Find UIAlertView without having reference to it iOS 7

Question

I was using a code snippet in my project answered here: UIAlertView without having reference to it

Here's the code:

+ (UIAlertView *) getUIAlertViewIfShown {
    if ([[[UIApplication sharedApplication] windows] count] == 1) {
        return nil;
    }

    UIWindow *window = [[[UIApplication sharedApplication] windows] objectAtIndex:1];
    if ([window.subviews count] > 0) {
        UIView *view = [window.subviews objectAtIndex:0];
        if ([view isKindOfClass:[UIAlertView class]]) {
            return (UIAlertView *) view;
        }
    }
    return nil;
}

Unfortunately its not working in iOS 7 and I'm unable to dismiss an alert view. While debugging I found that in the loop its showing that view is of class UITransitionView. Pretty confusing because I couldn't find any quick documentation for this view class.

Any ideas how can I fix this problem?

Is it possible there are more windows? You are only checking one window. Why not check all of them? — rmaddy, Sep 09 '13 at 16:24
@Kevin I'm using a Macro for showing alert views and is used too frequently. Your suggestion will be last option. — Abdullah Umer, Sep 09 '13 at 16:25
@rmaddy I debugged the code and its returning only one object in the array for windows. — Abdullah Umer, Sep 09 '13 at 16:28

score 16 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 09 '13 at 17:16

16

In iOS7, the UIAlertView window does not appear in -[UIApplication windows]. In fact, the UIAlertView itself is never added to any window, -[UIAlertView window] is always nil. Instead, the alert view manages a variety of undocumented views placed in -[UIApplication keyWindow] with no reference back to the alert view.

Your only real option in iOS7 is to actually keep track of your alert views.

answered Sep 09 '13 at 17:16

Brian Nickel

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I modified all my code and kept reference to alert views and now they are working fine. – Abdullah Umer Sep 11 '13 at 10:09
the window for UIAlertView is -UIModalItemHostingWindow(Private API) – Mehul Thakkar Sep 03 '14 at 06:52

storoj · Answer 2 · 2013-10-25T13:23:44.523

15

iOS 7 solution

Class UIAlertManager = objc_getClass("_UIAlertManager");
UIAlertView *topMostAlert = [UIAlertManager performSelector:@selector(topMostAlert)];

I am not sure if it is approvable by AppStore, but works

UPD single line code:

UIAlertView *topMostAlert = [NSClassFromString(@"_UIAlertManager") performSelector:@selector(topMostAlert)];

edited Oct 25 '13 at 13:23

answered Oct 09 '13 at 14:46

storoj

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Is it ok if I used NSClassFromString instead of objc_getClass ? – Tung Do Dec 20 '13 at 04:32
Does this get through review? – Chris Mitchelmore Mar 03 '14 at 14:07
Is is allowed by Apple? @TùngĐỗ – Rushi Mar 06 '14 at 10:58
Is it allowed by Apple? Please tell us. @TùngĐỗ – Rushi Mar 06 '14 at 10:58
3

Of course this is not allowed in production. For Integration Testing it might have been helpful, but on the simulator it doesn't seem to work. Maybe 7.1 killed this. – binarymochi Apr 16 '14 at 07:35
1

It doesn't work i get the error references non-public API on uploading to appstore. – Ankit Jain May 17 '14 at 09:14

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 10 '14 at 10:00

I have faced similar issue and in my case alerts are displayed from different instance of view controller, As Brian has already mentioned that UIAlertView window does not appear in -[UIApplication windows] in iOS7.

So to keep track of this following approach can be followed -

Define a BOOL constant in App Delegate -

@property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL isAlertVisibleOnAppWindow;

Where 'UIAlerView` is present, check earlier instance existence -

AppDelegate *delegate = (AppDelegate *) [UIApplication sharedApplication].delegate;
if (!delegate.isAlertVisibleOnAppWindow) {
    delegate.isAlertVisibleOnAppWindow = YES;

    UIAlertView *alertView = [[UIAlertView alloc] init…//alert init code

    // Either handle alert cancel/completeion click here via blocks, or use alert delegates to reset the isAlertVisibleOnAppWindow BOOL variable to NO.
}

This might be helpful to some other people, thought of sharing this.

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 28 '14 at 07:37

0

UIAlertView *topMostAlert = [NSClassFromString(@"_UIAlertManager") performSelector:@selector(topMostAlert)];

This will NOT be allowed to publish into Apple Store. During build validation Xcode will throw an error, something like: "access to undocumented method.." So you can't use it, however this code works well.

answered Apr 28 '14 at 07:37

KAMIKAZE

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It doesn't work i get the error references non-public API on uploading to appstore. – Ankit Jain May 17 '14 at 09:12
1

perfect way... if you dont want to upload your app on App Store – Mehul Thakkar Sep 03 '14 at 06:55

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered May 31 '14 at 20:24

You can register to UIWindowDidBecomeVisibleNotification:

[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self
                                         selector:@selector(aWindowBecameVisible:)
                                             name:UIWindowDidBecomeVisibleNotification
                                           object:nil];

and in aWindowBecameVisible check the window description for _UIModalItemHostingWin:

if ([[theWindow description] hasPrefix:@"<_UIModalItemHostingWin"])
{
    // This is the alert window
}

Find UIAlertView without having reference to it iOS 7

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