Creating a Search Experience

This is an example of creating a simple search experience using MapsIndoors. We will create a map with a search button which leads to another view controller that handles the search and selection. Select a Location to go back to the map and show the selected Location on the map.

We will start by creating a simple search controller that handles search and selection of MapsIndoors Locations.

Declare a protocol for our Location selection with a didSelectLocation method

protocol MySearchControllerDelegate {
    func didSelectLocation(location: MPLocation)
}

Define MySearchController. In this tutorial our search controller is a UIViewController that implements the protocols UISearchBarDelegate, UITableViewDelegate and UITableViewDataSource.

class MySearchController: UIViewController, UISearchBarDelegate, UITableViewDelegate, UITableViewDataSource {

Setup member variables for MySearchController:

An instance of type MPQuery
An array of MPLocation to hold your list of results
Your delegate object
A search bar view
A table view

let query = MPQuery()
var locations = [MPLocation]()
var delegate: MySearchControllerDelegate? = nil
let tableView = UITableView()
let searchBar = UISearchBar()

In viewDidLoad, wire up your view controller to the table view and search bar.

searchBar.delegate = self
tableView.delegate = self
tableView.dataSource = self

tableView.register(UITableViewCell.self, forCellReuseIdentifier: "reuseIdentifier")

Arrange the search bar and the table view in a stack view.

let topFiller = UIView()
let stackView = UIStackView(arrangedSubviews: [topFiller, searchBar, tableView])
stackView.axis = .vertical
view = stackView
let kw = UIApplication.shared.keyWindow
topFiller.heightAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant:kw?.safeAreaInsets.top ?? 0).isActive = true
topFiller.backgroundColor = .blue
searchBar.barTintColor = .blue
searchBar.tintColor = .white
searchBar.showsCancelButton = true
searchBar.becomeFirstResponder()

In MySearchController, implement the numberOfSections method, return 1.

func numberOfSections(in tableView: UITableView) -> Int {
    return 1
}

Implement the numberOfRowsInSection method, return the length of your locations array.

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
    return locations.count
}

Implement the textDidChange method:

Change the query objects query property to reflect the current search text
Call with the modified query
Reload table view

func searchBar(_ searchBar: UISearchBar, textDidChange searchText: String) {
    if searchText.count > 0 {
        query.query = searchText
        let filter = MPFilter()
        filter.take = 10

        Task {
            locations = await MPMapsIndoors.shared.locationsWith(query: query, filter: filter)
            self.tableView.reloadData()
            self.delegate?.didShowLocations(locations: locations)
        }
    } else {
        locations = []
        self.tableView.reloadData()
        self.delegate?.didShowLocations(locations: locations)
    }
}

Implement the searchBarCancelButtonClicked method, with dismissal of the view controller.

func searchBarCancelButtonClicked(_ searchBar: UISearchBar) {
    self.dismiss(animated: true, completion: nil)
}

Implement the tableView:cellForRowAt method. Set the cell.textLabel.text to reflect the name of the location of same index.

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
    let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "reuseIdentifier", for: indexPath)
    cell.textLabel?.text = locations[indexPath.row].name
    let defaultValue = ""
    cell.textLabel?.text?.append(", \(locations[indexPath.row].roomId ?? defaultValue), \(locations[indexPath.row].building ?? defaultValue), \(locations[indexPath.row].venue ?? defaultValue)")
    return cell
}

Implement the tableView:didSelectRowAt method. In this example we call the delegate method and dismiss the view controller. Delegate method will be handled by SearchMapController.

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, didSelectRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) {
    delegate?.didSelectLocation(location: locations[indexPath.row])
    self.dismiss(animated: true, completion: nil)
}