iOS Swift MapKit Custom Annotation

Question

I am having some trouble getting a custom annotation to load inside of my map view when I try to place a pin.

import UIKit
import MapKit
import CoreLocation
class MapViewController: UIViewController, MKMapViewDelegate, CLLocationManagerDelegate{
@IBAction func ReportBtn(sender: AnyObject) {
    //MARK: Report Date And Time Details
    let ReportTime = NSDate()
    let TimeStamp = NSDateFormatter()
    TimeStamp.timeStyle = NSDateFormatterStyle.ShortStyle
    TimeStamp.dateStyle = NSDateFormatterStyle.ShortStyle
    TimeStamp.stringFromDate(ReportTime)
    //MARK: Default Point Annotation Begins
    let ReportAnnotation = MKPointAnnotation()
    ReportAnnotation.title = "Annotation Created"
    ReportAnnotation.subtitle = ReportTime.description
    ReportAnnotation.coordinate = locationManager.location!.coordinate
    mapView(MainMap, viewForAnnotation: ReportAnnotation)
    MainMap.addAnnotation(ReportAnnotation)
}

@IBOutlet weak var MainMap: MKMapView!
let locationManager = CLLocationManager()

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    self.locationManager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()
    self.locationManager.delegate = self
    self.locationManager.desiredAccuracy = kCLLocationAccuracyBest
    self.locationManager.startUpdatingLocation()
    self.MainMap.showsUserLocation = true
}


//MARK: - Location Delegate Methods
func locationManager(manager: CLLocationManager, didUpdateLocations locations: [CLLocation]) {
 let location = locations.last
 let center = CLLocationCoordinate2D(latitude: location!.coordinate.latitude, longitude: location!.coordinate.longitude)
 let region = MKCoordinateRegion(center: center, span: MKCoordinateSpan(latitudeDelta: 0.02, longitudeDelta: 0.02 ))
    self.MainMap.setRegion(region, animated: true)
    //self.locationManager.stopUpdatingLocation()
}
func locationManager(manager: CLLocationManager, didFailWithError error: NSError){
    print(error.localizedDescription)
}
//MARK:Custom Annotation Begins Here
func mapView(mapView: MKMapView, viewForAnnotation annotation: MKAnnotation) -> MKAnnotationView? {
    guard !annotation.isKindOfClass(MKUserLocation) else {
        return nil
    }
    /*if annotation.isKindOfClass(MKUserLocation){
        //emty return, guard wasn't cooperating
    }else{
    return nil
    }*/
    let annotationIdentifier = "AnnotationIdentifier"

    var annotationView: MKAnnotationView?
    if let dequeuedAnnotationView = mapView.dequeueReusableAnnotationViewWithIdentifier(annotationIdentifier){
        annotationView = dequeuedAnnotationView
        annotationView?.annotation = annotation
    }
    else{
        let av = MKAnnotationView(annotation: annotation, reuseIdentifier: annotationIdentifier)
        av.rightCalloutAccessoryView = UIButton(type: .DetailDisclosure)
        annotationView = av
    }
    if let annotationView = annotationView {
        annotationView.canShowCallout = true
        annotationView.image = UIImage(named: "image.png")
    }
    return annotationView

}
}

Added Information

I am positive that the button functionality works perfect. With the current code, dumped above, the default red pin annotation appears right where it should. When I tap on the pin, the description I specified also appears without an issue. The only problem I am having with this code is that I cannot get my image to take the place of the boring, default red pin

Answer 1

I recommend subclassing `MKPointAnnotation.

Pokémon Pin

I have included only the necessary code to display a custom map pin. Think of it as a template.

Outline

• We will create a point annotation object and assigning a custom image name with the CustomPointAnnotation class.

• We will subclass the MKPointAnnotation to set image and assign it on the delegate protocol method viewForAnnotation.

• We will add an annotation view to the map after setting the coordinate of the point annotation with a title and a subtitle.

• We will implement the viewForAnnotation method which is an MKMapViewDelegate protocol method which gets called for pins to display on the map. viewForAnnotation protocol method is the best place to customise the pin view and assign a custom image to it.

• We will dequeue and return a reusable annotation for the given identifier and cast the annotation to our custom CustomPointAnnotation class in order to access the image name of the pin.

• We will create a new image set in Assets.xcassets and place [email protected] and [email protected] accordingly.

• Don't forget plist.

NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription and NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription

As always test on a real device.

The swizzle 🌀

//1

CustomPointAnnotation.swift

import UIKit
import MapKit

class CustomPointAnnotation: MKPointAnnotation {
var pinCustomImageName:String!
}

//2

ViewController.swift

import UIKit
import MapKit

class ViewController: UIViewController, MKMapViewDelegate,  CLLocationManagerDelegate {


@IBOutlet weak var pokemonMap: MKMapView!
let locationManager = CLLocationManager()
var pointAnnotation:CustomPointAnnotation!
var pinAnnotationView:MKPinAnnotationView!

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()

    //Mark: - Authorization
    locationManager.delegate = self
    locationManager.desiredAccuracy = kCLLocationAccuracyBest
    locationManager.requestAlwaysAuthorization()
    locationManager.startUpdatingLocation()

    pokemonMap.delegate = self
    pokemonMap.mapType = MKMapType.Standard
    pokemonMap.showsUserLocation = true

}

func locationManager(manager: CLLocationManager, didUpdateLocations locations: [CLLocation]) {
    let location = CLLocationCoordinate2D(latitude: 35.689949, longitude: 139.697576)
    let center = location
    let region = MKCoordinateRegionMake(center, MKCoordinateSpan(latitudeDelta: 0.025, longitudeDelta: 0.025))
    pokemonMap.setRegion(region, animated: true)

    pointAnnotation = CustomPointAnnotation()
    pointAnnotation.pinCustomImageName = "Pokemon Pin"
    pointAnnotation.coordinate = location
    pointAnnotation.title = "POKéSTOP"
    pointAnnotation.subtitle = "Pick up some Poké Balls"

    pinAnnotationView = MKPinAnnotationView(annotation: pointAnnotation, reuseIdentifier: "pin")
    pokemonMap.addAnnotation(pinAnnotationView.annotation!)
}

func locationManager(manager: CLLocationManager, didFailWithError error: NSError) {
    print(error.localizedDescription)
}

//MARK: - Custom Annotation
func mapView(mapView: MKMapView, viewForAnnotation annotation: MKAnnotation) -> MKAnnotationView? {
    let reuseIdentifier = "pin"
    var annotationView = mapView.dequeueReusableAnnotationViewWithIdentifier(reuseIdentifier)

    if annotationView == nil {
        annotationView = MKAnnotationView(annotation: annotation, reuseIdentifier: reuseIdentifier)
        annotationView?.canShowCallout = true
    } else {
        annotationView?.annotation = annotation
    }

    let customPointAnnotation = annotation as! CustomPointAnnotation
    annotationView?.image = UIImage(named: customPointAnnotation.pinCustomImageName)

    return annotationView
}
}