iOS multiline label in Interface builder

Question

How can I make a multiline UILabel in interface builder for iOS? I tried the UITextView but it didn't quite suit my needs.

How can I add multiline (text) in label?

Semiweekly

Can you explain why id did not suite your needs? TextView with read-only is same as a multiline label. – Vannie

There doesn't seem to be highlighted text color property. – Semiweekly

For others visiting this question, dont follow accepted answer of setting lines to 5 or n. Instead set it to 0(Sort of infinity). Check vijay's answer below. – Fairy

#990721 – Moynihan

Answer 1

You can use numberOfLines property which defines maximum number of lines a label can have. By default, it's 1. Setting it to 0 means the label will have unlimited lines.

You can do it in code:

textLabel.numberOfLines = 5 // for example

Or in Interface Builder:

Shantell

I tried, it works when I am writing the label, but when I press enter to accept it just all goes on one line. – Semiweekly

And what's the width of your label? – Shantell

Ok, I got it now, increased the height, that made it. Thanks! – Semiweekly

You can set Lines to 0 for unlimited lines. – Ova

See also this answer which explains how to type a multi-line label into IB: https://mcmap.net/q/79858/-multiple-lines-of-text-in-uilabel – Ova

Setting the lines to 3 , align center and increase height did it thanks – Strife

BTW: Use Option+Enter for a new line – Verbal

Answer 2

Hit Control+Enter to add a line in UILabel in Interface Builder/Storyboard.

Flinn

Nice one. But "Q" isn't necessary I guess – Styptic

Spot on ! Exactly what i have been trying to do. No messing up with code – Bork

@Oliver Logic it does not quit Xcode... You haven't read correctly. He said CONTROL+Q+ENTER (and not CMD+Q).. But Rendel is right only CONTROL+ENTER suffices here. – Detour

@Logic it does not quit Xcode... You haven't read correctly. He said CONTROL+Q+ENTER (and not CMD+Q).. But Rendel is right only CONTROL+ENTER suffices here. – Detour

Answer 3

Thanks AppleVijay!

Also to call sizeToFit, like this:

label.lineBreakMode = UILineBreakModeWordWrap;
label.numberOfLines = 0;
[label sizeToFit];

The height will be automatically computed.

Tremml

Note: UILineBreakModeWordWrap is deprecated as of iOS6. Use [label setLineBreakMode:NSLineBreakWordWrapping]; instead. – Cuisse

Missing "By". label.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakByWordWrapping – Relaxation

use NSLineBreakMode.ByWordWrapping instead of UILineBreakModeWordWrap for swift – Hortative

Answer 4

set width of label as u needed small then use IB to set line breaks to word wrap

or use with code like this

I found a solution.

One just has to add the following code:

textLabel.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakByWordWrapping;
textLabel.numberOfLines = 0;

Usanis

Answer 5

Set number of lines zero for dynamic text information, it will be useful when your text are varying.

Programatically (Swift 3)

var label = UILabel()
let stringValue = "iOS\nmultiline\nlabel\nin\nInterface\nbuilder"
label.text = stringValue
label.numberOfLines = 0 // Set 0, if number of lines not specified.
label.lineBreakMode = .byTruncatingTail // or .byWrappingWord
label.minimumScaleFactor = 0.8 . // It is not required but nice to have a minimum scale factor to fit text into label frame

---

Using Inetrface Builder

Note: It is not required to set Minimum Font Scale, but nice to have a minimum scale factor to fit text into label frame.

Celio

How can I make label height variable based on text in it ? – Hambley

@Hambley - The 'Autoshrink' dropdown has another value in the list - Miminum font size, which may solve your problem. – Celio

Answer 6

Number of lines is visible in IB with Plain UILabels set lines field as 0 . It will create multiple lines as per the provided space to the label.

Lallage

Answer 7

In iOS7 (Xcode5) you shold set the lines of UILabel to 0 for unlimited multiple input in storyboard.
The most important is to set the height of the UILabel can hold the lines of input you are going to set.

Rocky

Answer 8

textLabel.lineBreakMode = UILineBreakModeWordWrap;

textLabel.numberOfLines = 0;

CGSize size =  [[[arrNewsFeed objectAtIndex:row] objectForKey:@"c"]  sizeWithFont:[UIFont systemFontOfSize:14.0]  constrainedToSize:CGSizeMake(188, CGFLOAT_MAX)
                                                                     lineBreakMode:NSLineBreakByTruncatingTail];

textLabel.frame = (CGRect){.origin = cell.lblNewsDescription.frame.origin, .size = size};

Polytrophic

Answer 9

If you set the numberOfLines property equal to 0, the label will automatically adjust to the required number of lines of the given text.

Simultaneous

Answer 10

I had been struggling with this for a long time. I just wanted my label text to appear on the second line. But whatever I do, it would just overflow the UILabel box. For me, changing the autoresizing in size inspector worked. Simple fix.

May be someone might find it helpful who is looking for something similar.

Prom

Answer 11

For X-Code 7.2

1. -- Select UILabel

2. -- Attributes inspector

3. -- Text - Select Attributed

After this you can see some more attribute you can add into you label, in which you can also find number of Lines. Which make your label multiline.

Golly

Number of lines is visible in IB with Plain UILabels. – Minelayer