UITableView top and button separator inset not working

Question

I'm trying to set insets in my tableview so that each cell does not stick to each other.

To do this, I've added the following method to my tableView:willDisplayCell:forRowAtIndexPath:

if([tableView respondsToSelector:@selector(setSeparatorInset:)]){
    [tableView setSeparatorInset:UIEdgeInsetsMake(10, 15, 10, 15)];
}

I basically want a 10pt space on the top and bottom of the cell, before the next cell. This code partially works, because there is a visible 15pt inset on the left and right. However, the top and bottom are still connected.

Thanks!

~Carpetfizz

Answer 1

The top and bottom values are ignored UITableViewCell Class Reference (separatorInset):

[...]Only the left and right inset values are respected; the top and bottom inset values are ignored.[...]

I'd recommend to do the spacing by increasing the height of the cells and place the content with an appropriate padding to the top and bottom edge.

Answer 2

You must use transparent cell for that. A small part of the code for example.

- (NSInteger)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView numberOfRowsInSection:(NSInteger)section
{
    return yourCount*2;
}

- (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    static NSString *CellIdentifier = @"elementCell";
    static NSString *TransparentCellIdentifier = @"transparentCell";

    NSString *neededIdentifier;

    if(indexPath.row % 2 != 0)
        neededIdentifier = TransparentCellIdentifier;
    else
        neededIdentifier = CellIdentifier;

    UITableViewCell *cell = (UITableViewCell *)[tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:neededIdentifier];
    if(cell == nil) {
        cell = [[UITableViewCell alloc] initWithStyle:UITableViewCellStyleSubtitle reuseIdentifier:neededIdentifier];
    }
    if([neededIdentifier isEqualToString:TransparentCellIdentifier]) {
        [cell setBackgroundColor:[UIColor clearColor]];
        cell.userInteractionEnabled = NO;
    }
    else {
        [cell setBackgroundColor:[UIColor redColor]];
        cell.userInteractionEnabled = YES;
    }
    return cell;
}

-(CGFloat)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView heightForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath{
    if(indexPath.row % 2 == 0)
        return 70.0f;
    else
        return 10.0f;
}

Yes, it's a little strange, but it works.