Скачать или смотреть How to Implement Dynamic Menus in UIBarButtonItems on iOS 14

Discover effective techniques for setting up `dynamic menus` in UIBarButtonItems with iOS 14, and understand the limitations and workarounds involved.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/63489986/ asked by the user 'Ivan Ičin' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/202179/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/63491262/ provided by the user 'matt' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/341994/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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The Challenge of Dynamic Menus in UIBarButtonItems on iOS 14

The advent of iOS 14 has introduced several new features and enhancements that developers can leverage for a better user experience. However, despite the new functionalities, some challenges remain, especially when it comes to customizing UIBarButtonItem menus based on changing contexts. Developers often find themselves pondering the best approach to dynamically set up these menus. This guide addresses how to handle this challenge effectively.

Understanding the Problem

When dealing with UIBarButtonItems, setting up a menu that adapts based on the current context can be complicated. Here are some of the primary concerns developers may face:

Lack of Direct Setup: Unlike UIButton, which triggers events allowing for menu construction just before it opens, UIBarButtonItem doesn’t provide the same capability.

Use of UIDeferredMenuElement: While this element exists in iOS 14, it is not always a fitting solution for creating dynamic menus in UIBarButtonItems.

Consideration of Primary Action: The primaryAction property can raise the menu, but it does not offer a straightforward approach to initialize the menu dynamically.

Frequent Menu Reshuffling: Continuously reshuffling the menu upon changes in context may seem cumbersome and not an ideal solution.

The Limitations of UIBarButtonItems

Unfortunately, for a standard UIBarButtonItem, there is no built-in mechanism to dynamically update the menu upon its invocation. However, there are workarounds you can pursue.

Proposed Solutions

Here are a few effective methods to handle dynamic menus in UIBarButtonItem, each tailored for different development scenarios:

1. Utilize UIControl's Menu Action

For UIView elements like UIButton, you can easily trigger a menu setup when the action is invoked. However, for UIBarButtonItem, you can mimic this behavior by implementing a custom view.

Create a Custom UIButton: Embed a UIButton as the custom view of your UIBarButtonItem. By doing so, you can leverage the .menuActionTriggered event to build your menu dynamically just before it appears.

2. Monitor Context Changes

If creating a custom view isn't feasible, consider using an observer pattern to handle context changes. Here’s how:

Conditions Watching: Implement logic that observes relevant conditions or state changes in your application.

Update Menu Accordingly: Whenever a state change occurs, modify the UIBarButtonItem's menu with the newfound data. This may require additional setup, but it provides a more dynamic experience.

3. File an Enhancement Request

If you believe that having a more straightforward way to set up a dynamic menu for UIBarButtonItem would benefit the wider developer community, do not hesitate to reach out to Apple. Submitting an enhancement request could pave the way for future improvements in the iOS development environment.

Conclusion

Setting up dynamic menus for UIBarButtonItem on iOS 14 may not come with an out-of-the-box solution, but with the right approach, it can be effectively managed. By either creating a custom UIButton or monitoring context changes, developers can provide a responsive user interface that adapts to the user's needs. And if you find these limitations to be significant, consider voicing your thoughts to Apple for potential enhancements in future iOS updates.

Whether it's adapting your UI to fit current needs or providing feedback for improvement, staying engaged with the development community is essential for evolution and growth. Happy coding!