Jump To:
Leopard Reference Library: Cocoa
User experience encompasses the visual appearance, interactive behavior, and assistive capabilities of software. From an application's graphical user interface to its use of additional technologies such as speech recognition and speech synthesis, a cohesive and professional user experience is what Mac users have come to expect. Cocoa provides a complete suite of Interface Builder palettes and programmatic interfaces that developers can use to deliver this experience in their applications.

View all User Experience Reference Library.
Document Descriptions
On Off
Display

Sorted by
Title
Sort by
Resource Type
Sort by
Date
NSComboBoxDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving data requests from an NSComboBox object.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSControl Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for views that respond to user actions by sending action messages.
Reference 2008-10-15
NSCursor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the appearance of the user interface cursor.
Reference 2009-01-06
NSDate - Natural language date parsing in early Leopard releases (HTML)
QA1581: Acknowledges a regression in +dateWithNaturalLanguageString: behavior of NSDate which is fixed as of 10.5.2.
Technical Q&As 2008-02-27
NSDateFormatter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a date formatter.
Reference 2008-11-19
NSDatePicker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for displaying and editing a date.
Reference 2008-06-09
NSDatePickerCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell for displaying and editing a date.
Reference 2008-06-09
NSDockTile Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for customizing an application's dock tiles
Reference 2009-03-04
NSDrawer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a retractable user interface element that displays view objects.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSErrorRecoveryAttempting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for attempting recovery from runtime errors.
Reference 2007-02-23
NSFontPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the panel for font selection.
Reference 2007-04-06
NSFontPanelValidation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for validating fonts.
Reference 2007-04-06
NSForm Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a vertical matrix of NSFormCell objects.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSFormatter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for formatter objects.
Reference 2007-07-09
NSFormCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a title and text entry field in an NSForm object.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSHelpManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application-level help system.
Reference 2009-02-04
NSImageCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that displays an image in a frame, usually in a control.
Reference 2009-01-06
NSImageView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that displays an image.
Reference 2007-01-22
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
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
NSLevelIndicator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for displaying a rank or amount along a linear scale.
Reference 2007-03-01
NSLevelIndicatorCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell used for displaying a rank or amount along a linear scale.
Reference 2007-03-01
NSLocale Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a locale.
Reference 2008-02-08
NSMatrix Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a group of cell objects that work together in various ways.
Reference 2008-10-15
NSMenu Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application menu.
Reference 2008-02-08
NSMenuItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a menu item.
Reference 2008-02-08
NSMenuItem Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes a deprecated protocol replaced by the NSMenuItem class.
Reference 2007-02-08
NSMenuItemCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated class replaced by the NSMenuItem class.
Reference 2007-03-07
NSMenuValidation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for enabling and disabling menu items.
Reference 2007-03-02
NSMenuView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated class replaced by the NSMenu class.
Reference 2009-02-04
NSNumberFormatter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a number formatter.
Reference 2008-11-19
NSOpenGLView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view for OpenGL drawing.
Reference 2007-01-26
NSOpenPanel - Choosing any file and ignoring packages (HTML)
QA1468: Explains how to configure NSOpenPanel to filter only files and ignoring packages.
Technical Q&As 2007-01-25
NSOpenPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the panel that a user employs to locate and open a file.
Reference 2009-02-04
NSOutlineView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a row-and-column format view for displaying hierarchical data.
Reference 2009-02-04
NSOutlineViewDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used by an outline view to retrieve data and, optionally, to update data values.
Reference 2007-02-19
NSPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a window for performing auxiliary functions in an application.
Reference 2009-01-06
NSPasteboard Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a pasteboard.
Reference 2008-10-15
NSPathCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a path control object.
Reference 2007-04-11
NSPathCellDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used to customize a pop-up-style control that represents a path.
Reference 2007-04-11
NSPathComponentCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a component of a path control.
Reference 2007-04-11
NSPathControl Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control representing a file path or virtual path.
Reference 2007-04-11
NSPathControlDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used to support dragging and pop-up menu customization in path controls.
Reference 2007-04-11
NSPopUpButton Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for displaying pull-down or pop-up lists of items.
Reference 2008-10-15
NSPopUpButtonCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell used in the display of pull-down or pop-up menus.
Reference 2008-10-15
NSPredicateEditor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a graphical predicate editor.
Reference 2008-10-15
NSPredicateEditorRowTemplate Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a row in a graphical predicate editor.
Reference 2007-01-12
NSPreferencePane Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the interface for subclasses to provide preference panes to System Preferences or other applications.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSPrintPanelAccessorizing Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for configuring accessory panes for the print panel.
Reference 2007-03-09
NSProgressIndicator animation and redraw (HTML)
QA1473: Discusses why NSProgressIndicator does not redraw during progress loops.
Technical Q&As 2006-11-15
NSProgressIndicator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control that shows that a lengthy task is under way.
Reference 2008-03-11
NSRuleEditor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a graphical rule editor.
Reference 2008-02-08
NSSavePanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the panel that a user employs to set a file-system location and save a file.
Reference 2009-02-04
NSScroller Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for scrolling a document view within a scroll view.
Reference 2009-04-08
NSScrollView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view for displaying content larger than its bounds.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSearchField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field optimized for entering a search query.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSearchFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a search field cell.
Reference 2008-03-11
NSSecureTextField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field that hides its text.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSecureTextFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a secure text field.
Reference 2007-10-31
NSSegmentedCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an action cell that provides appearance and behavior for an NSSegmentedControl object.
Reference 2009-05-06
NSSegmentedControl Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a horizontal button divided into multiple segments
Reference 2009-05-06
NSSlider Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for selecting a value from a continuous range of values.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSliderCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an action cell that provides appearance and behavior for an NSSlider object.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSSpeechRecognizer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa command-and-control voice recognition system.
Reference 2007-04-03
NSSpeechSynthesizer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa parser that converts text to speech.
Reference 2009-01-06
NSSplitView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a container for subviews with a user-controlled portion of each visible.
Reference 2009-04-08
NSStatusBar Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the collection of status items in the menu bar.
Reference 2007-03-05
NSStatusItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a status item in the menu bar.
Reference 2007-03-05
NSStepper Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control that can increment and decrement a value.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSStepperCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an action cell that provides appearance and behavior for an NSStepper object.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTableColumn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the display characteristics and attribute identifiers for a column in a table view.
Reference 2007-10-31
NSTableDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving table view data requests.
Reference 2007-04-10
NSTableHeaderCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a column header of a table view.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTableHeaderView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a column header of a table view.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTableView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that displays and manages tabular data.
Reference
NSTabView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that supports switching between subviews.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTabViewItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a single view in a tab view.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control that displays editable text.
Reference 2009-01-06
NSTextFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a text field.
Reference 2009-01-06
NSTokenField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field that provides tokenized editing.
Reference 2008-10-15
NSTokenFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell used in the conversion of entered text into tokens representing objects.
Reference 2007-03-05
NSToolbar Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a toolbar in a window's title bar.
Reference 2008-10-15
NSToolbarItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a single item in a window's toolbar.
Reference 2006-06-28
NSToolbarItemGroup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a group of items in a window's toolbar.
Reference 2007-04-11
NSToolbarItemValidation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for providing customized enabling and disabling of a toolbar item.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSToolTipOwner Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving requests for tooltip text.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSUserDefaults Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for managing preference information.
Reference 2009-04-08
NSUserInterfaceValidations Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for participating in automatic enabling and disabling of controls.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSViewAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an animation in a view or window.
Reference 2006-05-23
NSViewController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the manager of a view, usually a view stored in a nib file.
Reference 2007-05-02
NSWindow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a window.
Reference 2009-03-04
NSWindowScripting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category on NSWindow for scripting basic properties and commands of windows in scriptable applications.
Reference 2006-05-23
ObjectPath (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSPathControl class.
Sample Code 2007-05-22
Online Help (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add help to a Cocoa application.
Guides 2006-06-28
OpenGL Screensaver (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to integrate OpenGL drawing into a standard Cocoa screen saver on Mac OS X.
Sample Code 2003-12-10
Outline View Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa outline views.
Guides 2006-06-28
Pasteboard Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to transfer data using pasteboard operations in Cocoa.
Guides 2007-07-13
PhotoSearch (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates advanced controls and cells. Custom drawing, hit testing, tracking, editing, expansion tooltips, tracking areas.
Sample Code 2008-03-05