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Leopard Reference
Carbon is a set of C APIs offering developers an advanced user interface tool kit, event handling, the Quartz 2D graphics library, and multiprocessing support. Developers have access to other C and C++ APIs, including the OpenGL drawing system and the Mach microkernel.

A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to Carbon.   Essential information for developers using procedural C.   C API references organized by framework.
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Core Text Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes general Core Text functions and data types.
Text & Fonts 2007-04-21
CTFramesetter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type that generates text frames.
Text & Fonts 2007-04-21
CTParagraphStyle Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes paragraph or ruler attributes in an attributed string.
Text & Fonts 2007-04-21
QLPreviewRequest Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type for handling requests for Quick Look document previews.
User Experience 2007-04-20
HIView Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating view-based controls and menus in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2007-04-13
Quick Look Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for creating plug-ins that generate Quick Look previews and thumbnails.
User Experience 2007-04-13
Image I/O Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for reading and writing image data.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-04-09
Icon Services and Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for manipulating and drawing icons in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2007-04-06
Thread Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating cooperatively scheduled threads in Carbon applications.
Process Management 2007-04-04
Control Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating Carbon controls.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2007-03-26
Fonts Panel Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing a Fonts window in a Carbon application.
Graphics & Imaging, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2007-02-26
Multilingual Text Engine Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting Unicode text editing.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2007-02-19
Appearance Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for coordinating the look of the standard Mac OS human interface.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2007-01-23
Quartz 2D Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the native two-dimensional drawing engine in Mac OS X.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-18
Alias Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and managing persistent references to file system objects.
File Management 2006-12-05
Finder Interface Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes several C data types used by the Finder to contain information about file system objects.
File Management, Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2006-10-31
Date, Time, and Measurement Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for manipulating the locale-specific data of the battery-operated clock.
Internationalization 2006-09-29
Menu Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and managing an application's menus.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2006-09-15
Navigation Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for presenting a user interface for opening, saving, and navigating files.
File Management, User Experience 2006-08-16
ABPerson C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that encapsulates information about a person in Address Book.
Apple Applications 2006-07-26
Component Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an interface for using shared code resources.
Runtime Architecture 2006-07-17
Apple Game Sprockets Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the programming interface defined by Game Sprockets. Replaced by Quartz Display Services.
Games, Graphics & Imaging 2006-07-13
Find By Content Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for performing relevance-ranked searches. Replaced by Search Kit.
Data Management, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2006-07-13
HTML Rendering Library Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for drawing HTML text and images in a window. Replaced by the Web Kit.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-07-13
Launch Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an API for opening documents, other applications, and URLs, in a way similar to the Finder or the Dock.
File Management, Interapplication Communication 2006-07-13
Low Memory Accessors Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for obtaining information stored in low-memory variables.
Resource Management 2006-07-13
MDLineage Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for tracking versions of a file.
File Management 2006-07-13
Palette Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API used to select colors for display devices limited to an 8-bit pixel depth.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-07-13
Picture Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for reading and modifying image data stored in PICT-formatted files. Replaced by Quartz2D.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-07-13
Power Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy C API for controlling power to the internal hardware devices of battery-powered Macintosh computers.
Resource Management 2006-07-13
QuickDraw Text Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for measuring and drawing text. Replaced by ATSUI.
Text & Fonts 2006-07-13
Spotlight Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API used to define Apple's desktop search technology, Spotlight.
File Management 2006-07-13
TextEdit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the deprecated technology replaced by the Multilingual Text Engine (MLTE).
Text & Fonts 2006-07-13
URL Access Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for transferring data to and from a URL from within an application. Replaced by CFNetwork.
File Management, Internet & Web, Networking 2006-07-13
Apple Help Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for finding and displaying help content using Apple's HTML-based help system.
User Experience 2006-07-12
Drag Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for dragging objects within the user interface.
Interapplication Communication, User Experience 2006-07-12
Folder Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for finding and accessing directories, including common Mac OS X system locations.
File Management 2006-07-12
Memory Management Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for accessing global variables and managing the operating-system queue.
Resource Management 2006-07-12
Pascal String Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for manipulating Pascal strings in Carbon applications.
Runtime Architecture, Text & Fonts 2006-07-12
SCSI Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the C API for accessing SCSI devices in Classic Mac OS. Replaced by the I/O Kit.
Resource Management 2006-07-12
Translation Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for handling data and documents between applications, including applications from another operating system.
File Management 2006-07-12
MDItem Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the metadata attributes for a file.
File Management 2006-06-28
Address Book C Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting and working with Address Book.
Apple Applications 2006-05-23
Byte-Order Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Core Foundation byte-order functions.
Intel-Based Macs 2006-05-23
QuickTime Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for QuickTime.
QuickTime 2006-05-23
Time Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for scheduling routines for execution at a later time.
Resource Management 2006-03-08
Carbon Accessibility Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for making Carbon applications accessible to assistive technologies.
Accessibility 2006-02-07
Ink Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the C API for customizing handwriting recognition.
Events & Other Input 2006-01-10
Unicode Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that allows applications and input methods to operate on Unicode text.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2006-01-10
Mac OS X ABI Dynamic Loader Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions used to access Mach-O files.
Runtime Architecture 2005-11-09
Mathematical and Logical Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for mathematical and logical data manipulation.
Data Management 2005-11-09
Text Services Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for communicating between client applications and provider modules.
Events & Other Input, Text & Fonts 2005-11-09
Authorization Services C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for adding fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Security 2005-11-08
HIToolbar Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating toolbars in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2005-09-08
HIArchive Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for storing and retrieving data in HIArchives.
Human Interface Toolbox, Interapplication Communication, User Experience 2005-08-11
HIObject Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating human interface objects in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2005-08-11
Code Fragment Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for loading and preparing PEF binaries.
Runtime Architecture 2005-07-07
Keychain Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy C API for managing passwords for multiple users and databases. Replaced by Keychain Services.
Security 2005-07-07
Open Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon compatibility library for accessing TCP/IP networks at the transport level.
Networking 2005-07-07
Text Encoding Conversion Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for transferring text across other platforms or over the Internet.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2005-07-07
ColorSync Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for ColorSync, the platform-independent color management system in Mac OS X.
Graphics & Imaging 2005-06-04
MDQuery Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a metadata query.
File Management 2005-06-04
ABRecord C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that represents a generic Address Book record.
Apple Applications 2005-04-29
MDImporter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the plug-in architecture and callbacks required by a document metadata importer.
File Management 2005-04-29
MDSchema Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a metadata schema.
File Management 2005-04-29
Secure Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating a Secure Sockets Layer session over any transport layer.
Security 2004-08-31
HIShape Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon API for manipulating HIShape objects.
Graphics & Imaging, Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2004-06-28
Carbon Help Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for displaying short onscreen hints in help tags.
User Experience 2004-03-01
Interface Builder Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for unarchiving interface objects.
Tools, User Experience 2004-02-17
ABGroup Reference for C (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type used to group Address Book records.
Apple Applications 2003-08-20
ABMultiValue Reference for C (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for accessing Address Book properties with multiple values.
Apple Applications 2003-08-20
Printing Plug-in Interfaces Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the various callback interfaces that Mac OS X printing plug-ins implement in Carbon.
Printing 2003-07-31
Internet Config Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy technology for managing Internet preferences in Classic Mac OS.
Networking 2003-05-01
Collection Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for implementing an abstract data type that stores related pieces of information.
Data Management 2003-04-01
Language Analysis Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon shared library that performs morphological analysis for Japanese text.
Internationalization 2003-04-01
Mixed Mode Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface that supports PowerPC computers running 680x0 code.
Runtime Architecture 2003-04-01
Speech Recognition Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C interface for recognizing and accepting spoken input.
Accessibility, Events & Other Input, User Experience 2003-02-01
Debugger Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for standard exception-handling and assertion functions used in Carbon applications.
Performance 2003-01-01
Error Handler Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for a Mac OS 9 service that assumes control when certain low-level system errors occur.
Performance 2003-01-01
Notification Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by background applications to communicate information to the user.
Events & Other Input 2002-12-01
Keyboard Layout Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for managing key-to-character mappings used to support various languages.
Events & Other Input, Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2002-11-18
Ticket Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by printer modules and PDEs to communicate printing information to the system.
Printing 2002-10-23
FontSync Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for content-based font identification and comparison.
Text & Fonts 2002-10-01
MIDI File Format (HTML)
Describes the QuickTime implementation of the MIDI file standard.
Audio 2002-09-17
Locale Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting conventions of a specific language or region.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2002-01-24
Sound Manager 3.3 (HTML)
Deprecated - Summary of Sound Manager legacy releases 3.1, 3.2.1, and 3.3.
Audio 2001-11-15
Carbon Result Codes Index (HTML)
An alphabetic list of result codes in the Carbon application environment, with links to their API reference pages.
General
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 3.3 Compiler (HTML)
Explains how to use the GNU compilers from the command line.
Tools