How to add constraints programmatically using Swift

Question

I\'m trying to figure this out since last week without going any step further. Ok, so I need to apply some constraints programmatically

Answer 1

Auto layout is realized by applying constraints on images. Use NSLayoutConstraint. It is possible to implement an ideal and beautiful design on all devices. Please try the code below.

import UIKit

class ViewController: UIViewController {

override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()

let myImageView:UIImageView = UIImageView()
myImageView.backgroundColor = UIColor.red
myImageView.image = UIImage(named:"sample_dog")!
myImageView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
myImageView.layer.borderColor = UIColor.red.cgColor
myImageView.layer.borderWidth = 10
self.view.addSubview(myImageView)
        
view.removeConstraints(view.constraints)


view.addConstraint(NSLayoutConstraint(
item: myImageView,
attribute: .top,
relatedBy: .equal,
toItem: view,
attribute: .top,
multiplier: 1,
constant:100)
    
)

view.addConstraint(NSLayoutConstraint(
item: myImageView,
attribute: .centerX,
relatedBy: .equal,
toItem: view,
attribute: .centerX,
multiplier: 1,
constant:0)
)
    
view.addConstraint(NSLayoutConstraint(
item: myImageView,
attribute: .height,
relatedBy: .equal,
toItem: view,
attribute: .width,
multiplier: 0.5,
constant:40))
    
view.addConstraint(NSLayoutConstraint(
item: myImageView,
attribute: .width,
relatedBy: .equal,
toItem: view,
attribute: .width,
multiplier: 0.5,
constant:40))
    
}

override func didReceiveMemoryWarning() {
    super.didReceiveMemoryWarning()
}
}

Answer 2

it is a little different in xcode 7.3.1. this is what i come up with

   // creating the view
        let newView = UIView()
        newView.backgroundColor = UIColor.redColor()
        newView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
        view.addSubview(newView)

        // creating the constraint 

        // attribute and relation cannot be set directyl you need to create a cariable of them
        let layout11 = NSLayoutAttribute.CenterX
        let layout21 = NSLayoutRelation.Equal
        let layout31 = NSLayoutAttribute.CenterY
        let layout41 = NSLayoutAttribute.Width
        let layout51 = NSLayoutAttribute.Height
        let layout61 = NSLayoutAttribute.NotAnAttribute

        // defining all the constraint
        let horizontalConstraint = NSLayoutConstraint(item: newView, attribute: layout11, relatedBy: layout21, toItem: view, attribute: layout11, multiplier: 1, constant: 0)
        let verticalConstraint = NSLayoutConstraint(item: newView, attribute: layout31, relatedBy: layout21, toItem: view, attribute: layout31, multiplier: 1, constant: 0)
        let widthConstraint = NSLayoutConstraint(item: newView, attribute: layout41, relatedBy: layout21, toItem: nil, attribute: layout61, multiplier: 1, constant: 100)
        let heightConstraint = NSLayoutConstraint(item: newView, attribute: layout51, relatedBy: layout21, toItem: nil, attribute: layout61, multiplier: 1, constant: 100)

        // adding all the constraint
        NSLayoutConstraint.activateConstraints([horizontalConstraint,verticalConstraint,widthConstraint,heightConstraint])

Answer 3

If you find the above to be ugly. You should consider using a DSL for constraints. Such as SnapKit Makes constraint API much more user-friendly

view.snp.makeConstraints { make in
    make.edges.equalToSuperview()
}

Answer 4

Basically it involved 3 steps

fileprivate func setupName() { 

    lblName.text = "Hello world"

    // Step 1
    lblName.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false

    //Step 2
    self.view.addSubview(lblName)

    //Step 3
    NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
        lblName.centerXAnchor.constraint(equalTo: self.view.centerXAnchor),
        lblName.centerYAnchor.constraint(equalTo: self.view.centerYAnchor)
    ])
}

This puts label "hello world" in center of screen.

Please refer link Autolayout constraints programmatically

Answer 5

The error is caused by constrains automatically created from autoresizing mask, they are created because UIView property translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints is true by default.

Consider using BoxView to get rid of all manual constraint creation boilerplate, and make your code concize and readable. To make layout in question with BoxView is very easy:

boxView.items = [
   new_view.boxed.centerX().centerY().relativeWidth(1.0).relativeHeight(1.0)
]