UIView or UIViewController for custom View

Question

What is the best way to create a custom UIView that I can consume in Interface Builder?

1. Create a custom UIView in Interface Builder and inherit from UIView in a code file, then somehow use it in another UIView ala like a control. (How do I do this?)

2. Create a custom UIView in Interface Builder and have a custom UIViewController wire it up. In my main ViewController , place the new view.

Basically, I am trying to create a reusable display view and would like a quick way to change it across all my instances with minimal effort. I already have laid out my XIB in Interface Builder.

Answer 1

The best is the 1st way. And don't forget to place IBOutlet keyword before class member, that you want to see in Interface Builder.

@interface MyViewController : UIViewController {
    IBOutlet UILabel *m_MyLabel;
}
....

Answer 2

You'll want to do (1). Presumably you've got an existing IB file in which you'd like to place the custom UIView subclass? In that case, go to that file, drag out a UIView, and then in the "Application Identity" tab of the inspector (4th tab) set the Class to your custom class (as defined in code).