Change the text layout in a UITextField

Question

Below is an image of some UITextFields. Regarding the large one on the bottom, how do I get it to start text at the top left (not the middle), and how do I get them all to start a bit to the right. As you can see, they are awkwardly close to the left edge.

Do left padding. And for text view you have to use left inset. — dahiya_boy, Feb 19 '17 at 04:21

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:46

For textField, override following methods:

class InsetTextField: UITextField {

    var inset: CGFloat = 10

    override func textRect(forBounds bounds: CGRect) -> CGRect {
        return bounds.insetBy(dx: inset, dy: 0)
    }

    override func editingRect(forBounds bounds: CGRect) -> CGRect {
        return bounds.insetBy(dx: inset, dy: 0)
    }

    override func placeholderRect(forBounds bounds: CGRect) -> CGRect {
        return bounds.insetBy(dx: inset, dy: 0)
    }

}

For textView:

textView.contentInset = UIEdgeInsetsMake(inset, inset, inset, inset);

And you can be involved when the textView is done editing, check out this question.

could you provide a bit more detail? Do i make an extension to those classes? — Gabe Spound, Feb 19 '17 at 04:51

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 19 '17 at 04:59

You can sublcass to a custom TextField:

import UIKit

class CustomTextField: UITextField {

    var inset:CGFloat = 12  // You can set the inset you want

    override func textRect(forBounds bounds: CGRect) -> CGRect {

        return bounds.insetBy(dx: inset, dy: 0)
    }

    override func editingRect(forBounds bounds: CGRect) -> CGRect {

        return bounds.insetBy(dx: inset, dy: 0)
    }

}

The result, you can see the inset of the CustomTextField:

Edit

@Gabe Spound, you can search the delegate methods. – aircraft Feb 19 '17 at 06:07 — aircraft, Feb 19 '17 at 06:07

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 19 '17 at 05:21

1

By default, UITextFields only have one line. Based off your image, I'd assume you want the user to have space to type a paragraph. For paragraphs, it is better to use UITextViews. It'd be a simpler solution for your problem.

I always use TextViews for biographies because it just makes my life much easier.

answered Feb 19 '17 at 05:21

Subject X

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4

I can't use a textview because I need to be able to create Actions when they are done editing, and they don't have that option. – Gabe Spound Feb 19 '17 at 06:05

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 19 '17 at 07:21

add left padding of your textfield

let paddingVie = UIView(frame: CGRect(x: 0, y:0, width: 10, height: 10))
yourtextField.leftView = paddingVie
yourtextField.leftViewMode = .always

for textview add

yourTextVieName.textContainerInset =
   UIEdgeInsetsMake(8,5,8,5); // top, left, bottom, right

Change the text layout in a UITextField

4 Answers4