Adding a Custom Button to a UINavigationItem LeftBarButtonItem

Question

Could anyone tell me why this code does not working?

self.backButton = [UIButton buttonWithType:UIButtonTypeCustom];
[self.backButton setImage:[UIImage imageNamed:@"back_arrow.png"]
                 forState:UIControlStateNormal];
self.backButton.contentMode = UIViewContentModeCenter;
[self.backButton addTarget:self
                    action:@selector(backButtonAction:)
          forControlEvents:UIControlEventTouchUpInside];

UIBarButtonItem *backButtonItem = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithCustomView:self.backButton];
[navigationItem setLeftBarButtonItem:backButtonItem animated:NO];
navigationItem.hidesBackButton = YES;

Edit:

Nothing appears on the leftBarButtonItem. That's the problem.

What's the problem? Is leftButton not displayed or something else? — Atif Azad, Dec 16 '12 at 18:09
Are you using a navigation controller? Where do you use that code? — Lorenzo B, Dec 16 '12 at 18:34
I guess, problem may be with your image "back_arrow.png". Check what happens if you tap on the area where leftBarButtonItem should display. Does it catch the tap?? — Atif Azad, Dec 16 '12 at 18:36

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 16 '12 at 18:57

This should work

CGRect rect = CGRectMake(10, 0, 30, 30);
self.backButton = [[UIButton alloc] initWithFrame:rect];
[self.backButton setImage:[UIImage imageNamed:@"back_arrow.png"]
                 forState:UIControlStateNormal];
self.backButton.contentMode = UIViewContentModeCenter;
[self.backButton addTarget:self
                    action:@selector(backButtonAction:)
          forControlEvents:UIControlEventTouchUpInside];

UIBarButtonItem *backButtonItem = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithCustomView:self.backButton];
self.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItem = backButtonItem;
self.navigationItem.hidesBackButton = YES;

I know it was something silly :) I didn't define a frame for the button. Thanks. — Abdalrahman Shatou, Dec 16 '12 at 19:21

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 16 '12 at 19:15

2

From the docs:

"When creating a custom button—that is a button with the type UIButtonTypeCustom—the frame of the button is set to (0, 0, 0, 0) initially. Before adding the button to your interface, you should update the frame to a more appropriate value."

So you should see something if you set the frame in line 2, eg:

self.backButton.frame = CGRectMake(0, 0, 40, 20);

answered Dec 16 '12 at 19:15

foundry

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I know it was something silly :) I didn't define a frame for the button. Thanks. – Abdalrahman Shatou Dec 16 '12 at 19:21

Adding a Custom Button to a UINavigationItem LeftBarButtonItem

2 Answers2

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