# Create your custom SwiftUI file template in Xcode

This blog post will show you how to create a custom file template that allows you to create new SwiftUI Views immediately available in the Xcode library. Unfortunately, the built-in SwiftUI file template does not have this addition, as I explained in my last blog post [Apple's DeveloperToolsSupport framework](https://blog.eidinger.info/apples-developertoolssupport-framework).

![Choose new file](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1648993784365/FCDtL2H-3.png)

Xcode provides out-of-the-box templates for various files, e.g. Swift File, Cocoa Touch Class, and SwifUI View.

If you want to learn more about file templates, then I recommend reading  [Creating File Templates](https://www.raywenderlich.com/26582967-xcode-project-and-file-templates#toc-anchor-013) from the "Xcode Project and File Templates" tutorial on https://www.raywenderlich.com/

Create a new folder in `/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Library/Xcode/Templates/File Templates/MultiPlatform/User Interface`

I named in `SwiftUI Reuse.xctemplate` but you can choose any name you prefer.

Then create two files
- `TemplateInfo.plist`: meta data information about the template file. Just by Xcode in the modal dialog for new file creation.
- `___FILEBASENAME___.swift`: the actual template

Here is the code I use in my `___FILEBASENAME___.swift`. I copied the code of the original template and added the structure conforming to `LibraryContentProvider`.

```swift
//___FILEHEADER___

import SwiftUI

struct ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___: View {
    var body: some View {
        Text(/*@START_MENU_TOKEN@*/"Hello, World!"/*@END_MENU_TOKEN@*/)
    }
}

struct ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER____Previews: PreviewProvider {
    static var previews: some View {
        ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___()
    }
}

@available(iOS 14.0, *)
@available(macOS 11.0, *)
struct ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER____LibraryViewContents: LibraryContentProvider {
    var views: [LibraryItem] {
        LibraryItem(___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___())
    }
}
```

Here is my `TemplateInfo.plist`. I added the option to specify the view name. Otherwise Xcode might not prompt you to set a file name in some situations. Then you would end up with `SwiftUIView` and you would need to rename the file. I avoid this hassle with the `TemplateInfo.plist` option.

```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>SupportsSwiftPackage</key>
    <true/>
    <key>Kind</key>
    <string>Xcode.IDEFoundation.TextSubstitutionFileTemplateKind</string>
    <key>Description</key>
    <string>A SwiftUI custom view with preview and library content provider</string>
    <key>Summary</key>
    <string>SwiftUI View</string>
    <key>SortOrder</key>
    <string>1</string>
    <key>AllowedTypes</key>
    <array>
        <string>public.swift-source</string>
    </array>
    <key>Platforms</key>
    <array />
    <key>DefaultCompletionName</key>
    <string>SwiftUIView</string>
    <key>MainTemplateFile</key>
    <string>___FILEBASENAME___.swift</string>
	<key>Image</key>
	<dict>
		<key>FileTypeIcon</key>
		<string>swift</string>
	</dict>
<key>Options</key>
	<array>
		<dict>
			<key>Identifier</key>
			<string>productName</string>
			<key>Required</key>
			<true/>
			<key>Name</key>
			<string>View:</string>
			<key>Description</key>
			<string>The name of the view to create</string>
			<key>Type</key>
			<string>text</string>
			<key>NotPersisted</key>
			<true/>
		</dict>
	</array>
</dict>
</plist>
```

You will see the template in the "New file" dialog once you restart Xcode.

![Choose new file](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1648993784365/FCDtL2H-3.png)

![Specify a name for the view to create](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1648994613686/_4vsu7AAA.png)

![File created in Xcode](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649164896498/NpcZfCksr.png)

Opening the Xcode library (⇧⌘L) will list this custom view.

![Library Entry](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1648994601416/SEobj5pce.png)

I explained the template creation in my latest YouTube video as well.

%[https://youtu.be/h8js3e657xc]