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Leopard Reference Library: Cocoa
Cocoa is an object-oriented application environment designed specifically for developing Mac OS X-only native applications. The Cocoa frameworks support text input and display, handle fonts, convert text encodings, search text, and perform sophisticated typography.

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IMKServerInput Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to receive text events.
Reference 2009-05-06
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting user searches of textual content.
Reference 2009-05-06
Text System Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system works. Includes a tutorial.
Guides 2009-04-08
NSATSTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a typesetter that places glyphs for text layout.
Reference 2009-03-04
NSString Application Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for drawing strings.
Reference 2009-02-04
NSGlyphStorage Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface between a glyph generator and glyph storage.
Reference 2009-01-06
NSSpeechSynthesizer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa parser that converts text to speech.
Reference 2009-01-06
NSLayoutManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for controlling text layout.
Reference 2008-12-20
NSAttributedString Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a character string with attributes.
Reference 2008-10-15
NSMutableParagraphStyle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable paragraph style.
Reference 2008-10-15
NSTextInputClient Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving keyboard input as properly formed text.
Reference 2008-10-15
String Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create, search, concatenate, and draw strings in Cocoa.
Guides 2008-10-15
Text Layout Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system lays out text on pages.
Guides 2008-10-15
DerivedProperty (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Illustrates use of Core Data derived properties to make searching against string data more efficient.
Sample Code 2008-06-04
NSText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a basic interface for text-bearing objects.
Reference 2008-05-06
Drawing attributed strings that are both filled and stroked (HTML)
QA1531: Describes how the value of NSStrokeWidthAttributeName indicates fill, stroke, or both, in attributed strings.
Technical Q&As 2008-03-25
Disabling text completion in an NSTextField (HTML)
QA1553: Shows how to implement a delegate method provided by NSControl to disable automatic text completion.
Technical Q&As 2008-02-27
Font Handling (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the Cocoa font management system and how users select fonts.
Guides 2008-02-08
Text Editing Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to control the behavior of the Cocoa text system as it performs text editing.
Guides 2008-02-08
Connecting the Font Menu in Interface Builder 3 (HTML)
QA1571: How to connect and configure the Font/Format menus in Interface Builder 3.
Technical Q&As 2008-01-21
NSAttributedString Application Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for analyzing and using attributed strings.
Reference 2007-12-04
NSSecureTextFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a secure text field.
Reference 2007-10-31
Rulers and Paragraph Styles (HTML) (PDF)
Explains paragraph styles and how to work with the rulers that enable users to manipulate them.
Guides 2007-09-04
Input Method Kit Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Input Method Kit framework.
Release Notes 2007-07-18
Input Method Kit Release Note (HTML)
Describes an Objective-C framework for building input methods for Chinese, Japanese, and other languages.
Release Notes 2007-07-17
NSFont Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a font.
Reference 2007-06-08
IMKInputController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that controls input on the input method side.
Reference 2007-06-06
IMKServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that manages connections to input method clients.
Reference 2007-06-06
Input Method Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for building input methods for Chinese, Japanese, and other languages.
Reference 2007-06-06
IMKCandidates Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports the use of candidate windows for an input method.
Reference 2007-06-05
IMKMouseHandling Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to receive mouse events for an input method client session.
Reference 2007-06-05
IMKStateSetting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to set or access state values for an input method client session.
Reference 2007-06-05
IMKTextInput Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to send and obtain data from an input method client session.
Reference 2007-06-05
Attributed Strings Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use attributed strings, which manage attributes of character strings or individual characters.
Guides 2007-06-04
TextLayoutDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Customizing NSTextView with NSLayoutManager and a custom NSTextContainer.
Sample Code 2007-06-01
Dictionary Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create a dictionary and access it programmatically.
Guides 2007-05-30
Dictionary Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C and C routines that support programmatic access to dictionaries.
Reference 2007-05-29
NSSpellChecker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface to the Cocoa spell-checking service.
Reference 2007-04-27
NSSpellServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application-defined spell-checking service.
Reference 2007-04-27
NSTextView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that displays editable text.
Reference 2007-04-27
NSTextTable Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a block of text that represents a table.
Reference 2007-04-11
NSFontManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for controlling font conversion.
Reference 2007-04-06
NSInputServerMouseTracker Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol implemented by text input servers to handle mouse events.
Reference 2007-04-02
NSInputServiceProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol implemented by text input servers to handle application and text field events.
Reference 2007-04-02
NSInputManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used by text views to communicate with the text input management system.
Reference 2007-04-01
NSInputServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that interprets text view events and communicates them to the text input management system.
Reference 2007-04-01
NSTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for typesetter objects that perform text line layout.
Reference 2007-03-26
NSGlyphInfo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a glyph attribute value in an attributed string.
Reference 2007-03-01
Text Input Management (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use input servers, input managers, and text views in Cocoa.
Guides 2007-02-08
Text Attachment Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Expalins how to add graphics and other attachments to text.
Guides 2006-12-05
NSFontAttributeExplorer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to gather and display various metric information for installed fonts using NSFont.
Sample Code 2006-10-26
How to make NSTextField accept tab, return and enter keys. (HTML)
QA1454: Describes how to make the NSTextField control accept tab, return and enter keys by using the control's dispatch delegate method.
Technical Q&As 2006-10-09
Embedding Hyperlinks in NSTextField and NSTextView (HTML)
QA1487: Shows how a Cocoa app can embed a hyperlink inside both NSTextField and NSTextView using NSAttributedString.
Technical Q&As 2006-10-02
Disabling and Enabling an NSTextView (HTML)
QA1461: Shows how a Cocoa application can disable and enable an NSTextView.
Technical Q&As 2006-09-11
Find By Content Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for performing relevance-ranked searches. Replaced by Search Kit.
Reference 2006-07-13
NSMutableAttributedString Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable character string with attributes.
Reference 2006-06-28
Text System User Interface Layer Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement the main, high-level interface to the Cocoa text system.
Guides 2006-06-28
NSChangeSpelling Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for correcting a misspelled word.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSGlyphGenerator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a glyph generator for text layout.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSIgnoreMisspelledWords Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for a spelling checker's ignored words list.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSMutableAttributedString Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for setting attributes of mutable attributed strings.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSParagraphStyle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable paragraph style.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSRulerMarker Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a marker on a ruler, such as a tab setting.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSRulerView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a ruler, with markers, that adjoins a scroll view's document view.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSecureTextField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field that hides its text.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSimpleHorizontalTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the deprecated technology replaced by NSATSTypesetter.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextAttachment Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text attachment for an attributed string.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextAttachmentCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface for a text attachment.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextBlock Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a block of text laid out in a subregion of a text container.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextContainer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an area where text is laid out.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextInput Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the formal protocol that text views implement to receive input from the user's keyboard and mouse.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextList Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a section of text that forms a single list.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextStorage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the text storage system.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextTab Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a tab in a paragraph style.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextTableBlock Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a block of text that appears as a cell within a table.
Reference 2006-05-23
Search Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Search Kit architecture and workflow, and how to add search capabilities to Carbon and Cocoa applications.
Guides 2005-12-06
Text System Storage Layer Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system stores the information it needs to lay out text.
Guides 2005-08-11
PasteboardPeeker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using pasteboards for Copy and Paste, Drag and Drop, service support and filter services.
Sample Code 2005-08-10
Frequently Asked Text Services Manager (TSM) Questions (HTML)
TN2128: Regroups a collection of Text Services Manager (TSM) questions frequently asked by Input Method Developers
Technical Notes 2005-06-24
Sorting Like the Finder (HTML)
QA1159: Shows how to sort strings like the Finder's list view.
Technical Q&As 2004-10-27
Font Panel (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Cocoa Font panel.
Guides 2004-08-31
Text Attributes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to work with attributes, the distinguishing characteristics of rich text.
Guides 2004-02-16
Text Input and Output (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to read and write text files in Cocoa.
Guides 2004-02-10
Spell Checking (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the spell-checking facilities in the Cocoa text system.
Guides 2004-02-09
Text Fields (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text fields.
Guides 2004-02-09
Text Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text views.
Guides 2004-02-09
TipWrapper (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to wrap long tool tips into multiple lines in Cocoa.
Sample Code 2003-12-18
InkSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates some usage scenarios for the Ink.Framework APIs.
Sample Code 2003-10-27
Converting to Precomposed Unicode (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1235: Describes how to convert a string to precomposed Unicode.
Technical Q&As 2003-02-07
LayoutManagerDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the layout manager using rollovers with different colors for lines, words and characters under the mouse.
Sample Code 2003-01-14
NamingTableAccess (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Digs out the contents of the NamingTable in a TrueType 'sfnt'.
Sample Code 2003-01-14
TextViewConfig (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Configuration of multiple layout managers and multiple text container/text view pairs on a single text storage.
Sample Code 2003-01-14
TextViewDelegate (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates using a text view's delegate to control selection and user input.
Sample Code 2003-01-14