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Reference Library: Cocoa
User experience encompasses the visual appearance, interactive behavior, and assistive capabilities of software. From an application's graphical user interface to its use of additional technologies such as speech recognition and speech synthesis, a cohesive and professional user experience is what Mac users have come to expect. Cocoa provides a complete suite of Interface Builder palettes and programmatic interfaces that developers can use to deliver this experience in their applications.

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NSPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements a lightweight, easy-access window.
Reference 2008-07-11
NSSavePanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to present a dialog that allows users to browse the file system before saving files.
Reference 2008-07-11
Web Kit Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the types and constants found in the Web Kit framework.
Reference 2008-06-19
WebBackForwardList Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for tracking a list of visited pages with relation to the most recent page.
Reference 2008-06-19
WebFrame Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for encapsulating the data displayed within a WebFrameView object.
Reference 2008-06-19
WebFrameLoadDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by WebView frame load delegates to be notified while frame loads are in progress.
Reference 2008-06-19
WebFrameView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for displaying the actual web content contained in a frame.
Reference 2008-06-19
WebPreferences Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for the preferences you can change per WebView object, such as font, text encoding, and image settings.
Reference 2008-06-19
WebResourceLoadDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to be notified on the progress of loading individual resources.
Reference 2008-06-19
WebScripting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol that defines methods that classes can implement to expose their interfaces to a WebScript environment.
Reference 2008-06-19
WebScriptObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for bridging a web view's scripting environment and the Objective-C runtime.
Reference 2008-06-19
WebUIDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to control user interface-related aspects, such as opening windows and augmenting default menus.
Reference 2008-06-19
WebView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for embedding web content in a window.
Reference 2008-06-19
Apple Human Interface Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the Mac OS X user experience and explains how to design an application for Aqua.
Guides 2008-06-09
NSDatePicker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a control for displaying and editing a date.
Reference 2008-06-09
NSDatePickerCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a cell for displaying and editing a date.
Reference 2008-06-09
SpotlightFortunes (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to provision a Spotlight importer plug-in for a custom UTI, and how to use a NSMetadataQuery with bindings to display live query results in a table view.
Sample Code 2008-06-06
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.
Reference 2008-04-08
AbstractTree (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using NSTreeController with NSOutlineView, Bindings, and Core Data.
Sample Code 2008-03-17
Cursor Management (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to set the cursor and handle cursor-update events in Cocoa applications.
Guides 2008-03-11
NSProgressIndicator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display a progress indicator that shows that a lengthy task is under way.
Reference 2008-03-11
NSSearchFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing search-field cells.
Reference 2008-03-11
Suppressing the "unexpectedly quit" alert (HTML)
QA1288: Describes how to suppress the "unexpectedly quit" alert.
Technical Q&As 2008-03-11
CarbonCocoaTempConverter (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to integrate Carbon and Cocoa user interfaces in the same Cocoa application.
Sample Code 2008-03-10
PhotoSearch (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates advanced controls and cells. Custom drawing, hit testing, tracking, editing, expansion tooltips, tracking areas.
Sample Code 2008-03-05
Disabling text completion in an NSTextField (HTML)
QA1553: Shows how to implement a delegate method provided by NSControl to disable automatic text completion.
Technical Q&As 2008-02-27
NSDate - Natural language date parsing in early Leopard releases (HTML)
QA1581: Acknowledges a regression in +dateWithNaturalLanguageString: behavior of NSDate which is fixed as of 10.5.2.
Technical Q&As 2008-02-27
NSCursor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manage the appearance of the cursor.
Reference 2008-02-08
NSLocale Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to encapsulate information about linguistic, cultural, and technological conventions and standards.
Reference 2008-02-08
NSMenu Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing an application's menus.
Reference 2008-02-08
NSMenuItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and managing command items in menus.
Reference 2008-02-08
NSRuleEditor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to present and manage a graphical rule editor.
Reference 2008-02-08
Quick Look Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the purporse and architecture of Quick Look generators and explains how to create them.
Guides 2008-02-08
Re-enabling dragging from NSTableView to other applications (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1220: Explains how to re-enable drag-and-drop from NSTableViews to other applications
Technical Q&As 2008-02-08
Search Fields (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa search fields.
Guides 2008-02-08
Connecting the Font Menu in Interface Builder 3 (HTML)
QA1571: How to connect and configure the Font/Format menus in Interface Builder 3.
Technical Q&As 2008-01-21
Enabling the application menu's "Preferences" menu item on Mac OS X (HTML)
QA1552: Describes the two things you need to implement to enable the "Preferences" menu item on Mac OS X.
Technical Q&As 2008-01-21
IconCollection (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use NSCollectionView along with NSWorkspace and named images to determine its content.
Sample Code 2008-01-18
DictionaryController (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
"DictionaryController" is a Cocoa application that demonstrates various ways in how to use the NSDictionaryController class.
Sample Code 2007-12-20
Requirements for Quartz GL (HTML)
QA1536: Describes the requirements for enabling Quartz GL.
Technical Q&As 2007-12-12
Button Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa buttons.
Guides 2007-12-11
NSButtonCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements the functionality of a button.
Reference 2007-12-11
NSCollectionView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used for creating groups of views from a prototype view.
Reference 2007-12-11
NSUserDefaults Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing preference information.
Reference 2007-12-11
Token Field Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to set up and programatically manage a token field.
Guides 2007-12-11
SourceView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use NSOutlineView driven by NSTreeController.
Sample Code 2007-11-15
CocoaSlides (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
An image browser written using AppKit's Core Animation-based compositing and animation functionality
Sample Code 2007-11-02
Apple Help Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to author, package, and display user help content in Mac OS X.
Guides 2007-10-31
Application Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa Objective-C API for the Application Kit framework.
Reference 2007-10-31
Cocoa Bindings Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the bindings, including options and placeholders, for classes that support Cocoa bindings.
Reference 2007-10-31
DiscRecording Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Mac OS X v10.5
Release Notes 2007-10-31
NSAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the timing and progress of animations in the user interface.
Reference 2007-10-31
NSCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the base class for managing cells.
Reference 2007-10-31
NSNumberFormatter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to convert between the textual representation of NSNumbers objects and their stored values.
Reference 2007-10-31
NSSecureTextFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements the user interface of NSSecureTextField.
Reference 2007-10-31
NSTableColumn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that encapsulates the display characteristics and attribute identifiers for a column in an table view.
Reference 2007-10-31
NSTableView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays and edits record-oriented data in a table.
Reference 2007-10-31
NSTextField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display text that the user can select or edit.
Reference 2007-10-31
NSWindow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manipulate windows and distribute window events to the appropriate view.
Reference 2007-10-31
QLThumbnailRequest Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type used by Quick Look generators to create thumbnail images for documents.
Reference 2007-10-31
User Defaults Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Cocoa defaults system to create and save user preferences.
Guides 2007-10-31
ButtonMadness (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the various types of buttons using a nib file or programatically.
Sample Code 2007-10-30
BundleLoader (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to load multiple Cocoa bundles or NSBundles (also known as plug-ins) into the main NSApplication.
Sample Code 2007-09-21
DockTile (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to customize your application's icon in the Dock by using the NSDockTile class.
Sample Code 2007-09-11
Adding and removing a submenu from a menu in Cocoa (HTML)
QA1420: Explains how to dynamically add and remove menus in a Cocoa application.
Technical Q&As 2007-09-10
SimpleCocoaApp (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A basic Cocoa application for beginners to Cocoa and Objective-C.
Sample Code 2007-08-07
NSOutlineView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to present a row-and-column format view to display hierarchical data that can be expanded and collapsed.
Reference 2007-07-26
NSSpeechSynthesizer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to parse text into speech.
Reference 2007-07-23
NSDockTile Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports customizing application and window icons in the dock.
Reference 2007-07-20
Preference Panes Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Preference Panes framework.
Reference 2007-07-18
NSControl Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the base class for implementing controls.
Reference 2007-07-13
Pasteboard Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to transfer data using pasteboard operations in Cocoa.
Guides 2007-07-13
User Interface Validation (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the standard mechanism to validate user interface items in Cocoa.
Guides 2007-07-10
NSFormatter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract superclass for objects that create, interpret, and validate the textual representation of cell contents.
Reference 2007-07-09
Application Menu and Pop-up List Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa menus and lists work and how to manipulate items within them.
Guides 2007-06-26
NSSplitView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays multiple subviews within a single view and allows the user to change their relative sizes.
Reference 2007-06-13
JavaFrameEmbedding example (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Small Cocoa application that demonstrates how to use JavaFrameEmbedding.framework
Sample Code 2007-06-12
LayerBackedOpenGLView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
"LayerBackedOpenGLView" provides a simple example of hosting Cocoa controls as subviews of an NSOpenGLView.
Sample Code 2007-06-12
BasicCocoaAnimations (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
"BasicCocoaAnimations" demonstrates the use of the animator proxy to easily animate Cocoa views and windows.
Sample Code 2007-06-11
CustomSave (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to customize the NSSavePanel.
Sample Code 2007-06-11
MenuItemView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates embedding an NSView inside a menu item or NSMenuItem.
Sample Code 2007-06-11
ViewController (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use "NSViewController".
Sample Code 2007-06-11
TrackBall (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to build a custom control based on the NSControl class.
Sample Code 2007-06-07
PredicateEditorSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSPredicateEditor class.
Sample Code 2007-06-06
PrefsPane (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A Cocoa sample System Preferences bundle that demonstrates how to use the NSPreferencePane class.
Sample Code 2007-06-06
SpeedometerView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to make a custom NSView.
Sample Code 2007-06-06
Querying Metadata With Spotlight (HTML)
TN2192: Describes how a Cocoa application can search Spotlight metadata.
Technical Notes 2007-06-04
TextLayoutDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Customizing NSTextView with NSLayoutManager and a custom NSTextContainer.
Sample Code 2007-06-01
NSBox Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements a view that can display its border and a title.
Reference 2007-05-30
Cocoa Bindings Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to rapidly develop sophisticated user interfaces using Cocoa binding technology.
Guides 2007-05-22
ObjectPath (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSPathControl class.
Sample Code 2007-05-22
Resolution Independence Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Describes resolution independence and how to start updating applications to support high-resolution monitors.
Guides 2007-05-04
NSViewController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manage a view, usually a view stored in a nib file.
Reference 2007-05-02
NSColorPickingDefault Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol that color pickers implement to provide a basic user interface for color panels.
Reference 2007-04-27
DatePicker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSDatePicker control.
Sample Code 2007-04-25
NSAlert Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display a message and obtain the user's response to it.
Reference 2007-04-25
SearchField (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use and customize the features of the "NSSearchField" control.
Sample Code 2007-04-25
QLPreviewRequest Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API related to the QLPreviewRequest opaque type of the Quick Look framework.
Reference 2007-04-20
NSTextFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to support setting text and background color in the NSCell class.
Reference 2007-04-16
Quick Look Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Quick Look framework classes and functions used for creating Quick Look generator plug-ins.
Reference 2007-04-13