Is it possible to configure a UITableView to allow

Question

For the iPhone, is it possible to configure a UITableView such that it will allow multiple-selection?

I've tried overriding -setSelected:animated: for each UITableViewCell, but trying to fudge the required behavior is tricky as it's difficult to separate the real unselections from the ones where the UITableView thinks I've unselected due to selection of another cell!

Hope someone can help!

Thanks,

Nick.

Answer 1

Guys for multiple selection you just need

self.tableView.allowsMultipleSelection = YES;

on viewDidLoad and

- (void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView didSelectRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    UITableViewCell *tableViewCell = [tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:indexPath];
    tableViewCell.accessoryView.hidden = NO; 
    // if you don't use custom image tableViewCell.accessoryType = UITableViewCellAccessoryCheckmark;
}

- (void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView didDeselectRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    UITableViewCell *tableViewCell = [tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:indexPath];
    tableViewCell.accessoryView.hidden = YES;
    // if you don't use custom image tableViewCell.accessoryType = UITableViewCellAccessoryNone;
}

Answer 2

Use the following code to set up the cell accesory types:

    - (void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView didSelectRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {

    UITableViewCell *thisCell = [tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:indexPath];


    if (thisCell.accessoryType == UITableViewCellAccessoryNone) {
        thisCell.accessoryType = UITableViewCellAccessoryCheckmark;

    }else{
        thisCell.accessoryType = UITableViewCellAccessoryNone;

    }
}

- (UITableViewCellAccessoryType)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView accessoryTypeForRowWithIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {

//add your own code to set the cell accesory type.
return UITableViewCellAccessoryNone;
}

Answer 3

Jeff Lamarche has a tutorial on how to do this here:

http://iphonedevelopment.blogspot.com/2008/10/table-view-multi-row-edit-mode.html

I've not tried the code but it's been on the back of my mind for a while, knowing the day will come when I need it.

Answer 4

From the HIG:

Table views provide feedback when users select list items. Specifically, when an item can be selected, the row containing the item highlights briefly when a user selects it to show that the selection has been received. Then, an immediate action occurs: Either a new view is revealed or the row displays a checkmark to indicate that the item has been selected. The row never remains highlighted, because table views do not display a persistent selected state.

You'll need to roll your own multiple selection style, either with something like Mail, or using the checkmark accessory on your cells.

Answer 5

Tested with iOS4.3 - 6.0

-(void)searchDisplayControllerDidBeginSearch:(UISearchDisplayController *)controller {

    if ([controller.searchResultsTableView respondsToSelector:@selector(allowsMultipleSelectionDuringEditing)]) {
        controller.searchResultsTableView.allowsMultipleSelectionDuringEditing = YES;
    }
    else {
        controller.searchResultsTableView.allowsSelectionDuringEditing = YES;
    }
}

- (UITableViewCellEditingStyle)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView editingStyleForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    return UITableViewCellAccessoryCheckmark;
}

Answer 6

I backported allowsMultipleSelectionDuringEditing and allowsMultipleSelection from iOS5 to older iOS. You can fork it at https://github.com/ud7/UDTableView-allowsMultipleSelection

It's drop in replacement and only thing you need to do is change UITableView to UDTableView (in code or interface builder)