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Leopard Reference Library
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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Can I have parameters of type typeHIRect instead of type typeQDRectangle in my kEventControlBoundsChanged message handler? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1246: Details the automatic coercions between QuickDraw and Quartz types provided by the Carbon Event Parameter accessors.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2003-04-03
FSSetCatalogInfo versus UID and GID (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1251: Describes why FSSetCatalogInfo does not set the UID and GID of the file, and provides a work around.
File Management Technical Q&As 2003-03-26
Internet Connect Speed (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1165: Describes how to get the modem connection speed from the System Configuration framework dynamic store.
Core Foundation Technical Q&As 2003-03-26
How do I use PMSessionGetGraphicsContext to get a CGContextRef? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QA1216: Describes how to use PMSessionSetDocumentFormatGeneration and PMSessionGetGraphicsContext to get a CGContextRef for printing.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing Technical Q&As 2003-02-25
Quartz 2D Thread Safety (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1238: Explains the thread-safety issues for the Quartz 2D API.
Graphics & Imaging, Performance, Printing, Process Management Technical Q&As 2003-02-25
Accessing HTTPS Proxy Settings (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1234: Describes how to programatically access Secure Web Proxy information.
Networking Technical Q&As 2003-02-19
Text Encodings in VFS (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1173: How to handle text encodings correctly when writing a file system (VFS) plug-in for Mac OS X.
File Management Technical Q&As 2003-02-10
Converting to Precomposed Unicode (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1235: Describes how to convert a string to precomposed Unicode.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts Technical Q&As 2003-02-07
File Manager Text Encoding Hints (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1223: How to use Text Encoding Hints.
File Management Technical Q&As 2003-01-20
Using Clip Region and Buffer Rectangles with OpenGL Carbon (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1222: Shows the basics of using buffer rectangles and clip regions with AGL.
Games, Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 2002-12-19
How do I tell if a particular display is being hardware accelerated by Quartz Extreme? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1218: Describes how to use CGDisplayUsesOpenGLAcceleration to see if a display is accelerated or not.
Games, Graphics & Imaging, Performance Technical Q&As 2002-12-04
How can I programmatically determine the DPI of the current video mode? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1217: Describes how to compute the DPI for a given display in a given mode using Core Graphics.
Games, Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 2002-12-02
GetProcAdress and OpenGL Entry Points (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1188: Technique for finding function pointers for OpenGL entry points in Cocoa and Carbon
Games, Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 2002-11-25
Problems recording CopyBits into a PICT on Mac OS X 10.2 (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1189: Identifies a problem with CopyBits and PICT on Mac OS X 10.2 and gives a simple workaround.
Graphics & Imaging, Porting Technical Q&As 2002-11-19
Are the root control, the root view, and the content view the same entity? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1214: Details the differences and similitudes between the root control, the root view, and the content view of windows.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2002-11-12
CGContext parameter missing in my kEventControlDraw event (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1212: Explains in which case your kEventControlDraw handler wouldn't receive a CGContext parameter.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2002-11-12
Do I have to call CreateRootControl after creating my window? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1215: Explains when and when not to call CreateRootControl after creating a window.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2002-11-12
HIObjectRegisterSubclass returns paramErr (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1213: Explains in which case HIObjectRegisterSubclass would return paramErr and gives a work around.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2002-11-12
What is the minimal set of Carbon Events I need to override in order to implement a simple custom push button? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1210: Details the minimal set of Carbon Events needed to implement a simple custom push button HIView.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2002-11-12
QDSwapPort (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1128: Explains when to use QDSwapPort.
Graphics & Imaging, Porting Technical Q&As 2002-11-06
Using cmPathBased profile locations on Mac OS X (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1203: Shows how to correctly specify cmPath-based profile locations on Mac OS X
Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 2002-11-06
Quartz 2D Interpolation (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1186: Explains how to control Quartz 2D's image interpolation.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing Technical Q&As 2002-10-29
QuickDraw Text Anti-Aliasing using Quartz 2D (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1193: Describes APIs added to Mac OS X to allow applications to draw QD text using CG anti-aliasing.
Graphics & Imaging, Porting Technical Q&As 2002-10-29
URL Access and the Missing Progress Dialog (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QA1140: Explains a known bug in URL Access related to progress dialogs.
Networking Technical Q&As 2002-09-23
Setting request headers in URL Access (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QA1073: Explains how to work around a bug in URL Access when setting request headers.
Networking Technical Q&As 2002-09-10
Preserving embedded ICC profiles when using QuickTime Graphics Importer/Exporters (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1145: Shows how to preserve the embedded ICC profile when using the QuickTime Graphics Importer/Exporter routines
Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 2002-09-04
Process Carbon Events Not Delivered in 10.2 (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1181: Work around for a bug in Mac OS X 10.2 that prevents the delivery of process Carbon events.
Events & Other Input, Human Interface Toolbox, Process Management Technical Q&As 2002-08-27
Signals and Threads (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1184: Describes how threads and signals interact.
Process Management Technical Q&As 2002-08-27
Resource forks in Mach-O binaries (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1175: Advises against using resource forks in Mach-O binaries.
Human Interface Toolbox, Resource Management, Runtime Architecture Technical Q&As 2002-08-07
Using Navigation Services to filter QuickTime files (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1152: Using the CanQuickTimeOpenFile function in a Navigation Services filter to display files that QuickTime can open.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2002-07-15
My ListBox control works fine on Mac OS X but I get a crash on Mac OS 9 when I click in the scrollbar (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1156: Explains the requirements for the use of the Listbox Control on Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2002-07-12
Base-Derived async image codecs must implement ImageCodecQueueStarting and ImageCodecQueueStopping (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1157: Describes why base-derived codecs that set canAsync must implement ImageCodecQueueStarting and ImageCodecQueueStopping.
QuickTime Technical Q&As 2002-07-09
How can I set the default location with the modern Navigation APIs NavCreatexxx? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1151: Explains how to set the default location with a NavCustomControl call using the kNavCtlSetLocation message in the Event Proc.
File Management, Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2002-07-01
Retrieving Data from AEDesc Records - do not use the dataHandle field (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1139: Describes the correct way to access data stored in AEDesc records.
Interapplication Communication Technical Q&As 2002-04-10
Why isn't my Static Text Control deactivating when my other controls are? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1125: Explains why a Static Text Control is not deactivating when the other controls are.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2002-03-11
MPRemoteCall Contexts (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1122: Describes two recently introduced options for the context parameter of MPRemoteCall.
Process Management Technical Q&As 2002-02-18
The "/.vol" directory and "volfs" (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1113: Describes how the Carbon File Manager interacts with BSD via "volfs" and the "/.vol" directory.
File Management Technical Q&As 2002-02-14
Current GDevice Dependencies (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1115: Describes potential problems with creating windows or ports when the current GDevice isn't the main device.
Games, Graphics & Imaging, Porting Technical Q&As 2002-02-13
Power Management; Policy Maker vs. Power Controller (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1121: Describes the differences between a Power Management Policy Maker and a Power Management Power Controller.
Events & Other Input, Process Management Technical Q&As 2002-02-13
Static linking of user binaries on Mac OS X (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1118: Explains why static linking of user binaries is not supported on Mac OS X, and possible workarounds.
Runtime Architecture Technical Q&As 2002-02-07
Adding an automated Window menu to your application (HTML)
QA1080: Explains how to add an automated Window menu to your Carbon application.
Design Guidelines, Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2001-10-30
Enabling the application menu's "Preferences..." menu item on Mac OS X (HTML)
QA1079: Explains how to enable the application menu's "Preferences..." menu item on Mac OS X.
Design Guidelines, Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2001-10-30
Getting the User and Computer Name (HTML)
QA1078: Describes how to get the user and computer name on Mac OS X.
Networking Technical Q&As 2001-10-30
The intermittent behavior of SetDialogItemText (HTML)
Deprecated - QA1082: Explains why SetDialogItemText may seem to not work correctly if you have embedding turned on.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 2001-10-30
QuickTime and Carbon Events (HTML)
QA1090: Discusses how to ensure smooth movie playback when using Carbon Events in an application.
Design Guidelines Technical Q&As 2001-10-26
Setting environment variables for user processes (HTML)
QA1067: Tells how to set environment variables for user processes.
Data Management, Games, Interapplication Communication, Porting, Process Management, Resource Management, Runtime Architecture, Tools Technical Q&As 2001-10-25
CGContextClosePath (HTML)
QA1046: Explains when you should call CGContextClosePath.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing Technical Q&As 2001-10-02
How to use URL Access with proxy servers (HTML)
Deprecated - QA1074: Explains how to use URL Access with proxy servers.
Networking Technical Q&As 2001-10-02
Saving the current Core Graphics Path (HTML)
QA1056: Explains that the Core Graphics save and restore GState APIs do not affect the path.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing Technical Q&As 2001-10-02
Avoiding Kernel Event Conflicts (HTML)
QA1063: Documents the namespace for the vendor_code field of the kern_event_msg structure.
Process Management Technical Q&As 2001-09-14
Installing input methods on Mac OS X (HTML)
QA1054: Describes how to install and use input methods on Mac OS X.
Human Interface Toolbox, Interapplication Communication, Text & Fonts Technical Q&As 2001-09-14
Carbon Full Screen Conundrums (HTML)
QA1068: Describes the available Mac OS X DrawSprocket services.
Games Technical Q&As 2001-08-20
CGContext Bounds (HTML)
QA1048: Explains how to determine the bounds of a CGContext.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing Technical Q&As 2001-07-02
CGContextAddLineToPoint, CGContextAddCurveToPoint, et. al. (HTML)
QA1049: Explains why the CGContextAddXYZ APIs don't draw anything immediately.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing Technical Q&As 2001-07-02
Drawing a Path Multiple Times (HTML)
QA1047: Explains that path drawing operations consume the path.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing Technical Q&As 2001-07-02
How do I use kMPCreateTaskSuspendedMask with MPCreateTask? (HTML)
QA1055: Describes how to start a task that has been suspended with the ability to resume it later.
Process Management, Runtime Architecture Technical Q&As 2001-07-02
Turning Off Core Graphics Clipping (HTML)
QA1050: Explains how to clear the clipping path for a CGContext.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing Technical Q&As 2001-07-02
Unexpected CG state changes (HTML)
QA1045: Explains why the Core Graphics drawing state sometimes changes for no apparent reason.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing Technical Q&As 2001-07-02
HID Manager Event Data Underruns (HTML)
QA1038: Explains how to correctly handle HID Manager event queue data underruns.
Apple Applications, User Experience Technical Q&As 2001-06-13
Targeting DebuggingCarbonLib asserts (HTML)
Deprecated - QA1033: Describes how to focus DebuggingCarbonLib asserts to a single application.
Runtime Architecture Technical Q&As 2001-05-04
ICLaunchURL, "file:///" URLs and Mac OS X (HTML)
QA1028: Describes problems with ICLaunchURL and "file:///" URLs on Mac OS X.
Process Management Technical Q&As 2001-04-20
Improving ATSUI Text Drawing Performance (HTML)
QA1027: Talks about one way of improving ATSUI text drawing performance.
Graphics & Imaging, Text & Fonts Technical Q&As 2001-04-17
How do I use QuickDraw with CGDirectDisplay? (HTML)
QA1011: Explains how to draw to a CGDirectDisplay-captured display using QuickDraw.
Games, Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 2001-04-11
Calling AppleScript from an Application (HTML)
QA1026: Describes how to call an AppleScript from an application written in C.
Interapplication Communication Technical Q&As 2001-04-10
Disconnected aliases on CD-ROM and Alias Manager (HTML)
OPS05: Explains why aliases may become disconnected on a CD-ROM.
File Management Technical Q&As 2001-03-26
Creating Sub GWorlds using QTNewGWorldFromPtr (HTML)
QA1014: Using QTNewGWorldFromPtr to create sub GWorlds which reference the pixel data of other GWorlds.
QuickTime Technical Q&As 2001-03-20
Extracting DV Fields using QTNewGWorldFromPtr (HTML)
QA1017: Describes using QTNewGWorldFromPtr to access individual fields contained within a frame of DV source.
QuickTime Technical Q&As 2001-03-20
WaitMouseUp documentation errata (HTML)
QA1008: Specifies the correct behavior of the WaitMouseUp function.
Events & Other Input Technical Q&As 2001-02-27
LockPixels and DisposeGWorld with QTNewGWorldFromPtr (HTML)
QA1007: Clarifies some issues surrounding pointer ownership when creating GWorlds with QTNewGWorldFromPtr
QuickTime Technical Q&As 2001-02-26
BowelsOfTheMemoryManager (aka YourHeapIsProbablyCorrupt) (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - ME05: What the symbol BowelsoftheMemoryManager means and the most probable cause of this symbol in MacsBug.
Data Management Technical Q&As 2001-02-01
CalcCMask and SeedCFill in Carbon (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QD62: Explains how to use CalcCMask and SeedCFill in Carbon even though Carbon doesn't support OpenPort.
Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 2000-11-08
GetPortBitMapForCopyBits (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QD61: Describes the proper usage of GetPortBitMapForCopyBits.
Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 2000-11-08
QDFlushPortBuffer (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QD65: Describes a possible solution for window update problems under Carbon.
Events & Other Input, Graphics & Imaging, Human Interface Toolbox, Porting Technical Q&As 2000-11-08
Open Transport Libraries (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
NW18: Lists the Open Transport libraries and what to link with for PowerPC and 68K.
Networking Technical Q&As 2000-11-03
Detecting Classic and Carbon X Environments (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
OV03: Describes how to find out if your application is running in the Classic environment in Mac OS X.
Porting, Runtime Architecture Technical Q&As 2000-10-16
Finding your application's directory (HTML)
FL14: Demonstrates finding your application's directory and setting it as the default directory.
File Management Technical Q&As 2000-06-19
The 'vers' Resource and Your Place in the World (HTML)
TX14: Setting the correct country code in the 'vers' resource to reflect the application's localization.
Resource Management Technical Q&As 2000-05-01
Are there any OSStatus values I can use in my programs? (HTML)
OV02: Describes OSStatus values that generate errors without colliding with reserved Apple system values.
Design Guidelines Technical Q&As 1999-11-22
PBLockRange with a zero-length range (HTML)
FL13: Describes the afpRangeOverlap error and a work around.
File Management Technical Q&As 1999-11-22
Raw IP and Open Transport 2.5.x (HTML)
Deprecated - NW63: Discusses Open Transport 2.5's change to the behavior of raw IP endpoints with IP_HDRINCL set.
Networking Technical Q&As 1999-10-25
Accessing File Control Blocks (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
FL10: Shows how to access file control blocks correctly, reiterating not to access FCBs directly.
File Management Technical Q&As 1999-10-05
Detecting specific ROM-in-RAM Mac (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - HW49: Identifying a Mac by name ("iMac"), and better alternatives for determining specific features ("has Firewire").
Design Guidelines, Runtime Architecture Technical Q&As 1999-10-05
Synchronizing Sounds to Video (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - SND19: Enabling regular sound callbacks under Mac OS 9 and Sound Manager 4.0.
Audio Technical Q&As 1999-10-05
Synchronous SysBeep (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - SND18: Obtaining a synchronous SysBeep with Sound Manager 3.1.
Audio Technical Q&As 1999-10-05
Setting a UserPane's feature (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TB64: Explains how to set up the control attributes when creating controls, and UserPanes in particular.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 1999-09-27
Allocate and Disk Full Error (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
FL12: Discusses a problem with AFP volumes displaying incorrect free space, and returning disk full errors.
File Management, Networking Technical Q&As 1999-07-21
MACE Restrictions (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - SND16: MACE algorithms only support the compression of 8-bit offset binary sound.
Audio Technical Q&As 1999-06-08
Setting a Control's Variant Field (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - TB63: Details how to change the variant of a custom control after creating the control.
Human Interface Toolbox Technical Q&As 1999-05-03
TCP/IP Option Sizes (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
NW62: Enumerates the TCP/IP options and their sizes for Open Transport.
Networking, Porting Technical Q&As 1999-04-26
fBroadCastAddr Always Zero (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - NW58: Explains why the fBroadcastAddr field may be zero after a call to OTInetGetInterfaceInfo and includes the workaround.
Networking Technical Q&As 1999-03-08
Securely Erasing, Accessing and Dismounting a Macintosh Partition (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
FL11: Set up a disk for secure erasures. Resources with information on magnetic disks, information recovery.
Data Management, Design Guidelines, File Management, User Experience Technical Q&As 1999-01-11
Moving the Menu Bar (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - TB54: Describes how to move the menubar to another Macintosh Display and why this move is unadvisable.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Technical Q&As 1998-12-22
grayishTextOr and Mac OS 8.5 (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QD59: Explains why text drawn using TextMode(grayishTextOr) is never drawn; provides a workaround.
Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 1998-12-07
Determining if a Drive is a Network Volume (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
NW09: Shows how to determine if a volume is mounted over the network.
File Management, Networking Technical Q&As 1998-06-01
Numerous Small Packet Exchanges Resultin Poor TCP Performance (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
NW26: Explains why numerous small package exchanges result in poor TCP performance.
Networking Technical Q&As 1998-05-25
Capturing Speech Manager Output (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - SND15: Capturing the output from the Speech Synthesis Manager to a file.
Audio Technical Q&As 1998-05-18
Recording Compressed Sounds (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - SND14: Sound Manager and sound input driver compression options are limited to allow interrupt time recording.
Audio Technical Q&As 1998-04-12
siMonitorSource Selector (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - SND13: Using the sound output siMonitorAvailable, and siMonitorSource selectors.
Audio Technical Q&As 1998-04-12
siOSTypeInput Selectors (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - SND12: The use of siOSTypeInputSource, and siOSTypeInputAvailable selectors and extracting the siOSTypeInputAvailable OSTypes returned.
Audio Technical Q&As 1998-04-12
Parsing the PICT File Format (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QD56: Explains where to find information on the PICT file format and warns against parsing a PICT file.
Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 1998-02-10