Is there any way to add constraint between a view and the top layout guide in a xib file?

Question

In iOS 7, we can now add a constraint between a view and the top layout guide, which I think is very useful to solve the status bar offset issue in iOS7(especially when ther

Answer 1

I think the reason they don't show up in the XIB is that there is no knowledge of the view controller hierarchy in that situation, whereas in a story board IB can tell where the guides are from the view controller hierarchy the view is in. I.e If it is contained in a UINavigationController, it can determine that the top layout guide is below the navigation toolbar.

Answer 2

Until now even using XCode 6 I cannot align controls to top layout guide on .xib files. Instead, I am using an alternative way.

First, on interface builder, I still align controls to top border of viewcontroler's view.

Then, in viewDidLoad method, I replace some constraints so they will align to top layout guide instead of main view:

- (void)viewDidLoad
{
    [super viewDidLoad];

    NSArray *constraints = self.view.constraints;
    for (NSLayoutConstraint *constraint in constraints) {
        if ( (constraint.firstItem == self.view) && (constraint.firstAttribute == NSLayoutAttributeTop) ) {
            NSLayoutConstraint *newConstraint = [self constraint:constraint replaceFirstItemBy:self.topLayoutGuide attribute:NSLayoutAttributeBottom];
            [self.view removeConstraint:constraint];
            [self.view addConstraint:newConstraint];
        } else if ( (constraint.secondItem == self.view) && (constraint.secondAttribute == NSLayoutAttributeTop) ) {
            NSLayoutConstraint *newConstraint = [self constraint:constraint replaceSecondItemBy:self.topLayoutGuide attribute:NSLayoutAttributeBottom];
            [self.view removeConstraint:constraint];
            [self.view addConstraint:newConstraint];
        }
    }
}

- (NSLayoutConstraint*)constraint:(NSLayoutConstraint*)constraint replaceFirstItemBy:(id)newItem attribute:(NSLayoutAttribute)newAttribute {
    UILayoutPriority priority = constraint.priority;
    NSLayoutRelation relation = constraint.relation;
    id secondItem = constraint.secondItem;
    NSLayoutAttribute secondAttribute = constraint.secondAttribute;
    CGFloat multiplier = constraint.multiplier;
    CGFloat constant = constraint.constant;

    NSLayoutConstraint *newConstraint = [NSLayoutConstraint constraintWithItem:newItem attribute:newAttribute relatedBy:relation toItem:secondItem attribute:secondAttribute multiplier:multiplier constant:constant];
    newConstraint.priority = priority;
    return newConstraint;
}

- (NSLayoutConstraint*)constraint:(NSLayoutConstraint*)constraint replaceSecondItemBy:(id)newItem attribute:(NSLayoutAttribute)newAttribute {
    UILayoutPriority priority = constraint.priority;
    id firstItem = constraint.firstItem;
    NSLayoutAttribute firstAttribute = constraint.firstAttribute;
    NSLayoutRelation relation = constraint.relation;
    CGFloat multiplier = constraint.multiplier;
    CGFloat constant = constraint.constant;

    NSLayoutConstraint *newConstraint = [NSLayoutConstraint constraintWithItem:firstItem attribute:firstAttribute relatedBy:relation toItem:newItem attribute:newAttribute multiplier:multiplier constant:constant];
    newConstraint.priority = priority;
    return newConstraint;
}

Think this is not the best way because we replace objects that we define on interface builder. But it may be an alternative way that we can think about.

Answer 3

Cao Huu Loc's answer with swift 4

extension NSLayoutConstraint {

    func constraintReplacing(firstItemWith newFirstItem: UILayoutSupport, withAttribute newFirstAttribute: NSLayoutAttribute) -> NSLayoutConstraint {
        return NSLayoutConstraint(item: newFirstItem, attribute: newFirstAttribute, relatedBy: relation, toItem: secondItem, attribute: secondAttribute, multiplier: multiplier, constant: constant)
    }

    func constraintReplacing(secondItemWith newSecondItem: UILayoutSupport, withAttribute newSecondAttribute: NSLayoutAttribute) -> NSLayoutConstraint {
        return NSLayoutConstraint(item: firstItem as Any, attribute: firstAttribute, relatedBy: relation, toItem: newSecondItem, attribute: newSecondAttribute, multiplier: multiplier, constant: constant)
    }
}

class YourViewController: UIViewController {

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        for constraint in view.constraints {
            if constraint.firstItem === view && constraint.firstAttribute == .top {
                let newConstraint = constraint.constraintReplacing(firstItemWith: topLayoutGuide, withAttribute: .bottom)
                view.removeConstraint(constraint)
                view.addConstraint(newConstraint)
            }
            if constraint.secondItem === view && constraint.secondAttribute == .top {
                let newConstraint = constraint.constraintReplacing(secondItemWith: topLayoutGuide, withAttribute: .bottom)
                view.removeConstraint(constraint)
                view.addConstraint(newConstraint)
            }
        }
    }
}

Answer 4

You should refer the following example, this will definitely help you for your problem. I got this from http://developer.apple.com .

[button setTranslatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints: NO];
id topGuide = myViewController.topLayoutGuide;
NSDictionary *viewsDictionary = NSDictionaryOfVariableBindings (button, topGuide);

[myViewController.view addConstraints:
    [NSLayoutConstraint constraintsWithVisualFormat: @"V:[topGuide]-20-[button]"
    options: 0
    metrics: nil
    views: viewsDictionary]
];

Answer 5

Of course, You can not only add constraint between a view and the top layout guide or bottom layout guide by programmatically but also you can remove and access constraint between a view and the top and bottom layout guide with the help of KVConstraintExtensionsMaster library.

// create containerView
UIView *containerView = [UIView prepareNewViewForAutoLayout];
[containerView setBackgroundColor:[UIColor brownColor]];
[self.view addSubview:containerView];

// To add Top and Bottom Layout Guide constraint of containerView
[self applyTopLayoutGuideConstraintToView:containerView withPadding:0];
[self applyBottomLayoutGuideConstraintToView:containerView withPadding:50];

// To access top Layout Guide Constraint and update it's constant value.
NSLayoutConstraint *topLayoutGuideConstraint = [self accessAppliedTopLayoutGuideConstraintFromView:containerView];
topLayoutGuideConstraint.constant = 50;

// To access bottom Layout Guide Constraint and update it's constant value with animation
NSLayoutConstraint *bottomLayoutGuideConstraint = [self accessAppliedBottomLayoutGuideConstraintFromView:containerView];
bottomLayoutGuideConstraint.constant = 80;
[self.view updateModifyConstraintsWithAnimation:NULL]; // call this for animation

// To remove Top and Bottom Layout Guide constraint of containerView
[self removeAppliedTopLayoutGuideConstraintFromView:containerView];
[self removeAppliedBottomLayoutGuideConstraintFromView:containerView ];

Answer 6

From iOS 9 you can also do it more simple with topLayoutGuide's anchors:

• Swift 3

view.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: self.topLayoutGuide.bottomAnchor).isActive = true

• ObjC

[controller.view.topAnchor constraintEqualToAnchor:controller.topLayoutGuide.bottomAnchor].active = YES;