Workshop 19: Rename a Swift and Objective-C Class File

After creating an iOS project, one of the first thing you will do is rename the Swift or Objective-C class file. You will learn how to do that in this workshop.

Say you wanted to rename a Swift class file called ViewController class file to MainViewController, you cannot use Xcode’s Refactor menu item to rename it. If you do, Xcode will display this message on your screen:

xcode6-rename-aclass-error

So to rename a swift class file, you have to do the following:

1. In the Navigator pane, double-click the swift class file and change its name to what ever you like-see image below.

2. In the code editor pane, double-click the class name; for example, ViewController and change it to what ever you like-see image below.

rename-swift-class-file

Rename an Objective-C Class File

If the class file you want to rename is an Objective-C class, then perform these steps:

1. In the Navigator pane, select the header file of the class you want to rename; for example, ViewController.h, then highlight the class name in the code editor pane:

xcode6-rename-aclass-step1

2. Select Refactor | Rename… from Xcode’s Edit menu:

xcode6-rename-aclass-step2

3. Enter a name in the Rename ViewController box. Make sure to tick the Rename related files checkbox before clicking the Preview button.

xcode6-rename-class-step3

4. Once you see the Preview window on your screen, click the Save button.

xcode6-rename-class-step4

That’s it. Now you know how to rename a Swift and Objective-C class file.