Using a label as a button - when label is touched, assign value to a string

Question

I am having some challenges with using a label as a button. I have a label defined as a UILabel, and declared the string variable in my .h file:

IBOutlet UILabel *l1;

@property(strong)NSString *myvariable;

In the xib, with the label selected, in the Identity Inspector view, under Document, the Label field with the desired label name is set - example: l1. I also have some static text in the label.

In File's Owner Connection Inspector, I have the l1 Outlet connected to the l1 label.

My goal: When the label is touched, I would like to simply assign a string variable with a text value such as what might be done in the .m file:

self.myvariable = l1.text;

Things that I have unsuccessfully tried: - setting up a UIButton in my .h, - tried to set up a UIButton in the .m - in the XIB Identity Inspector view, under Accessibility, tried checking the button Traits checkbox to enable the label as a button

I haven't figured it out yet. This is probably an easy label question, and most of my experience with labels include static text display, or displaying a countdown based on present date using epoch time. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance! Rob

Solution

Looking around, most people recommend using an actual button and setting the background transparent or to the background color.

That said, you can do something like:

In viewWillLoad:

    UILabel * label = [[UILabel alloc] init]; // change/delete to use your obj

UITapGestureRecognizer *tap = [[UITapGestureRecognizer alloc] initWithTarget:self action:@selector(pushAction)];
[label addGestureRecognizer:tap];
label.userInteractionEnabled = YES;

then set the selector:

- (void) pushAction
{
    self.myvariable = l1.text;
}