[SectionList][inverted] SectionList headers are sticky-at-the-top-footers if the list is inverted

[terrysahaidak]

• I have reviewed the documentation
• I have searched existing issues
• I am using the latest React Native version

Environment

Environment:
OS: macOS High Sierra 10.13.1
Node: 8.6.0
Yarn: 1.5.1
npm: 4.6.1
Watchman: 4.9.0
Xcode: Xcode 9.0.1 Build version 9A1004
Android Studio: Not Found

Packages: (wanted => installed)
react: 16.3.1 => 16.3.1
react-native: 0.55.3 => 0.55.3

Steps to Reproduce

Clone this repository and run it via react-native run-ios.
Observe the section separators are in wrong (randomly?) places.

Expected Behavior

The section list headers should be in the top of the section instead of the bottom like section footers do with an inverted list (but they aren't sticky).

Expected gif:

Actual Behavior

The section headers are footers instead of headers. They are sticky because of #17762 but still footers, not headers.

Sample code:

export default class App extends React.Component {
  render() {
    return (
      <View style={s.container}>
        <SectionList
          inverted
          sections={mock.sections}
          maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
          initialNumToRender={10}
          style={{ flex: 1 }}
          keyExtractor={(item) => item.messageId}
          renderSectionHeader={sectionProps => (
            <SectionHeader
              {...sectionProps}
            />
          )}
          renderItem={({ item }) => (
            <ListItem
              item={item}
            />
          )}
          ItemSeparatorComponent={ItemSeparator}
        />
        />
      </View>
    );
  }
}

Problem Gif:

[almorak]

try:
set sectionlist stickySectionHeadersEnabled={false}
use renderSectionFooter instead of renderSectionHeader with inverted case

[terrysahaidak]

@almorak thanks for your advice, but it won't fix the bug at all.
Sticky headers are common behavior for chat date headers, I still need them.

Also, see my second issue:
#18943

[terrysahaidak]

Hi @janicduplessis, you have worked on support of inverted sticky headers, but there are some issues, could you please look at them?

[stale]

Hey there, it looks like there has been no activity on this issue recently. Has the issue been fixed, or does it still require the community's attention? This issue may be closed if no further activity occurs. You may also label this issue as "For Discussion" or "Good first issue" and I will leave it open. Thank you for your contributions.

[terrysahaidak]

Still there is no any workaround or fix for that, so it can't be closed.

[iamolegga]

Any workaround on this?

[terrysahaidak]

@iamolegga I just don't use section list with sticky headers currently. Just simply FlatList with custom functions for creating sections and then render it.

[brunoro]

Also struggling with this here, I'm implementing infinite scroll to the top and need sticky headers (or inverted footers, apparently). Any solutions so far?

[die20]

I've been able to use this as a workaround:

<SectionList>
renderSectionFooter={<View style={{transform: [{ scaleY: -1 }]}}>...</View>}
renderItem={<View style={{transform: [{ scaleY: -1 }]}}>...</View>}
inverted={true}
</SectionList>

[terrysahaidak]

Could you please provide an example with that fix applied to my repro?

Here is what I've got:

[stale]

Hey there, it looks like there has been no activity on this issue recently. Has the issue been fixed, or does it still require the community's attention? This issue may be closed if no further activity occurs. You may also label this issue as a "Discussion" or add it to the "Backlog" and I will leave it open. Thank you for your contributions.

[terrysahaidak]

This hasn't been fixed yet.

[stepupithubapp]

just simple use renderSectionFooter then header and make inverted true simple

[je7ov]

I'm having the same issue with inverted sticky headers.

just simple use renderSectionFooter then header and make inverted true simple

This doesn't address the issue. We're looking to have sticky section headers on inverted lists

[ydv0121]

+1

[djhr]

opened this issue on 19 Apr 2018

[terrysahaidak]

Still an issue.

[vibinjoby]

If someone is still stuck on it, Medium has posted a workaround:
https://medium.com/@smali.kazmi/react-native-sticky-date-like-whatsapp-using-inverted-sectionlist-c141f5933d55

in which I've made some changes to make it desappear when not needed anymore:
just setting it to null when lastItem is the sectionHeader (sectionFooter)

function updateCurrentDate({ viewableItems, changed }: { viewableItems: Array<ViewToken>; changed: Array<ViewToken> }) {
        if (viewableItems && viewableItems.length) {
            const lastItem = viewableItems.pop()
            if (lastItem && lastItem.item.title && lastItem.item.title === currentDate) setCurrentDate(null) 
            else if (lastItem && lastItem.section) setCurrentDate(lastItem.section.title)
            else setCurrentDate(null)
        }
        else setCurrentDate(null)
    }

also, changed the style of the date header to be absolute, so it appears over the list.

yo man, this is the solution I was looking for, you're a lifesaver.
Thanks, buddy 👍🏻

[SrBrahma]

It is a shame that is hasn't been officially fixed yet.

There should be a new "inverted" prop to make the life of us who make "chat-like" components better. Inverted just sucks.

[icecapp]

Still an issue on stock installs

[fangpenlin]

Hey folks 👋

This issue troubled me as I also need the sticky header to work for inverted section list for the app I am building. To solve the problem, I create an InvertedSectionList component for fixing this issue outside of RN code base. I open sourced it here

https://github.com/LaunchPlatform/inverted-section-list

For now I only built it to make it works for my app, didn't test it with other corner cases. My InvertedSectionList component is basically copying source code from RN repo and made critical changes only to make the sticky header (footer actually) works. So in theory, if I port the changes back to RN, it should fix this. I am trying my best to see if I can find time to create PRs to fix this issue. However, if you want, please feel free to port the changes I made and open PRs to RN's repo. In the mean time hopefully the component I made can solve your problem as well before it's fixed in the upstream.

[sergeymild]

Still an issue on stock installs

[github-actions]

This issue is stale because it has been open 180 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 7 days.

[SrBrahma]

Up

[adidoes]

I can't believe this is still an issue after so many years and how common of a design it is in today's apps.

[jailsonpaca]

up

[mtnt]

still an issue...
"After all this time? - Always" =)

[iamolegga]

[Ilyxxxaa]

Please repair it

[timothyerwin]

how is this still an issue? is it bc all resources are on the metaverse?

[ayushneekhar]

Is it that hard to implement stickySectionFooterEnabled?

[github-actions]

This issue is stale because it has been open 180 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 7 days.

[SimpleCreations]

Still an issue

[VadymVashchuk]

After 6 years still an issue

[adsalihac]

😀

[eljonathas]

24/04/2024 and still an issue

[MrQazi665]

Hello,

I'm interested in making the 'renderSectionFooter' sticky. Is this possible?

[HuziMuzi]

28/08/2024 still an issue

[fangpenlin]

Hey guys, after years, I was working on upgrading RN version of my app and realized this issue is still here 😅

So I tried my best to open a PR for addressing this bug:

#47130

It appears to be working as I tested, but I am not sure if there's any corner cases I missed. I may also need to find a time to test other platforms, such as iOS. I know this bug troubles us for a very long time, so it would be great if you guys can help me test my PR see if it's working as expected.

I have never create a new PR with a major change like this in react-native repo, so I may also need some help. If you know what's missing in my PR, and how to get my PR merged, please let me know. Thank you so much 🙏