How to Create Default.png

Every released application must have a Default.png file, which is presented during startup. It is supposed to present the default startup view - but empty.


Since all applications are unique (even the thousands of fart apps), there is no single way to create a default.png. However here's two tips, which I use:

1) If your startup view contains a list, create empty list by defining number of sections as 0 (zero):

 - (NSInteger)numberOfSectionsInTableView:(UITableView *)tableView
{
    // For Default.png creation
    return 0;
}

2) If your application has UITabBar, clear tab titles:

- (void)viewWillAppear:(BOOL)animated
{
    [super viewWillAppear:animated];
    // For Default.png creation
    for (UITabBarItem *item in self.parentViewController.tabBarController.tabBar.items)
        item.title = @"";
}

In general Default.png should not contain any text strings, since one day you might translate your application to other languages. That day you don't want to flash different language strings during app launch.


...oh, and how to create the actual file? Fix your app to present an "empty screen", build and launch debug version in your handset and take a screenshot in your real device by pressing "Power Button" at top and "The Other Button" at front at the same time. Finally open iPhoto in Mac OSX machine and transfer the pic from iPhone...

Note about MKAnnotation Protocol implementation

Sometimes you just have to take things as they are given, just like that. For example adding MKAnnotation protocol support all you have to do is create an instance variable called "coordinate":

@interface MyPointItem : NSObject <MKAnnotation> {
    NSString *title;
    NSInteger distance;
    CLLocationCoordinate2D coordinate;
}

As Apple documentation says:

"An object that adopts this protocol must implement the coordinate property."

There you are. As long as you remember, WHY you have a variable called "coordinate" INSTEAD OF "location". If you don't remember and apply Natural Naming to your code, your application will start crashing horribly for mysterious reasons...

How to Hide UITabBar

Sometimes you need to show a single stand-alone UIView without letting user change tabs. For example there is a list, where you provide an info view using a disclosure accessory button. The question is then: how to hide UITabBar:

- (void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView accessoryButtonTappedForRowWithIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    InfoViewController *info = [[InfoViewController alloc] init];
    info.hidesBottomBarWhenPushed = YES;
    [self.navigationController pushViewController:info animated:YES];
    [info release];
}

 Pretty simple, when you find the right location to add right line(s) of code.

<Error>: CGImageCreateWithImageProvider: invalid image size: 0 x 0

There seems to be a bug in iOS 4.0 built-in MapKit, which causes error message in both simulator and real device:

<Error>: CGImageCreateWithImageProvider: invalid image size: 0 x 0.

This happens when I open UIViewController, which contains MKMapView (all created with Interface Builder). Since user location is not needed at this moment, I just unchecked "Shows User Location" checkbox on Map View Attributes.

Warning disappears and I'm back on Zero Warning policy!

How to Create Human-readable Geo Coordinate Strings

How to create human-readable coordinate strings, a code snippet that I wrote long time ago. Released here as a reminder for The Next Time (there's always a next time):

CLLocationCoordinate2D loc = mapView.userLocation.coordinate;

BOOL loc_NS;
if (loc.latitude > 0)
{
    loc_NS = YES;
}
else
{
    loc_NS = NO;
    loc.latitude *= -1;
}

int lat_d = floor(loc.latitude);
loc.latitude -= lat_d;
loc.latitude *= 60;
int lat_m = floor(loc.latitude);
loc.latitude -= lat_m;
loc.latitude *= 60;
int lat_s = floor(loc.latitude);

BOOL loc_WE;
if (loc.longitude > 0)
{
    loc_WE = NO;
}
else
{
    loc_WE = YES;
    loc.longitude *= -1;
}

int lon_d = floor(loc.longitude);
loc.longitude -= lon_d;
loc.longitude *= 60;
int lon_m = floor(loc.longitude);
loc.longitude -= lon_m;
loc.longitude *= 60;
int lon_s = floor(loc.longitude);

location.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"Location: %d°%d′%d″%@ %d°%d′%d″%@",
    lat_d, lat_m, lat_s, loc_NS ? @"N" : @"S",
    lon_d, lon_m, lon_s, loc_WE ? @"W" : @"E"];

Based on Wikipedia article about Geographic coordinate conversion.