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Mac OS X text-manipulation APIs provide basic text input and display as well as text encoding conversions, text-search capabilities, and document summarizations. These APIs also enable sophisticated typography. Developers can, for example, precisely position individual glyphs and lines of text, draw Unicode text at any angle of rotation, kern text, and activate and deactivate fonts.

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Apple Type Services for Fonts Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to access fonts using the ATS-based font management API. Includes implementing the Fonts window.
Carbon Guides 2007-12-11
Apple Type Services for Fonts Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for ATS-based font access and management.
Carbon Reference 2007-12-11
ATSUI Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to lay out, process, and draw Unicode text.
Carbon Guides 2007-07-10
ATSUI Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for rendering Unicode-encoded text with advanced typographic features.
Carbon Reference 2007-06-28
ATSUIDirectAccessDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates some basic manipulations of the ATSUI DirectAccess api.
Carbon Sample Code 2003-01-14
Attributed Strings Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use attributed strings, which manage attributes of character strings or individual characters.
Carbon Guides 2007-06-04
BasicInputMethod (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
An input method implemented as a text service component for Mac OS X.
Carbon Sample Code 2003-01-14
Carbon Core Release Notes (HTML)
Carbon Release Notes 2007-10-31
CFAttributedString Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable character string and its associated attributes.
Carbon Reference 2009-05-06
CFMutableAttributedString Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable character string and associated set of attributes.
Carbon Reference 2009-05-06
Core Text Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to do text layout and font-related operations using the Core Text programming interfaces.
Carbon Guides 2008-06-09
Core Text Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an API providing text and font services.
Carbon Reference 2007-12-04
Core Text String Attributes Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the string attributes recognized by Core Text.
Carbon Reference 2007-05-01
Core Text Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes general Core Text functions and data types.
Carbon Reference 2007-04-21
CoreTextArc (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Illustrates the use of fonts, lines, and runs in a CoreText text drawing Carbon application.
Carbon Sample Code 2007-06-04
CoreTextTest (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to handle the CoreText objects to display text.
Carbon Sample Code 2006-12-19
CTFont Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a font.
Carbon Reference 2007-06-29
CTFontCollection Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a collection of fonts.
Carbon Reference 2007-05-16
CTFontDescriptor Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a dictionary that fully specifies a font.
Carbon Reference 2008-10-15
CTFrame Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a multiline text frame.
Carbon Reference 2007-05-01
CTFramesetter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type that generates text frames.
Carbon Reference 2007-04-21
CTGlyphInfo Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type used to override a font's mapping from Unicode to glyph ID.
Carbon Reference 2007-05-09
CTLine Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a line of text.
Carbon Reference 2007-05-24
CTParagraphStyle Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes paragraph or ruler attributes in an attributed string.
Carbon Reference 2007-04-21
CTRun Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a set of consecutive glyphs sharing the same attributes and direction.
Carbon Reference 2007-05-24
CTTextTab Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a tab in a paragraph style.
Carbon Reference 2007-05-01
CTTypesetter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that performs line layout.
Carbon Reference 2007-05-01
Enumerating fonts with ATS (HTML)
QA1471: Describes the different ATS font enumeration methods
Carbon Technical Q&As 2006-04-14
Find By Content Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for performing relevance-ranked searches. Replaced by Search Kit.
Carbon Reference 2006-07-13
Font Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for QuickDraw-based font access and management.
Carbon Reference 2007-12-11
Fonts Panel Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing a Fonts window in a Carbon application.
Carbon Reference 2007-02-26
FontSync Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for content-based font identification and comparison.
Carbon Reference 2002-10-01
Frequently Asked Text Services Manager (TSM) Questions (HTML)
TN2128: Regroups a collection of Text Services Manager (TSM) questions frequently asked by Input Method Developers
Carbon Technical Notes 2005-06-24
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.
Carbon Technical Q&As 1998-12-07
Handling Unicode Text Editing With MLTE (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Apple's multilingual text engine.
Carbon Guides 2008-10-15
HITextShowcase (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Illustrates some of the different text-related controls, non-controls, and HIViews that are available in Mac OS X 10.3.
Carbon Sample Code 2003-10-27
HITextViewDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Overview of basic HITextView functionality, including Tiger's new font & spelling panel support.
Carbon Sample Code 2005-06-01
HITextViewShowcase (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to create a HITextView using Interface Builder and using programming functions only.
Carbon Sample Code 2003-10-30
How to use the ATSUI Low Level APIs to get glyph outlines (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TN2033: Covers the ATSUI low-level APIs.
Carbon Technical Notes 2001-11-26
Improving ATSUI Text Drawing Performance (HTML)
QA1027: Talks about one way of improving ATSUI text drawing performance.
Carbon Technical Q&As 2001-04-17
Ink Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the C API for customizing handwriting recognition.
Carbon Reference 2006-01-10
InkSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates some usage scenarios for the Ink.Framework APIs.
Carbon Sample Code 2003-10-27
Keyboard Layout Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for managing key-to-character mappings used to support various languages.
Carbon Reference 2002-11-18
Latent Semantic Mapping Reference (HTML)
Describes the C API for classifying text and other token-based content based on latent semantic information.
Carbon Reference 2008-04-08
Locale Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting conventions of a specific language or region.
Carbon Reference 2002-01-24
Locating a Font's Home File (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - TB18: Lists the steps necessary to find the home file of a given font.
Carbon Technical Q&As 1996-02-15
Losing the character code when using the control key (HTML)
QA1446: Explains why the control key transforms the character code instead of simply setting the appropriate modifier bit.
Carbon Technical Q&As 2006-07-17
MLTE_CustomScrolling (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to implement MLTE's custom scrolling functionality
Carbon Sample Code 2004-10-15
MoreIsBetter (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Library providing indispensable wrapers and workarounds for many areas of Mac OS programming.
Carbon Sample Code 2003-10-27
Multilingual Text Engine Frequently Asked Questions (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TN2026: A list of frequently asked questions for the Multilingual Text Engine (MLTE).
Carbon Technical Notes 2005-09-12
Multilingual Text Engine Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting Unicode text editing.
Carbon Reference 2007-02-19
PasteboardPeeker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using pasteboards for Copy and Paste, Drag and Drop, service support and filter services.
Carbon Sample Code 2005-08-10
Programming With the Text Encoding Conversion Manager (HTML) (PDF)
Explains character encodings, Unicode conversion, and custom converter plug-ins. Lists encoding variants.
Carbon Guides 2005-07-07
QDFlushPortBuffer (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QD65: Describes a possible solution for window update problems under Carbon.
Carbon Technical Q&As 2000-11-08
Script Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes a deprecated technology replaced by Unicode facilities.
Carbon Reference 2007-12-11
Search Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Search Kit architecture and workflow, and how to add search capabilities to Carbon and Cocoa applications.
Carbon Guides 2005-12-06
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting user searches of textual content.
Carbon Reference 2009-05-06
SetFontInfoForSelection incorrect prototype (HTML)
QA1375: Describes the incorrect prototyping of the SetFontInfoForSelection API and gives a workaround.
Carbon Technical Q&As 2004-10-04
Strings Programming Guide for Core Foundation (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create, manipulate, and search strings in Core Foundation, and how strings interact with encodings and character sets.
Carbon Guides 2008-03-11
Supporting Unicode Input (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces international text in Mac OS X and lists the tasks an application needs to perform.
Carbon Guides 2005-07-07
Text Encoding Conversion Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for transferring text across other platforms or over the Internet.
Carbon Reference 2005-07-07
Text Input Source Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for operating on text input sources, such as keyboards, character palettes, and ink input.
Carbon Reference 2007-06-07
Text Services Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for communicating between client applications and provider modules.
Carbon Reference 2005-11-09
Text Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for operating on strings (formatting, sorting, converting, comparing).
Carbon Reference 2007-05-29
TextEdit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the deprecated technology replaced by the Multilingual Text Engine (MLTE).
Carbon Reference 2006-07-13
TimeZone.Daylight (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Shows how to read the current location and time zone that is set in Date & Time.
Carbon Sample Code 2003-01-14
TypeServicesForUnicode (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use various ATSUI functions and features going from simple to very complex.
Carbon Sample Code 2005-08-10
Understanding Text Input and the Text Services Manager in Carbon (HTML) (PDF)
Discusses keyboard input, including Unicode, and explains how events are routed and handled.
Carbon Guides 2002-12-11
Unicode Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that allows applications and input methods to operate on Unicode text.
Carbon Reference 2006-01-10
Using Ink Services in Your Application (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Ink Services works and how to customize handwriting recognition.
Carbon Guides 2003-07-24
Attributed Strings Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use attributed strings, which manage attributes of character strings or individual characters.
Cocoa Guides 2007-06-04
Connecting the Font Menu in Interface Builder 3 (HTML)
QA1571: How to connect and configure the Font/Format menus in Interface Builder 3.
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2008-01-21
Disabling and Enabling an NSTextView (HTML)
QA1461: Shows how a Cocoa application can disable and enable an NSTextView.
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2006-09-11
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.
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2008-03-25
Find By Content Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for performing relevance-ranked searches. Replaced by Search Kit.
Cocoa Reference 2006-07-13
Font Handling (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the Cocoa font management system and how users select fonts.
Cocoa Guides 2008-02-08
Font Panel (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Cocoa Font panel.
Cocoa Guides 2004-08-31
Frequently Asked Text Services Manager (TSM) Questions (HTML)
TN2128: Regroups a collection of Text Services Manager (TSM) questions frequently asked by Input Method Developers
Cocoa Technical Notes 2005-06-24
How do I get the hexadecimal value of an NSColor object? (HTML)
QA1576: Describes how to convert an NSColor object to its Hexadecimal value.
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2007-12-19
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.
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2006-10-09
IMKCandidates Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports the use of candidate windows for an input method.
Cocoa Reference 2007-06-05
IMKInputController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that controls input on the input method side.
Cocoa Reference 2007-06-06
IMKMouseHandling Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to receive mouse events for an input method client session.
Cocoa Reference 2007-06-05
IMKServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that manages connections to input method clients.
Cocoa Reference 2007-06-06
IMKServerInput Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to receive text events.
Cocoa Reference 2009-05-06
IMKStateSetting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to set or access state values for an input method client session.
Cocoa Reference 2007-06-05
IMKTextInput Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to send and obtain data from an input method client session.
Cocoa Reference 2007-06-05
Input Method Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for building input methods for Chinese, Japanese, and other languages.
Cocoa Reference 2007-06-06
Input Method Kit Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Input Method Kit framework.
Cocoa 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.
Cocoa Release Notes 2007-07-17
Latent Semantic Mapping Reference (HTML)
Describes the C API for classifying text and other token-based content based on latent semantic information.
Cocoa Reference 2008-04-08
NSATSTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a typesetter that places glyphs for text layout.
Cocoa Reference 2009-03-04
NSAttributedString Application Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for analyzing and using attributed strings.
Cocoa Reference 2007-12-04
NSAttributedString Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a character string with attributes.
Cocoa Reference 2008-10-15
NSChangeSpelling Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for correcting a misspelled word.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSFont Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a font.
Cocoa Reference 2007-06-08
NSFontAttributeExplorer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to gather and display various metric information for installed fonts using NSFont.
Cocoa Sample Code 2006-10-26
NSFontManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for controlling font conversion.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-06
NSFontPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the panel for font selection.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-06
NSFontPanelValidation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for validating fonts.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-06