Features of the API

Kiosk mode lets you control the user experience by manipulating numerous system user interface elements from within your application. For example:

• You can decide whether you want users to the see the Dock and menu bar and whether the Apple menu is active.

• You can disable activities that take users out of your application, such as process switching, the Force Quit window, hiding the application, and Exposé

• You can prevent users from restarting or powering down the computer

-(void) awakeFromNib {

     @try {

          NSApplicationPresentationOptions options = NSApplicationPresentationHideDock + NSApplicationPresentationHideMenuBar;

          [NSApp setPresentationOptions:options];

     }

     @catch(NSException * exception) {

          NSLog(@"Error.  Make sure you have a valid combination of options.");

     }

}

Valid Combinations of Settings

When you combine settings, or option flags, to pass to the setPresentationOptions: method, you must do so in a way that satisfies the following requirements:

• NSApplicationPresentationAutoHideDock and NSApplicationPresentationHideDock are mutually exclusive: You may specify one or the other, but not both.

• NSApplicationPresentationAutoHideMenuBar and NSApplicationPresentationHideMenuBar are mutually exclusive: You may specify one or the other, but not both.

• If you specify NSApplicationPresentationHideMenuBar, it must be accompanied by NSApplicationPresentationHideDock. If you specify NSApplicationPresentationAutoHideMenuBar, it must be accompanied by either NSApplicationPresentationHideDock or NSApplicationPresentationAutoHideDock.

• If you specify any of NSApplicationPresentationDisableProcessSwitching, NSApplicationPresentationDisableForceQuit, NSApplicationPresentationDisableSessionTermination, or NSApplicationPresentationDisableMenuBarTransparency, it must be accompanied by either NSApplicationPresentationHideDock or NSApplicationPresentationAutoHideDock.

When the setPresentationOptions: method receives a newOptions parameter that does not conform to these requirements, it raises an exception (NSInvalidArgumentException).

Key-Value Observing Compliance

Both presentationOptions and currentSystemPresentationOptions are key-value observing (KVO) compliant. A client that observes currentSystemPresentationOptions receives notifications if the following events occur:

1. The client is the active application and makes a change itself using the setPresentationOptions: method.

2. Another application is active and makes its own changes.

3. Making a different application active causes the active set of presentation options to change.

For more information about KVO compliance, see Key-Value Observing Programming Guide.

Full-Screen Mode Compatibility

In OS X v10.6 and later, you can use an instance of the NSView class in full-screen mode and retain the kiosk mode functionality. The enterFullScreenMode:withOptions: method accepts a new option, whose key-value pair specifies the kiosk mode options to use while the view is operating in full-screen mode. The new key is the string NSFullScreenModeApplicationPresentationOptions. It’s value must be of type NSApplicationPresentationOptions.

When the options dictionary you pass to enterFullScreenMode:withOptions: does not contain a value for NSFullScreenModeApplicationPresentationOptions, AppKit does not alter the presentation options that were previously in effect before taking the view full-screen. AppKit also captures either the destination screen, or, if you specify YES for NSFullScreenModeAllScreens, all attached screens.

In OS X v10.6 and later, you can put a windowless view in full-screen mode. This means that the enterFullScreenMode:withOptions: method can be sent to a view for which [view window] == nil.

When the options dictionary you pass to enterFullScreenMode:withOptions: does contain a value for NSFullScreenModeApplicationPresentationOptions, AppKit does not capture any displays, because doing so would prevent the showing of presentationOptions-controlled UI elements such as the menu bar and Dock. AppKit puts the requested NSApplicationPresentationOptions value into effect when switching the view into full-screen mode, and restores the previously active NSApplication presentationOptions setting when the view exits from full-screen mode via the exitFullScreenModeWithOptions: method.