Question

I have a setter method (setMinimumNumberOfSides) that I want to override after using synthesize. In it, I’m putting in a constraint on the instance variable to make sure the int is within certain bounds.

Later in a custom init method, I’m setting another instance variable (numberOfSides), but I need to make sure minimumNumberOfSides and maximumNumberOfSides was set properly within bounds. I tried changing the return value on the setter to a BOOL, so I could pass back a YES or NO if it succeeded/failed, but that created a conflicting method, I’m guessing because I’m using synthesize and overriding the setter.

How can I get the info out easily to check to see if the setter was called and returned successfully?

-(void)setNumberOfSides:(int)sides {     if ((sides < maximumNumberOfSides) && (sides > minimumNumberOfSides))     {         numberOfSides = sides;       }     else         NSLog (@'Invalid number of sides: %d is outside the constraints allowed', sides);   }  -(void)setMinimumNumberOfSides:(int)minimum  {     if (minimum > 2)         minimumNumberOfSides = minimum;  }  -(void)setMaximumNumberOfSides:(int)maximum  {     if (maximum <= 12)         maximumNumberOfSides = maximum;  }  -(id)initWithNumberOfSides:(int)sides minimumNumberOfSides:(int)min maximumNumberOfSides:(int)max  {     if (self = [super init])     {         self.minimumNumberOfSides = min;         self.maximumNumberOfSides = max;          self.numberOfSides = sides;     }     return self; } 

Answer 1

You don’t have to synthesize numberOfSides if you’re planning on implementing the getter and setter. Without @synthesize numberOfSides you can return a BOOL if you choose. You’ll need to declare the getter/setter in your interface accordingly.

BTW, another approach would be to use the synthesized getter/setter and add a separate method -(BOOL)isNumberOfSidesValid which performs this check.