[iPhone] Custom background for UITableView

Question

I'm trying to use a custom background image for a UITableView (or more specifically, I'm using a UITableViewController, but I don't think that really matters because I can access its tableView member). I've tried in Interface Builder but can't figure it out. I'm more comfortable doing my views programmatically anyway.
Does anyone know how this is done?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Create a category that extends UINavigationBar:
@implementation UINavigationBar (UINavigationBarCategory)
-(void)setBackgroundImage:(UIImage*)image{
if(image == NULL){ //might be called with NULL argument
return;
UIImageView *aTabBarBackground = [[UIImageView alloc]initWithImage:image];
aTabBarBackground.frame = CGRectMake(0,0,self.frame.size.width,self.frame.size.height);
[self addSubview:aTabBarBackground];
[self sendSubviewToBack:aTabBarBackground];
[aTabBarBackground release];
@end
And call this method from wherever you are initializing your UINavigationController:
- (id)initWithNibName:(NSString *)nibNameOrNil bundle:(NSBundle *)nibBundleOrNil {
if (self = [super initWithNibName:nibNameOrNil bundle:nibBundleOrNil]) {
// Initialization code
// Create the navigation and view controllers
SinglePlayerRootViewController *_rootViewController = [[SinglePlayerRootViewController alloc] initWithStyle:UITableViewStyleGrouped];
UINavigationController *_navigationController = [[UINavigationController alloc] initWithRootViewController:_rootViewController];
self.navigationController = _navigationController;
[_navigationController release];
[_rootViewController release];
// set the image for the top navigation bar
[[navigationController navigationBar] setBackgroundImage:[UIImage imageNamed:@"NavigationBarBackgroundTop.png"]];
// Configure and show the window
[self.view addSubview:navigationController.view];
return self;
I hope this helps!
-ML