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# outlineView(_:shouldEdit:item:)

Returns a Boolean value that indicates whether the outline view should allow editing of a given item in a given table column.

```
@MainActor optional func outlineView(_ outlineView: NSOutlineView, shouldEdit tableColumn: NSTableColumn?, item: Any) -> Bool
```

## Parameters

`outlineView`

The outline view that sent the message.

`tableColumn`

The table column.

`item`

The item.

## Return Value

<doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/true> to permit `outlineView` to edit the cell specified by `tableColumn` and `item`, <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/false> to deny permission.

## Discussion

If this method returns <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/true>, the cell may still not be editable—for example, if you have set up a custom `NSTextFieldCell` as a data cell, it must return <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/true> for `isEditable` to allow editing.

The delegate can implement this method to disallow editing of specific cells.

## See Also

[`func outlineView(NSOutlineView, setObjectValue: Any?, for: NSTableColumn?, byItem: Any?)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSOutlineViewDataSource/outlineView(_:setObjectValue:for:byItem:))

Set the data object for a given item in a given column.


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