Question

I’ve implemented a repeated task on button (UIButton) hold with the code from another Stack Overflow thread ( UIButton Touch and Hold ).

For various reasons, I’d like a repeat delay. definition of repeat delay

I can’t quite wrap my head around how to do this however. I am relatively new to coding for the iPhone.

Answer 1

Inspired in the code you suggested you can go for something like this:

Make an NSTimer that will start up when the button is pressed and fire a method every x seconds.

Header (.h):

// Declare the timer and the needed IBActions in interface.
@interface className {
    NSTimer * timer;
}
-(IBAction)theTouchDown(id)sender;
-(IBAction)theTouchUpInside(id)sender;
-(IBAction)theTouchUpOutside(id)sender;

// Give the timer properties.
@property (nonatomic, retain) NSTimer * timer;

Implementation file (.m):

// Synthesize the timer
// ...   

Make an IBAction for “Touch Down” to start the timer that will fire the action method every 2 seconds. Then make another IBAction for “Touch Up Inside” and “Touch Up Outside” to invalidate the timer.

For example:

-(IBAction)theTouchDown {

    self.timer = [NSTimer scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval:2.0
                                                  target:self
                                                selector:@selector(action:)
                                                userInfo:nil
                                                 repeats:NO];
}

-(IBAction)theTouchUpInside {

    [self.timer invalidate];
    self.timer = nil;
}

-(IBAction)theTouchUpOutside {

    [self.timer invalidate];
    self.timer = nil;
}

Then in that method fired by the NSTimer do whatever you need:

-(void)action:(id)sender {

    // ...
}