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# shared

Returns the shared `NSDocumentController` instance.

```
class var shared: NSDocumentController { get }
```

## Return Value

The shared `NSDocumentController` instance.

## Discussion

If an `NSDocumentController` instance doesn’t exist yet, it is created.

Initialization reads in the document types from the `CFBundleDocumentTypes` property list (in `Info.plist`), registers the instance for [`willPowerOffNotification`](/documentation/AppKit/NSWorkspace/willPowerOffNotification)s, and turns on the flag indicating that document user interfaces should be visible. You should always obtain your application’s `NSDocumentController` using this method.

## See Also

[`setShouldCreateUI:`](/documentation/AppKit/NSDocumentController/setShouldCreateUI:)

Sets whether the window controllers of a document should be created when the document is created.

[Developing a Document-Based App](/documentation/AppKit/developing-a-document-based-app)

Write an app that creates, manages, edits, and saves text documents.


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