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Reference Library: User Experience
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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NSColorPicker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract superclass used to add color pickers (custom user interfaces for color selection) to NSColorPanel.
Reference 2007-02-28
NSColorWell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used for selecting and displaying a single color value.
Reference 2007-02-28
NSErrorRecoveryAttempting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol that lets applications attempt recovery from errors.
Reference 2007-02-23
TwoManyControllers (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to use an intermediate NSArrayController to populate an NSTableView across two to-many relationships.
Sample Code 2007-02-23
Accessibility Programming Guidelines for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa applications make their user interface available to external assistive applications.
Guides 2007-02-08
NSMenuItem Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Deprecated. Describes the protocol for managing command items in menus.
Reference 2007-02-08
NSOpenGLView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for a view that supports OpenGL drawing calls.
Reference 2007-01-26
NSOpenPanel - Choosing any file and ignoring packages (HTML)
QA1468: Explains how to configure NSOpenPanel to filter only files and ignoring packages.
Technical Q&As 2007-01-25
Preventing column reordering in NSTableView (HTML)
QA1503: Demonstrates how to prevent column reordering of certain columns in NSTableView.
Technical Q&As 2007-01-24
NSDateFormatter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to convert between string representations of date and time information and date objects.
Reference 2007-01-23
Creating an About Panel in Your Cocoa Application (HTML)
TN2179: Describes different ways in implementing your Cocoa application's "About" panel.
Technical Notes 2007-01-22
NSImageCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing image data in a control.
Reference 2007-01-22
NSImageView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for image controls.
Reference 2007-01-22
Toolbar Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa toolbars.
Guides 2007-01-08
Configuring the Recent Searches menu for NSSearchField (HTML)
QA1496: Discusses the common problem when adding menu items to the Recent Searches menu.
Technical Q&As 2006-11-27
NSProgressIndicator animation and redraw (HTML)
QA1473: Discusses why NSProgressIndicator does not redraw during progress loops.
Technical Q&As 2006-11-15
Debugging NSTableView's "Action Invocation" binding (HTML)
QA1472: Discusses the issues and factors that affect NSTableView's "Action Invocation" binding.
Technical Q&As 2006-11-13
Matrix Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa matrices.
Guides 2006-11-07
Control and Cell Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the relationship between Cocoa control and cell objects.
Guides 2006-10-16
How to make NSTextField accept tab, return and enter keys. (HTML)
QA1454: Describes how to make the NSTextField control accept tab, return and enter keys by using the control's dispatch delegate method.
Technical Q&As 2006-10-09
MyCustomColorPicker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to write a custom color picker using Cocoa.
Sample Code 2006-10-09
Preference Panes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create dynamically loaded plug-ins that provide a graphical interface to user preferences.
Guides 2006-10-03
Slider Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa sliders.
Guides 2006-10-03
Window Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa windows and panels.
Guides 2006-10-03
Embedding Hyperlinks in NSTextField and NSTextView (HTML)
QA1487: Shows how a Cocoa app can embed a hyperlink inside both NSTextField and NSTextView using NSAttributedString.
Technical Q&As 2006-10-02
ImageBackground (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to draw an image in the background of an NSOutlineView and NSTableView.
Sample Code 2006-10-02
Using AppleScript Scripts in Cocoa Applications (HTML)
TN2084: Explains how to work with AppleScript scripts in your Cocoa application.
Technical Notes 2006-09-19
Disabling and Enabling an NSTextView (HTML)
QA1461: Shows how a Cocoa application can disable and enable an NSTextView.
Technical Q&As 2006-09-11
Sheet Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa sheets.
Guides 2006-09-05
StickiesExample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Contains sample code and tools used by Sync Services Tutorial to demonstrate debugging syncing applications.
Sample Code 2006-08-08
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Programming interfaces that support user searching of textual content, supporting query-based and similarity-based searches.
Reference 2006-07-14
Find By Content Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for performing relevance-ranked searches. Replaced by Search Kit.
Reference 2006-07-13
Drag and Drop Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement drag and drop in Cocoa.
Guides 2006-06-28
NSToolbar Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that allows a window to display a toolbar below its title bar.
Reference 2006-06-28
NSToolbarItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that encapsulates a single item in a window's toolbar.
Reference 2006-06-28
Online Help (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add help to a Cocoa application.
Guides 2006-06-28
Outline View Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa outline views.
Guides 2006-06-28
Text System User Interface Layer Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement the main, high-level interface to the Cocoa text system.
Guides 2006-06-28
NSComboBox Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements a control for entering text or select ing from a pop-up list of items.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSComboBoxCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the subclass of NSTextFieldCell used to implement the user interface of a combo box.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSComboBoxCellDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used by NSComboBoxCell to access its data source object.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSComboBoxDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used by NSComboBox to access its data source object.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSDrawer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to provide a retractable user interface element that contains and displays view objects.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSForm Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing form controls.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSFormCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing form cells.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSPopUpButton Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for pop-up button controls.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSPopUpButtonCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for pop-up button cells.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSPreferencePane Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the interface for subclasses to provide preference panes to System Preferences or other applications.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSScroller Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides the control for scrolling a document view within a scroll view.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSScrollView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that allows the user to scroll a document view that's too large to display in its entirety.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSearchField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing search-field controls.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSecureTextField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the subclass of NSTextField that hides its text from display or other user interface access.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSegmentedCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing cells in a segmented control.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSegmentedControl Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing a segmented control.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSlider Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display a range of values using a bar or circular dial.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSliderCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the class that controls the appearance and behavior of an NSSlider object.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSStepper Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display two small arrows that can increment and decrement a value beside them.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSStepperCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to control the appearance and behavior of an NSStepper object.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTableHeaderCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides the cell used to draw the column headers in a table view.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTableHeaderView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays and handles mouse events in the headers of a table view.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTabView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that allows a view to switch between multiple content views.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTabViewItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that encapsulates a single view in a tab view.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSToolbarItemValidation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol that an image-style toolbar item's target object class must implement to provide customized disabling and enabling.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSToolTipOwner Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol that a class must implement to provide the text to a tool tip dynamically.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSUserInterfaceValidations Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the formal protocol that works with the NSValidatedUserInterfaceItem protocol to enable or disable a control automatically.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSViewAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for animating views and windows.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSWindowScripting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category on NSWindow for scripting basic properties and commands of windows in scriptable applications.
Reference 2006-05-23
Screen Saver Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for supporting and working with screen effects.
Reference 2006-05-23
Web Kit Objective-C Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Web Kit to embed web content in both Cocoa and Carbon applications.
Guides 2006-05-23
Table View Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa table views.
Guides 2006-04-04
Segmented Controls Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa segmented controls.
Guides 2006-02-07
Search Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Search Kit architecture and workflow, and how to add search capabilities to Carbon and Cocoa applications.
Guides 2005-12-06
CoreRecipes (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the use of Core Data (persistency and object-graph management) with a variety of application projects.
Sample Code 2005-06-01
SearchKit Release Notes (HTML)
Release Notes 2005-04-29
Finding an NSView's current magnification. (HTML)
QA1346: How to discover the current magnification (zoom level) of any NSView.
Technical Q&As 2005-03-08
Browsers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa browsers.
Guides 2004-08-31
Font Panel (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Cocoa Font panel.
Guides 2004-08-31
Universal Access: Computers That Everyone Can Use (HTML)
Learn how to make your applications usable by everyone, including those with disabilities.
Articles 2004-08-02
Using the Web Kit for Application Registration (HTML)
Learn how to use the Web Kit to handle your application's online registration.
Articles 2004-03-09
Spell Checking (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the spell-checking facilities in the Cocoa text system.
Guides 2004-02-09
Text Fields (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text fields.
Guides 2004-02-09
Text Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text views.
Guides 2004-02-09
MungSaver (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates a simple Screen Saver module for Panther, using the Sequence Grabber DataProc mung technique.
Sample Code 2003-11-18
Tab Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa tab views.
Guides 2003-11-06
Speech (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Cocoa's interfaces to the speech synthesis and speech recognition technologies.
Guides 2003-08-08
Dialogs and Special Panels (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create alert panels. Includes links to documents about other types of panels.
Guides 2003-08-01
Guide to Creating Kiosks on Mac OS X (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TN2062: Discusses techniques used in creating applications which require kiosk-like functionality on Mac OS X.
Technical Notes 2003-02-24
Boxes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa boxes.
Guides 2003-02-15
Drawers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa drawers.
Guides 2003-02-04
Combo Boxes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa combo boxes.
Guides 2002-11-12
Forms (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa forms.
Guides 2002-11-12
Image Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa image views.
Guides 2002-11-12
Progress Indicators (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa progress indicators.
Guides 2002-11-12
Status Bars (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa status bars.
Guides 2002-11-12
Steppers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa steppers.
Guides 2002-11-12
System Services (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa applications can extend their capabilities seamlessly to other applications.
Guides 2002-11-12
Undo Architecture (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to record information in Cocoa so a user can reverse an operation's effect.
Guides 2002-11-12
How to get custom views to show up in NSToolbarItems (HTML)
QA1029: Why custom views may not show up in an NSToolBarItem and how to make it visible.
Technical Q&As 2001-05-03