How to Make a Toolbar with UIToolbar

Toolbars are used to present a set of functions to a user. You will see these at the bottom of iPhone apps and generally give you the option to do things like edit files, send email or take a picture. Here is an example of what a toolbar will look like in an iPhone app:

Using UIToolbar in Your iPhone Apps

Today, I am going to show you how to use UIToolbar in your iPhone apps. Essentially, what you need to do is to create an instance of UIToolbar, add buttons to it and then add the toolbar to your view. Usually, you will also need to assign actions to each toolbar button as well.

Here is video of how to use UIToolbar taken from my own code library that I ship with my ebook:

#import "Toolbar.h"

@implementation Toolbar
UILabel *label;
UIToolbar *toolbar;

- (void)viewDidLoad {
    [super viewDidLoad];

    //Create label
    label = [[UILabel alloc] init];
    label.frame = CGRectMake(10, 10, 300, 40);
    label.textAlignment = UITextAlignmentCenter;
    label.text = @"Press Button";
    [self.view addSubview:label];
    [label release];

    //create toolbar using new
    toolbar = [UIToolbar new];
    toolbar.barStyle = UIBarStyleDefault;
    [toolbar sizeToFit];
    toolbar.frame = CGRectMake(0, 410, 320, 50);

    //Add buttons
    UIBarButtonItem *systemItem1 = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc]
                                    initWithBarButtonSystemItem:UIBarButtonSystemItemAdd
                                    target:self
                                    action:@selector(pressButton1:)];

    UIBarButtonItem *systemItem2 = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc]
                                    initWithBarButtonSystemItem:UIBarButtonSystemItemAction
                                    target:self
                                    action:@selector(pressButton2:)];

    UIBarButtonItem *systemItem3 = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc]
    initWithBarButtonSystemItem:UIBarButtonSystemItemCamera
    target:self action:@selector(pressButton3:)];

    //Use this to put space in between your toolbox buttons
    UIBarButtonItem *flexItem = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc]
                                initWithBarButtonSystemItem:UIBarButtonSystemItemFlexibleSpace
    target:nil
    action:nil];

    //Add buttons to the array
    NSArray *items =
    [NSArray arrayWithObjects: systemItem1, flexItem, systemItem2, flexItem, systemItem3, nil];

    //release buttons
    [systemItem1 release];
    [systemItem2 release];
    [systemItem3 release];
    [flexItem release];

    //add array of buttons to toolbar
    [toolbar setItems:items animated:NO];

    [self.view addSubview:toolbar];
}

//Action methods for toolbar buttons:
- (void) pressButton1:(id)sender{
    label.text = @"Add";
}
- (void) pressButton2:(id)sender{
    label.text = @"Take Action";
}
- (void) pressButton3:(id)sender{
    label.text = @"Camera";
}
- (void)dealloc {
    [toolbar release];
    [label release];
    [super dealloc];
}

@end

What Functions Do You Think Fit In Well On a Toolbar?

Discuss in the comments below!