How do I select a UITableViewCell by default?

Question

I have created a UITableView and would like a specific UITableViewCell to appear selected (blue) when the view is loaded.

See this question: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/19295297/uitableviewcell-set-selected-initially/25128427#25128427 — Drew C, Jun 14 '15 at 04:56

score 41 · Answer 1 · edited May 14 '14 at 15:38

-(void)viewWillAppear:(BOOL)animated {
    // assuming you had the table view wired to IBOutlet myTableView
    // and that you wanted to select the first item in the first section
    [myTableView selectRowAtIndexPath:[NSIndexPath indexPathForRow:0 inSection:0] 
                             animated:NO 
                       scrollPosition:UITableViewScrollPositionTop];
}

I'm using this technique to select one of two UITableViewCells so the users knows which cell a UIDatePicker below the table view it will effect. This technique is used by Apple in the calendar app when you create a new event and set the dates.

1. this does not work for me. 2. Apple says you should use checkmark to indicate an item's selection state. — Fabien Warniez, Apr 26 '14 at 06:04

score 6 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 24 '09 at 19:30

6

Be judicious using this method, as selecting the row in this way is something Apple suggests against doing to show a "chosen" state.

Instead, consider setting the cell's accessoryType property to something like UITableViewCellAccessoryCheckmark.

answered Aug 24 '09 at 19:30

Shaggy Frog

27,575
16
91
128

I am trying to replicate the UI Apple use when you add/edit an event in the Calendar application and set a start and end date/time. I saw comments about the checkmark rule elsewhere, but am uncertain whether it would apply in this case (the table is used to layout components rather than present a list of data). – user119857 Aug 24 '09 at 19:55
That's an interesting point. In this case, they don't need to have a subview for each the Starts and Ends since they are both representing the same kind of data, modified by the same kind of UIPickerView. So that would represent a judicious use. They are likely using UITableView's selectRowAtIndexPath:animated:scrollPosition: method... see http://tinyurl.com/yd9zs65 – Shaggy Frog Oct 07 '09 at 19:38

score 3 · Answer 3 · edited May 14 '14 at 15:36

3

You should put it in viewWillAppear.

[myTableView selectRowAtIndexPath:[NSIndexPath indexPathForRow:0 inSection:0] 
                         animated:NO 
                   scrollPosition:0];

If you try to select it in cellForRowAtIndexPath:, then it will not take the required style.

edited May 14 '14 at 15:36

Alex Cio

6,014
5
44
74

answered May 18 '12 at 04:49

Pragnesh Ambani

69
3

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 24 '09 at 19:34

Definitely watch out. I'm sure you have a good reason, but look closely at the Human Interface Guidelines document Apple provides. Apps get rejected for not unselecting table rows. I'd encourage you to find the appropriate section of the HIG and see Apple offers any suggestions.

score 1 · Answer 5 · edited Nov 25 '16 at 08:33

1

Use this code to select cell by default in table view, indexPath can be vary according to your need

-(void)viewDidAppear:(BOOL)animated {
    [super viewDidAppear:animated];
    NSIndexPath *indexPath=[NSIndexPath indexPathForRow:0 inSection:0];
    [theTableView selectRowAtIndexPath:indexPath animated:YES scrollPosition:UITableViewScrollPositionBottom];
}

edited Nov 25 '16 at 08:33

FelixSFD

6,052
10
43
117

answered Nov 25 '16 at 08:32

Sayali Shinde

96
3

score 0 · Answer 6 · edited Jun 25 '12 at 11:35

0

Use the UITableViewCell method

- (void)setSelected:(BOOL)selected animated:(BOOL)animated

Info here.

edited Jun 25 '12 at 11:35

answered Aug 24 '09 at 16:46

Daniel

22,363
9
64
71

Maybe following method suits better? http://developer.apple.com/iphone/library/documentation/UIKit/Reference/UITableViewCell_Class/Reference/Reference.html#//apple_ref/occ/instm/UITableViewCell/setHighlighted:animated: – Harri Siirak Aug 24 '09 at 17:10
which method? the link doesnt go to any particular method – Daniel Aug 24 '09 at 17:27
1

O i f ound it, that one highlights it and does not select it, I guess if thats all the asker wants then sure thats more suitable – Daniel Aug 24 '09 at 17:28

score 0 · Answer 7 · edited May 14 '14 at 15:36

Sometimes, when you're not in a UIViewController, you have no viewWillAppear, and sometimes, you created your UITableView programmatically.

The easy solution is to implement this delegate method:

- (void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView 
        willDisplayCell:(UITableViewCell *)cell 
        forRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {

    if (self.selectedIndex == indexPath.row) {
        cell.selected = YES;
    }
}

It's does not work in the cellForRowAtIndexPath because the cell is not yet displayed. and the setSelected method is called just when this one is displayed.

How do I select a UITableViewCell by default?

7 Answers7

Linked