issue with performSegueWithIdentifier and rootViewController

Question

im using this line of code to perform a segue

[self.window.rootViewController performSegueWithIdentifier:@"viewMessage" sender:self];

but since i am calling rootViewController its attempting to look for the viewMessage idenifier in my loginViewController when i need it to be looking for it in friendsListTableViewController i tried just declaring [self performSegueWithIdentifier:@"viewMessage" sender:self]; but i have two @implementations and self keeps recognizing as JBSlidingTableViewCell1 and since its a UITableView its not recognizing the performSeguqWithIdentifier i tried [friendsListTableViewController performSegueWithIdentifier:@"viewMessage" sender:self]; but all i get is that performSegueWithIdentifier isnt apart of that class when in fact it is a UIViewController...

Im trying to refrain from posting the code as much as possible since there is a lot too it but i just wanted to see if there is a way to FORCE performSeguqWithIdentifier to point to my friendsListTableViewController instead of my loginViewController

//
//  friendsListTableViewController.m
//  @ME
//
//  Created by Aaron Russell on 1/22/13.
//  Copyright (c) 2013 Aaron Russell. All rights reserved.
//

#import "friendsListTableViewController.h"
#import "loginViewController.h"
#import "viewMessageViewController.h"
#import "MyClass.h"
#import "AFNetworking.h"
#import "CCAlertView.h"
#import "UIImageView+AFNetworking.h"
#import "QuartzCore/QuartzCore.h"


@implementation JBSlidingTableViewCell1

CLLocationManager *locationManager;
@synthesize bottomDrawer1 = _bottomDrawer1;
@synthesize topDrawer1 = topDrawer1;
@synthesize titleLabel1 = _titleLabel1;


- (id)initWithStyle:(UITableViewCellStyle)style reuseIdentifier:(NSString*)identifier {
    self = [super initWithStyle:style reuseIdentifier:identifier];

    if (nil != self) {
        self.titleLabel1 = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(8, 13, 304, 20)];
        self.titleLabel1.font = [UIFont boldSystemFontOfSize:17];
        self.titleLabel1.textColor = [UIColor blackColor];
        self.titleLabel1.backgroundColor = [UIColor clearColor];
        [self.topDrawer1 addSubview:self.titleLabel1];
        _bottomDrawer1 = nil;

        // Top drawer

        self.topDrawer1 = [[UIView alloc] init];
        self.topDrawer1.backgroundColor = [UIColor whiteColor];
        [self.contentView addSubview:self.topDrawer1];
    }

    return self;
}



- (void)dealloc {
    _bottomDrawer1 = nil;
    topDrawer1 = nil;
    _titleLabel1 = nil;
}


- (void)closeDrawer1 {
    if (self.topDrawer1.hidden == YES) {
        CATransition* animation = [CATransition animation];
        animation.delegate = self;
        animation.type = kCATransitionFromRight;
        animation.subtype = kCATransitionFromRight;
        animation.duration = 0.8f;
        animation.timingFunction = [CAMediaTimingFunction functionWithName:kCAMediaTimingFunctionEaseInEaseOut];
        [self.contentView.layer addAnimation:animation forKey:nil];
        self.contentView.hidden = NO;
        self.bottomDrawer1.hidden = YES;
    }
}

- (void)openDrawer1 {
    self.topDrawer1 = [[UIView alloc] initWithFrame:self.bounds];
    self.bottomDrawer1 = [[UIView alloc] initWithFrame:self.bounds];

    [self bottomDrawerWillAppear1];
    [self insertSubview:self.bottomDrawer1 belowSubview:self.contentView];

    CATransition* animation = [CATransition animation];
    animation.type = kCATransitionFromLeft;
    animation.subtype = kCATransitionFromLeft;
    animation.duration = 1.0f;
    animation.timingFunction = [CAMediaTimingFunction functionWithName:kCAMediaTimingFunctionEaseInEaseOut];
    [self.contentView.layer addAnimation:animation forKey:nil];
    self.topDrawer1.hidden = YES;
    self.contentView.hidden = YES;
}


- (void)bottomDrawerDidDisappear1 {
    // Can be overridden by subclasses.
}

- (void)bottomDrawerWillAppear1 {
    UIButton *inviteToLocationBtn=[UIButton buttonWithType:UIBarButtonSystemItemCompose];
    inviteToLocationBtn.frame=CGRectMake(-40, -3, 150, 85);
    [inviteToLocationBtn setBackgroundImage:[UIImage imageNamed:@"invite.png"]
                         forState:UIControlStateNormal];
    [inviteToLocationBtn addTarget:self action:@selector(callInvite) forControlEvents:UIControlEventTouchUpInside];
    [self.bottomDrawer1 addSubview:inviteToLocationBtn];

    UIButton *findBtn=[UIButton buttonWithType:UIBarButtonSystemItemCompose];
    findBtn.frame=CGRectMake(75, -3, 142, 85);
    [findBtn setBackgroundImage:[UIImage imageNamed:@"find.png"]
                         forState:UIControlStateNormal];
    [findBtn addTarget:self action:@selector(callFind) forControlEvents:UIControlEventTouchUpInside];
    [self.bottomDrawer1 addSubview:findBtn];

    UIButton *messageBtn=[UIButton buttonWithType:UIBarButtonSystemItemCompose];
    messageBtn.frame=CGRectMake(180, -3, 190, 85);
    [messageBtn setBackgroundImage:[UIImage imageNamed:@"message.png"]
                         forState:UIControlStateNormal];
    [messageBtn addTarget:self action:@selector(callChat) forControlEvents:UIControlEventTouchUpInside];
    [self.bottomDrawer1 addSubview:messageBtn];

}
#pragma mark - CLLocationManagerDelegate

- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didFailWithError:(NSError *)error
{
    NSLog(@"didFailWithError: %@", error);
    UIAlertView *errorAlert = [[UIAlertView alloc]
                               initWithTitle:@"Error" message:@"Failed to Get Your Location" delegate:nil cancelButtonTitle:@"OK" otherButtonTitles:nil];
    [errorAlert show];
}

- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didUpdateToLocation:(CLLocation *)newLocation fromLocation:(CLLocation *)oldLocation
{
    NSLog(@"didUpdateToLocation: %@", newLocation);
    CLLocation *currentLocation = newLocation;

    if (currentLocation != nil) {
        [locationManager stopUpdatingLocation];
        NSString *userurl = [NSString stringWithFormat: @"http://mysite.com/invitegps.php?latitude=%@&longitude=%@&email=%@&friend=%@", [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%.8f", currentLocation.coordinate.latitude], [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%.8f", currentLocation.coordinate.longitude], [MyClass str], [MyClass temail]];
        NSURL *url = [NSURL URLWithString:userurl];

        NSURLRequest *theRequest=[NSURLRequest requestWithURL:url cachePolicy:NSURLRequestUseProtocolCachePolicy
                                              timeoutInterval:60.0];
        NSURLConnection *theConnection=[[NSURLConnection alloc] initWithRequest:theRequest delegate:self];
        if (theConnection) {
            UIAlertView *alert = [[UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:@"" message:userurl delegate:self cancelButtonTitle:@"Ok" otherButtonTitles:nil];
            [alert show];
        } else {
            UIAlertView *alert = [[UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:@"" message:@"Failure to Connect." delegate:self cancelButtonTitle:@"Ok" otherButtonTitles:nil];
            [alert show];
        }
    }
}

- (void)callInvite {
    //TAKEN OUT FOR SIMPLICITY SAKE 
}


- (void)callFind {
    //TAKEN OUT FOR SIMPLICITY SAKE 
}

- (void)callChat {        
    [self.window.rootViewController performSegueWithIdentifier:@"viewMessage" sender:self];
}

- (void)acceptLocationInvite {

}

- (void)declineLocationInvite {

}

- (void)acceptLocationRequest {

}

- (void)declineLocationRequest {

}

- (void)sendInstantMessage {

}


- (void)layoutSubviews {
    [super layoutSubviews];
    self.topDrawer1.frame = self.contentView.bounds;
}
- (void)animationDidStop:(CAAnimation*)anim finished:(BOOL)flag {
    [self bottomDrawerDidDisappear1];
    [self.bottomDrawer1 removeFromSuperview];
    self.bottomDrawer1 = nil;
}

@end

@interface friendsListTableViewController ();
@property (nonatomic, readonly) JBSlidingTableViewCell1* openedCell;
@property (nonatomic, retain) NSIndexPath* openedCellIndexPath;
@property (nonatomic, copy) NSArray* regularCellStrings;

- (void)closeOpenedCell;
@end

@implementation friendsListTableViewController
@synthesize openedCellIndexPath = _openedCellIndexPath;
@synthesize regularCellStrings = _regularCellStrings;
@synthesize tableView = _tableView;
@synthesize friends, friendList;

-(void)prepareForSegue:(UIStoryboardSegue *)segue sender:(id)sender
{
    if([[segue identifier] isEqualToString:@"viewMessage"])
    {
        viewMessageViewController *dvController = segue.destinationViewController;
        dvController.email = [MyClass temail];
        [self presentViewController:dvController animated:YES completion:nil];
    }
}

- (id)initWithCoder:(NSCoder*)aDecoder {
    self = [super initWithCoder:aDecoder];

    if (nil != self) {
        _openedCellIndexPath = nil;

        self.regularCellStrings = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:@"First default cell", @"Second default cell", nil];
    }

    return self;
}

- (void)dealloc {

    _openedCellIndexPath = nil;
    tableView = nil;
}


- (JBSlidingTableViewCell1*)openedCell {
    JBSlidingTableViewCell1* cell;

    if (nil == self.openedCellIndexPath) {
        cell = nil;
    } else {
        cell = (JBSlidingTableViewCell1*)[self.tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:self.openedCellIndexPath];
    }

    return cell;
}
- (void)closeOpenedCell {
    [(JBSlidingTableViewCell1*)[self.tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:self.openedCellIndexPath] closeDrawer1];
    self.openedCellIndexPath = nil;
}

- (void)scrollViewWillBeginDragging:(UIScrollView*)scrollView {
    [self closeOpenedCell];
}
- (NSInteger)numberOfSectionsInTableView:(UITableView*)tableView {
    return 1;
}


- (id)initWithNibName:(NSString *)nibNameOrNil bundle:(NSBundle *)nibBundleOrNil
{
    self = [super initWithNibName:nibNameOrNil bundle:nibBundleOrNil];
    if (self) {
        // Custom initialization
    }
    return self;
}

- (void)didReceiveMemoryWarning
{
    [super didReceiveMemoryWarning];
    // Dispose of any resources that can be recreated.
}

- (void)viewDidLoad {
    locationManager = [[CLLocationManager alloc] init];
    [super viewDidLoad];
    [self.tableView setDelegate:self];
    [self.tableView setDataSource:self];
    friendList = [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithCapacity:0];

    NSString *someOtherString = [NSString stringWithFormat: @"http://atmeapp.com/friendlist.php?userid=%@", [MyClass str]];

        NSData *xmlData = [[NSData alloc]initWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString:someOtherString]];
    tbxml = [[TBXML alloc]initWithXMLData:xmlData];

    TBXMLElement * root = tbxml.rootXMLElement;
    if (root)
    {
        TBXMLElement * allFriends = [TBXML childElementNamed:@"friend" parentElement:root];
        while (allFriends !=nil)
        {
            TBXMLElement * friendid = [TBXML childElementNamed:@"friendid" parentElement:allFriends];
            NSString *fid = [TBXML textForElement:friendid];
            TBXMLElement * fname = [TBXML childElementNamed:@"fname" parentElement:allFriends];
            NSString *firstName = [TBXML textForElement:fname];
            TBXMLElement * lname = [TBXML childElementNamed:@"lname" parentElement:allFriends];
            NSString *lastName = [TBXML textForElement:lname];
            NSString *fullname = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@ %@:%@", firstName, lastName, fid];
            [friendList addObject:fullname];
            allFriends = [TBXML nextSiblingNamed:@"friend" searchFromElement:allFriends];
        }

        //TBXMLElement *fname = [TBXML childElementNamed:@"fname" parentElement:elem_PLANT];
    }

}

#pragma mark - UITableViewDelegate + UITableViewDatasource

- (NSInteger)tableView:(UITableView*)tableView numberOfRowsInSection:(NSInteger)section {
    return [friendList count];
}

- (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    static NSString *CellIdentifier = @"Cell";
    UITableViewCell* cell = [_tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
    // Configure the cell...
    if (nil == cell) {
        cell = [[[JBSlidingTableViewCell1 alloc] init] initWithStyle:UITableViewCellStyleDefault
                                                                     reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
        cell.selectionStyle = UITableViewCellSelectionStyleNone;
    }
    friendsFullNames = (UILabel *)[cell viewWithTag:12];
    NSArray *myWords = [[friendList objectAtIndex:indexPath.row] componentsSeparatedByString:@":"];
    friendsFullNames.text = myWords[0];
    NSLog(myWords[1]);
    UIImageView *bgImageFile = (UIImageView *)[cell viewWithTag:21];
    UIImageView *imageFile = (UIImageView *)[cell viewWithTag:13];
    NSString *friendAvatar = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@%@%@", @"http://www.atmeapp.com/images/users/", myWords[1], @".jpg"];
    [imageFile setImageWithURL:[NSURL URLWithString:friendAvatar]];
    [bgImageFile setImageWithURL:[NSURL URLWithString:friendAvatar]];
    //imageFile = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%d", NUMBER_OF_ROWS - indexPath.row];
    //cell.textLabel.text = [friendList objectAtIndex:indexPath.row];
    return cell;
}


- (void)tableView:(UITableView*)tableView didSelectRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath*)indexPath {
    [self closeOpenedCell];
    [(JBSlidingTableViewCell1*)[self.tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:indexPath] openDrawer1];
    NSArray *myWords = [[friendList objectAtIndex:indexPath.row] componentsSeparatedByString:@":"];
    [MyClass settemail:myWords[1]];
    NSLog(@"%@", myWords[1]);
    self.openedCellIndexPath = indexPath;
}
- (IBAction)inviteAFriend:(id)sender {
    NSString *userurl = [NSString stringWithFormat: @"http://atmeapp.com/friendreq.php?userid=%@&friendid=%@", [MyClass str], eMailTextField.text];
    NSURL *url = [NSURL URLWithString:userurl];

    NSURLRequest *theRequest=[NSURLRequest requestWithURL:url cachePolicy:NSURLRequestUseProtocolCachePolicy
                                          timeoutInterval:60.0];
    NSURLConnection *theConnection=[[NSURLConnection alloc] initWithRequest:theRequest delegate:self];
    if (theConnection) {
        UIAlertView *alert = [[UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:@"" message:userurl delegate:self cancelButtonTitle:@"Ok" otherButtonTitles:nil];
        [alert show];
    } else {
        UIAlertView *alert = [[UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:@"" message:@"Fail" delegate:self cancelButtonTitle:@"Ok" otherButtonTitles:nil];
        [alert show];
    }

}

- (void)inviteFriend:(id)sender {
 }

- (void)declineFriendRequest {

}
/*
// Override to support conditional editing of the table view.
- (BOOL)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView canEditRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    // Return NO if you do not want the specified item to be editable.
    return YES;
}
*/

/*
// Override to support editing the table view.
- (void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView commitEditingStyle:(UITableViewCellEditingStyle)editingStyle forRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    if (editingStyle == UITableViewCellEditingStyleDelete) {
        // Delete the row from the data source
        [tableView deleteRowsAtIndexPaths:@[indexPath] withRowAnimation:UITableViewRowAnimationFade];
    }   
    else if (editingStyle == UITableViewCellEditingStyleInsert) {
        // Create a new instance of the appropriate class, insert it into the array, and add a new row to the table view
    }   
}
*/

/*
// Override to support rearranging the table view.
- (void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView moveRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)fromIndexPath toIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)toIndexPath
{
}
*/

/*
// Override to support conditional rearranging of the table view.
- (BOOL)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView canMoveRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    // Return NO if you do not want the item to be re-orderable.
    return YES;
}
*/

#pragma mark - Table view delegate


- (IBAction)inviteFriends:(id)sender {

    if ([MFMailComposeViewController canSendMail]){
        // Email Subject
        NSString *emailTitle = @"You have been invited to @ME!";
        // Email Content
        NSString *messageBody = @"<h2> Try @Me </h2> <br /><br /> <p>Beta is finally ready! Please visit link below, Beta is NOT available in the App Store yet. <br /> <br /> <a href='http://www.atmeapp.com/download.php'> Get @ME Now! </a> <br /> <br /> Brought to you by <a href='http://www.teknologenie.com> TeknoloGenie </a> </p>";
        // To address
        NSArray *toRecipents = [NSArray arrayWithObject:@"aaron@teknologenie.com"];

        MFMailComposeViewController *mc = [[MFMailComposeViewController alloc] init];
        mc.mailComposeDelegate = self;
        [mc setSubject:emailTitle];
        [mc setMessageBody:messageBody isHTML:YES];
        [mc setToRecipients:toRecipents];

        // Present mail view controller on screen
        [self presentViewController:mc animated:YES completion:NULL];
    }
    else{
        UIAlertView *alert = [[UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:@"No Account Found" message:@"You need to add an email account to your device" delegate:self cancelButtonTitle:@"Cancel" otherButtonTitles:nil];
        // optional - add more buttons:
        [alert addButtonWithTitle:@"Add Account"];
        [alert show];
    }

}


- (void) mailComposeController:(MFMailComposeViewController *)controller didFinishWithResult:(MFMailComposeResult)result error:(NSError *)error
{
    switch (result)
    {
        case MFMailComposeResultCancelled:
            NSLog(@"Mail cancelled");
            break;
        case MFMailComposeResultSaved:
            NSLog(@"Mail saved");
            break;
        case MFMailComposeResultSent:
            NSLog(@"Mail sent");
            break;
        case MFMailComposeResultFailed:
            NSLog(@"Mail sent failure: %@", [error localizedDescription]);
            break;
        default:
            break;
    }

    // Close the Mail Interface
    [self dismissViewControllerAnimated:YES completion:NULL];
}

@end

Answer 1

Given the structure of your app, it seems like the only way to get a reference to the friendsListTableViewController is to look up the chain of views. Since, the method nextResponder will return the view controller of a view that it's responsible for, the following should get you a reference to the needed view controller from the custom cell's implementation file:

self.superview.superview.nextResponder

In this case, the superview of the cell is the table view, and that table view is in a subview of the controller's main view, so self.superview.superview gets you to the controller's self.view. The documentation for nextResponder says this: " UIView implements this method by returning the UIViewController object that manages it (if it has one)". So, calling nextResponder on the controller's self.view, gives you the controller.