Question

I would like to put the Edit button in the toolbar at the bottom. The Edit button is usually instantiated with self.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItem = self.editButtonItem in viewDidLoad and normally placed in the navigation bar.

When trying to put the Edit button (= self.editButtonItem) in the toolbar (by adding it to the toolbar items), the buttom does not appear. However, all other toolbar items, which I have added using Interface Builder are presented correctly.

How would you recommend adding this button to the toolbar?

The reason for adding the Edit button to the toolbar is to be enable the table’s edit mode when a UISearchBar enabled search is currently active and the searchbar hides the edit button in the navigation bar.

I would like to get the same behavior as in Apple’s email app, where the Edit button is shown in the toolbar when search is active.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thank you for your help!!

Answer 1

You can add a Edit button to the toolbar this way:

self.editButton = 
[[[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithBarButtonSystemItem:UIBarButtonSystemItemEdit 
                                             target:nil 
                                             action:nil] 
autorelease];

NSArray *toolbarItems = 
[NSArray arrayWithObjects:self.editButton,nil];

self.toolbar.items = toolbarItems; 

If you want to hide/show it, just toggle its hidden property:

self.editButton.hidden = YES;