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Reference
Carbon is a set of C APIs offering developers an advanced user interface tool kit, event handling, the Quartz 2D graphics library, and multiprocessing support. Developers have access to other C and C++ APIs, including the OpenGL drawing system and the Mach microkernel.

A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to Carbon.   Essential information for developers using procedural C.   C API references organized by framework.
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Fonts Panel Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing a Fonts window in a Carbon application.
Text & Fonts 2007-02-26
FontSync Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for content-based font identification and comparison.
Text & Fonts 2002-10-01
Keyboard Layout Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for managing key-to-character mappings used to support various languages.
Text & Fonts 2002-11-18
Locale Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting conventions of a specific language or region.
Text & Fonts 2002-01-24
Multilingual Text Engine Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting Unicode text editing.
Text & Fonts 2007-02-19
Pascal String Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for manipulating Pascal strings in Carbon applications.
Text & Fonts 2006-07-12
QuickDraw Text Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for measuring and drawing text. Replaced by ATSUI.
Text & Fonts 2006-07-13
Script Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API that was used for managing writing systems. Replaced by Unicode technology.
Text & Fonts 2007-12-11
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Programming interfaces that support user searching of textual content, supporting query-based and similarity-based searches.
Text & Fonts 2006-07-14
Text Encoding Conversion Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for transferring text across other platforms or over the Internet.
Text & Fonts 2005-07-07
Text Input Source Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for operating on text input sources, such as keyboards, character palettes, and ink input.
Text & Fonts 2007-06-07
Text Services Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for communicating between client applications and provider modules.
Text & Fonts 2005-11-09
Text Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for operating on strings (formatting, sorting, converting, comparing).
Text & Fonts 2007-05-29
TextEdit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for text handling and manipulation. Replaced by the Multilingual Text Engine (MLTE).
Text & Fonts 2006-07-13
Unicode Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that allows applications and input methods to operate on Unicode text.
Text & Fonts 2006-01-10
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.
Tools 2007-10-31
CPlusTest Reference (HTML)
Describes the CPlusTest framework, which provides an API for creating unit tests for C and C++ code.
Tools 2008-04-08
GNU C 4.0 Preprocessor User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU C 4.0 Preprocessor.
Tools 2007-10-31
GNU C 4.2 Preprocessor User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU C 4.2 Preprocessor.
Tools 2008-01-23
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 3.3 Compiler (HTML)
Explains how to use the GNU compilers from the command line.
Tools
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 4.0.1 Compiler User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU 4.0.1 compiler.
Tools 2007-10-31
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 4.2.1 Compiler User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU 4.2.1 compiler.
Tools 2008-01-23
Interface Builder Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for unarchiving interface objects.
Tools 2004-02-17
Appearance Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for coordinating the look of the standard Mac OS human interface.
User Experience 2007-01-23
Apple Help Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for finding and displaying help content using Apple's HTML-based help system.
User Experience 2006-07-12
Application Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for performing various application-level tasks in a Carbon application. Formerly titled Dock Manager Reference.
User Experience 2007-10-31
Carbon Help Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing help tags in an application's user interface.
User Experience 2004-03-01
Control Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating Carbon controls.
User Experience 2007-03-26
Data Browser Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used to display data in list or column views similar to the Finder.
User Experience 2008-04-08
Dialog Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for implementing alerts and dialog boxes.
User Experience 2007-10-31
Disc Recording UI Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Objective-C and C API for presenting a user interface when burning audio and data CDs and DVDs.
User Experience 2008-04-08
Display Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the C API for dynamically changing the arrangement and display modes of attached monitors. Replaced by Quartz Display Services.
User Experience 2007-12-04
Drag Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for dragging objects within the user interface.
User Experience 2006-07-12
Find By Content Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for performing relevance-ranked searches. Replaced by Search Kit.
User Experience 2006-07-13
Finder Interface Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes several C data types used by the Finder to contain information about file system objects.
User Experience 2006-10-31
Fonts Panel Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing a Fonts window in a Carbon application.
User Experience 2007-02-26
HIArchive Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for storing and retrieving data in HIArchives.
User Experience 2005-08-11
HIObject Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating human interface objects in Carbon applications.
User Experience 2005-08-11
HIShape Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon API for manipulating HIShape objects.
User Experience 2004-06-28
HIToolbar Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating toolbars in Carbon applications.
User Experience 2005-09-08
HIView Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating view-based controls and menus in Carbon applications.
User Experience 2007-04-13
Icon Services and Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for manipulating and drawing icons in Carbon applications.
User Experience 2007-04-06
Interface Builder Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for unarchiving interface objects.
User Experience 2004-02-17
List Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for managing and displaying elements in a scrollable list. Replaced by the Data Browser.
User Experience 2007-12-11
Menu Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and managing an application's menus.
User Experience 2006-09-15
Navigation Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for presenting a user interface for opening, saving, and navigating files.
User Experience 2006-08-16
Preferences Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Core Foundation preferences functions.
User Experience 2007-10-31
QLPreviewRequest Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API related to the QLPreviewRequest opaque type of the Quick Look framework.
User Experience 2007-04-20
QLThumbnailRequest Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type used by Quick Look generators to create thumbnail images for documents.
User Experience 2007-10-31
Quick Look Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Quick Look framework classes and functions used for creating Quick Look generator plug-ins.
User Experience 2007-04-13
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Programming interfaces that support user searching of textual content, supporting query-based and similarity-based searches.
User Experience 2006-07-14
Speech Recognition Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for recognizing and accepting spoken input.
User Experience 2003-02-01
Speech Synthesis Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for converting text into synthesized speech.
User Experience 2007-05-15
Web Kit C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for displaying web content in windows.
User Experience 2006-03-08
Window Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating Carbon windows.
User Experience 2007-10-31