What is the proper way to change the name of a ViewController class in Swift?

Question

When I change my ViewController class name after it's been created and assigned to a view controller in storyboards I run into problems with the IBOutlets of that view controller, and Xcode does not automatically show the corresponding class in the assistant editor when I click the scene.

I've changed the name of the actual file, the class declaration within the file, and the class of the view controller in storyboards. Am I missing something else?

Chondro

You know Xcode does that for you: command+click on the class name, then press Rename at the bottom. It'll show you all the instances it found that it will rename. You should review every single one, because Xcode sometimes finds weirdly unrelated things... – Cadena

Also, note that Xcode sometimes needs time to index the project before this option becomes available. – Undefined

Answer 1

A) If you're using Xcode 9 or later, just select the class name, right click -> Refactor -> Rename

Ex.: class MapViewController: UIViewController - just select the "MapViewController", then right click -> Refactor -> Rename

This will change the name file name, class name and take care of the storyboard class name.

B) If you can't use the method A, then manually rename the class name, file name (.swift), then go to the storyboard and replace the class name of the view controller. You may have issues with the outlets. In this case try to close Xcode and re-launch then remove all IBOutlets and reconnect them again.

Howie

Can you provide the path are for someone that is new to xcode? – Waddington

Answer 2

1. Click on the controller name that you want to change.
2. Inside the class right-click on the class name of the controller.
3. Now you'll be able to see REFACTOR option.
4. Click on the refactor you can get RENAME option.
5. Give whatever name that you want, then click on RENAME.

Armhole

This answer is more precise. – Planoconvex