midy, ROUND_SIZE);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, maxx, maxy, midx, maxy, ROUND_SIZE);
        CGContextAddArcToPoint(c, minx, maxy, minx, midy, ROUND_SIZE);

        // Close the path
        CGContextClosePath(c);
        // Fill & stroke the path
        CGContextDrawPath(c, kCGPathFillStroke);                
        return;     
}