ipad - Can't assign multiple Buttons to UINavigationItem when using Storyboard with iOS 5

Question

I'm a iOS developer with a lot experience in developing the UI by code.

I'm now testing the Storyboard functionality, because I testing to switch to "design" the UI rather then implementing it. In the past I stuck with to much limits using nib/xib's and therefore I never succeed with the switch. So here comes a new try with storyboading :)

Now my question - I'm designing an iPad Storyboard which has a Navigation Controller and a Tableview Controller. I want to add multiple UIBarButtonItems, but I can just add one for each side with the Interface Builder.

The code would look like:

UIBarButtonItem *b = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithBarButtonSystemItem:UIBarButtonSystemItemBookmarks target:nil action:nil];

UIBarButtonItem *spacer = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithBarButtonSystemItem:UIBarButtonSystemItemFixedSpace target:nil action:nil];
spacer.width = 20;

self.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItems = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:self.editButtonItem, spacer, b, nil];

But why can't I add multiple buttons using the IB? There are only outlets for leftBarButtonItem, rightBarButtonItems, backBarButtonItems...

This is driving me crazy???

Thanks!

Answer 1

I found an easy solution.

1) Add the folowing category:

@interface UINavigationItem(MultipleButtonsAddition)
@property (nonatomic, strong) IBOutletCollection(UIBarButtonItem) NSArray* rightBarButtonItemsCollection;
@property (nonatomic, strong) IBOutletCollection(UIBarButtonItem) NSArray* leftBarButtonItemsCollection;
@end

@implementation UINavigationItem(MultipleButtonsAddition)

- (void) setRightBarButtonItemsCollection:(NSArray *)rightBarButtonItemsCollection {
    self.rightBarButtonItems = [rightBarButtonItemsCollection sortedArrayUsingDescriptors:@[[NSSortDescriptor sortDescriptorWithKey:@"tag" ascending:YES]]];
}

- (void) setLeftBarButtonItemsCollection:(NSArray *)leftBarButtonItemsCollection {
    self.leftBarButtonItems = [leftBarButtonItemsCollection sortedArrayUsingDescriptors:@[[NSSortDescriptor sortDescriptorWithKey:@"tag" ascending:YES]]];
}

- (NSArray*) rightBarButtonItemsCollection {
    return self.rightBarButtonItems;
}

- (NSArray*) leftBarButtonItemsCollection {
    return self.leftBarButtonItems;
}

@end

2) Add your items to view controller (items will be sorted ascending by tag)

3) Connect your items with leftBarButtonItemsCollection or rightBarButtonItemsCollection outlet collection of UINavigationItem