How to apply the same configuration to some UILabel in iOS?

Question

I am tired of setting property values to each UILabel in the IB. Is extending the UILabel the only possible way? or there exists some other way to do it?

Answer 1

• Assign all the properties to one UILabel
• Copy paste the label as many times you want in storyboard or xib
• New labels will also get the same properties, you just require to arrange their positions
• Then you can go ahead with IBOutlets and manipulate with those

This applies to all the widgets in storyboard/xib.

Also as @dehlen metioned,

If you are using codebase for UI then, Custom Button Class

• Inherit UIButton and create a subclass CustomButton
• In its init method, assign all the properties which you require, like font, color etc
• And assign frame value at use-time, through initWithFrame method. Or
• Add button in storyboard/xib, but in its class property change class name to CustomButton

Thanks @dehlen, You are right, I forgot to mention code side implementation.

Answer 2

You could create an IBOuletCollection for the labels and set the properties programmatically (in viewDidLoad for example) using:

[self.outletCollection setValue:whatever forKey:something];

You can also call makeObjectsPerformSelector on the collection in order to send messages to each label.

Answer 3

After setting the property of a UILabel make copy of it by

Press and hold alt and drag and drop UILabel to another place it will create new copy of that UILabel with same properties.