iOS Progress Bar (Progress View)

Here we will learn iOS progress bar or iOS UI progress view or iOS progress indicators in swift with examples and how to use iOS progress bars / progressview in swift to show the progression of a task with example.

iOS Progress Bar (Progress View)

In iOS progress indicators or progress bars are used to show the progress of the task in the application instead of making people staring at a static screen while performing lengthy data operations.

 

By using iOS progress indicators or bars we can make the people understand how long the process will take to finish the task like as shown below

 

iOS Progress Bar or Progress View or Progress Indicator Sample Example

 

We can use progress view indicators in our iOS application by adding UIProgressView class reference in our applications.

 

Now we will see how to use progress bars or indicators in iOS applications with example.

Create iOS Progress Bar App in Xcode

To create a new project in iOS open Xcode from /Applications folder directory. Once we open Xcode the welcome window will open like as shown below. In the welcome window click on the second option “Create a new Xcode Project” or choose File à New à Project.

 

Xcode application to create ios project

 

After selecting “Create a new Xcode project” a new window will open in that we need to choose a template.

 

The new Xcode window will contain several built-in app templates to implement the common types of iOS apps like page-based apps, tab-based apps, games, table-view apps, etc. These templates are having a pre-configured interface and source code files. 

 

For this iOS progress bar example, we will use the most basic template “Single View Application”. To select this one, Go to the iOS section on the left side à select Application à In the main area of dialog select “Single View Application” and then click on the next button like as shown below.

 

Select single view application from ios xcode templates

 

After click Next we will get a window like as shown below, in this we need to mention project name and other details for our application.

 

Product Name: “ProgressView”

 

The name whatever we enter in the Product Name section will be used for the project and app.

 

Organization Name: “Tutlane”

 

You can enter the name of your organization or your own name or you can leave it as blank.

 

Organization Identifier: “com.developersociety”

 

Enter your organization identifier in case if you don't have any organization identifier enter com.example.

 

Bundle Identifier: This value will generate automatically based on the values we entered in Product Name and Organization Identifier.

 

Language: “Swift”

 

Select language type as “Swift” because we are going to develop applications using swift.

 

Devices: “Universal”

 

Choose Devices options as Universal it means that one application is for all Apple devices in case if you have any specific requirement to run an app only for iPad then you can choose the iPad option to make your application restricted to run only on iPad devices.

 

Use Core Data: Unselected

 

This option is used for database operations. In case if you have any database related operations in your application select this option otherwise unselect the option.

 

Include Unit Tests: Unselected

 

In case if you need unit tests for your application then select this option otherwise unselect it.

 

Include UI Tests: Unselected

 

In case if you need UI tests for your application then select this option otherwise unselect it.

 

Once you finished entering all the options then click on Next button like as shown below

 

Create ios progress bar application using xcode

 

Once we click on Next button new dialog will open in that we need to select the location to save our project. Once you select the location to save project then click on Create button like as shown below

 

Give path to save new ios application in xcode

 

After click on Create button the Xcode will create and open a new project. In our project Main.storyboard and ViewController.swift are the main files which we used to design app user interface and to maintain source code. 

 

Main.storyboard - Its visual interface editor and we will use this file to design our app user interface 

 

ViewController.swift - It contains the source code of our application and we use this file to write any code related to our app.

 

Now in project select Main. Storyboard file the Xcode will open visual interface editor like as shown below.

 

ios progress bar application storyboard file in xcode

 

Now select ViewController.swift file in your project that view will be like as shown below.

 

ios progress bar viewcontroller file in xcode

Add iOS UI Controls to Screen in Swift

Now we will add controls to our application for that open Object Library. The Object Library will appear at the bottom of Xcode on the right side. In case if you don't find Object library, click on the button that is in the third position from the left in the library selector bar like as shown below. (Alternatively, you can choose View à Utilities à Show Object Library).

 

Object Library in Xcode Application to Search for UI Controls

 

As we discussed our user interface will be in Main.storyboard file so open Main.storyboard file. Now in Object library search for the Progress View in Filter field then drag and drop the Progress View control into Main.storyboard ViewController same way we need to add label and toolbar controls to ViewController like as shown below. 

 

Here we changed iPhone size to “iPhone 3.5-inch” for better view in case if you fine with your simulator size then just leave this option.

 

iOS progress bar xcode view with ui controls

Connect iOS UI Controls to Code in Swift

Now we will make connection between controls and ViewController.Swift code for that click on assistant button (overlap circle) in Xcode toolbar at right side corner like as shown below

 

Assistant Editor in iOS Xcode to Mapp Controls with Code

 

To map the controls, press Ctrl button in keyboard and drag the progress view, toolbar and label controls from canvas interface and drop into ViewController.swift file like as shown below 

 

ios progress bar map controls to code in xcode

 

Once we add controls to ViewController.swift file then write the custom code to show or stop progress bar when click on buttons. Once we write all required functionality our ViewController.swift file code should be like as shown below

 

import UIKit

class ViewController: UIViewController {

// timer - used to increment progress

var myTimer: NSTimer?

// outlet - progress view

@IBOutlet var progressView1: UIProgressView!

// outlet - progress label

@IBOutlet var progressLabel: UILabel!

// action & outlet: play button

@IBOutlet var playButton: UIBarButtonItem!

@IBAction func playButtonAction(sender: UIBarButtonItem) {

// it progress reach 1 then reset it to 0.0

ifself.progressView1.progress >= 1 {

self.progressView1.progress = 0.0

}

// schedule timer

self.myTimer = NSTimer.scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval(0.5, target: self, selector: #selector(ViewController.updateProgress), userInfo: nil, repeats: true)

// enable/disable button

self.playButton.enabled = false

self.resetButton.enabled = false

self.pauseButton.enabled = true

}

// action & outlet: reset button

@IBOutlet var resetButton: UIBarButtonItem!

@IBAction func resetButtonAction(sender: UIBarButtonItem) {

// reset progress view

self.progressView1.progress = 0.0

// reset progress value label

self.progressLabel.text = "0"

// enable/disable button

self.playButton.enabled = true

self.resetButton.enabled = true

self.pauseButton.enabled = false

}

// action & outlet: pause button

@IBOutlet var pauseButton: UIBarButtonItem!

@IBAction func pauseButtonAction(sender: UIBarButtonItem) {

// invalidate timer

self.myTimer?.invalidate()

// enable/disable button

self.playButton.enabled = true

self.resetButton.enabled = true

self.pauseButton.enabled = false

}

// MARK: - View functions

override func viewDidLoad() {

super.viewDidLoad()

// Do any additional setup after loading the view, typically from a nib.

// create timer

self.myTimer = NSTimer()

// set progress view default value and label

self.progressView1.progress = 0.0

let proressValue = Int(self.progressView1.progress * 100)

// set progress value count

self.progressLabel.text = "\(proressValue)"

// enable play button

self.playButton.enabled = true

// enable reset button

self.resetButton.enabled = false

// disable pause button

self.pauseButton.enabled = false

}

override func didReceiveMemoryWarning() {

super.didReceiveMemoryWarning()

// Dispose of any resources that can be recreated.

}

// MARK: - Utility function

// update progress view

func updateProgress() {

// increase progress value

self.progressView1.progress += 0.01

// set label for progress value

self.progressLabel.text = "\(Int(self.progressView1.progress * 100))"

// invalidate timer if progress reach to 1

ifself.progressView1.progress >= 1 {

// invalidate timer

self.myTimer?.invalidate()

// enable/disable button

self.playButton.enabled = true

self.resetButton.enabled = true

self.pauseButton.enabled = false

}

}

}

Now we will run and check the output of application. To run application, select the required simulator (Here we selected iPhone 6s Plus) and click on Play button, located at the top-left corner of the Xcode toolbar like as shown below.

ios progress bar run application using simulator in xcode

Output of iOS Progress Bar Application

Following is the result of iOS Progress bar application. Now click on play button and your Progress view will start and the time will be noted in label.

 

ios progress bar application example result

 

Now click on pause button like as shown below it will stop the progress.

 

ios progress bar application example pause result

 

This is how we can use the iOS progress bar or progress view or progress indicator in our swift applications to show the progress of tasks based on our requirements.