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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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NSGlyphGenerator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a glyph generator for text layout.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSGlyphInfo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a glyph attribute value in an attributed string.
Cocoa Reference 2007-03-01
NSGlyphStorage Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface between a glyph generator and glyph storage.
Cocoa Reference 2009-01-06
NSIgnoreMisspelledWords Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for a spelling checker's ignored words list.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSInputManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used by text views to communicate with the text input management system.
Cocoa 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.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-01
NSInputServerMouseTracker Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol implemented by text input servers to handle mouse events.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-02
NSInputServiceProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol implemented by text input servers to handle application and text field events.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-02
NSLayoutManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for controlling text layout.
Cocoa Reference 2008-12-20
NSMutableAttributedString Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for setting attributes of mutable attributed strings.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSMutableAttributedString Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable character string with attributes.
Cocoa Reference 2006-06-28
NSMutableParagraphStyle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable paragraph style.
Cocoa Reference 2008-10-15
NSParagraphStyle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable paragraph style.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSRulerMarker Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a marker on a ruler, such as a tab setting.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSRulerView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a ruler, with markers, that adjoins a scroll view's document view.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSSecureTextFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a secure text field.
Cocoa Reference 2007-10-31
NSSimpleHorizontalTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the deprecated technology replaced by NSATSTypesetter.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSSpeechSynthesizer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa parser that converts text to speech.
Cocoa Reference 2009-01-06
NSSpellChecker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface to the Cocoa spell-checking service.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-27
NSSpellServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application-defined spell-checking service.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-27
NSString Application Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for drawing strings.
Cocoa Reference 2009-02-04
NSText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a basic interface for text-bearing objects.
Cocoa Reference 2008-05-06
NSTextAttachment Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text attachment for an attributed string.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextAttachmentCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface for a text attachment.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextBlock Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a block of text laid out in a subregion of a text container.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextContainer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an area where text is laid out.
Cocoa 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.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextInputClient Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving keyboard input as properly formed text.
Cocoa Reference 2008-10-15
NSTextList Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a section of text that forms a single list.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextStorage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the text storage system.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextTab Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a tab in a paragraph style.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextTable Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a block of text that represents a table.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-11
NSTextTableBlock Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a block of text that appears as a cell within a table.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that displays editable text.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-27
NSTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for typesetter objects that perform text line layout.
Cocoa Reference 2007-03-26
Rulers and Paragraph Styles (HTML) (PDF)
Explains paragraph styles and how to work with the rulers that enable users to manipulate them.
Cocoa Guides 2007-09-04
Search Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Search Kit architecture and workflow, and how to add search capabilities to Carbon and Cocoa applications.
Cocoa Guides 2005-12-06
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting user searches of textual content.
Cocoa Reference 2009-05-06
Spell Checking (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the spell-checking facilities in the Cocoa text system.
Cocoa Guides 2004-02-09
String Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create, search, concatenate, and draw strings in Cocoa.
Cocoa Guides 2008-10-15
Text Attachment Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Expalins how to add graphics and other attachments to text.
Cocoa Guides 2006-12-05
Text Attributes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to work with attributes, the distinguishing characteristics of rich text.
Cocoa Guides 2004-02-16
Text Editing Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to control the behavior of the Cocoa text system as it performs text editing.
Cocoa Guides 2008-02-08
Text Fields (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text fields.
Cocoa Guides 2004-02-09
Text Input and Output (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to read and write text files in Cocoa.
Cocoa Guides 2004-02-10
Text Input Management (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use input servers, input managers, and text views in Cocoa.
Cocoa Guides 2007-02-08
Text Layout Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system lays out text on pages.
Cocoa Guides 2008-10-15
Text System Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system works. Includes a tutorial.
Cocoa Guides 2009-04-08
Text System Storage Layer Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system stores the information it needs to lay out text.
Cocoa Guides 2005-08-11
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.
Cocoa Guides 2006-06-28
Text Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text views.
Cocoa Guides 2004-02-09
TextLayoutDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Customizing NSTextView with NSLayoutManager and a custom NSTextContainer.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-06-01
Text Encoding Conversion Manager Release Notes (HTML)
General Release Notes 2005-04-29
Attributed Strings Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use attributed strings, which manage attributes of character strings or individual characters.
Text Manipulation Guides 2007-06-04
Converting to Precomposed Unicode (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1235: Describes how to convert a string to precomposed Unicode.
Text Manipulation Technical Q&As 2003-02-07
IMKCandidates Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports the use of candidate windows for an input method.
Text Manipulation Reference 2007-06-05
IMKInputController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that controls input on the input method side.
Text Manipulation Reference 2007-06-06
IMKMouseHandling Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to receive mouse events for an input method client session.
Text Manipulation Reference 2007-06-05
IMKServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that manages connections to input method clients.
Text Manipulation Reference 2007-06-06
IMKServerInput Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to receive text events.
Text Manipulation 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.
Text Manipulation Reference 2007-06-05
IMKTextInput Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to send and obtain data from an input method client session.
Text Manipulation Reference 2007-06-05
Ink Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the C API for customizing handwriting recognition.
Text Manipulation Reference 2006-01-10
Input Method Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for building input methods for Chinese, Japanese, and other languages.
Text Manipulation Reference 2007-06-06
Input Method Kit Release Note (HTML)
Describes an Objective-C framework for building input methods for Chinese, Japanese, and other languages.
Text Manipulation 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.
Text Manipulation Reference 2008-04-08
MoreIsBetter (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Library providing indispensable wrapers and workarounds for many areas of Mac OS programming.
Text Manipulation Sample Code 2003-10-27
NSLayoutManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for controlling text layout.
Text Manipulation Reference 2008-12-20
Programming With the Text Encoding Conversion Manager (HTML) (PDF)
Explains character encodings, Unicode conversion, and custom converter plug-ins. Lists encoding variants.
Text Manipulation Guides 2005-07-07
Rulers and Paragraph Styles (HTML) (PDF)
Explains paragraph styles and how to work with the rulers that enable users to manipulate them.
Text Manipulation Guides 2007-09-04
Script Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes a deprecated technology replaced by Unicode facilities.
Text Manipulation Reference 2007-12-11
Sorting Like the Finder (HTML)
QA1159: Shows how to sort strings like the Finder's list view.
Text Manipulation Technical Q&As 2004-10-27
Spell Checking (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the spell-checking facilities in the Cocoa text system.
Text Manipulation Guides 2004-02-09
String Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create, search, concatenate, and draw strings in Cocoa.
Text Manipulation Guides 2008-10-15
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.
Text Manipulation Guides 2008-03-11
Text Attachment Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Expalins how to add graphics and other attachments to text.
Text Manipulation Guides 2006-12-05
Text Attributes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to work with attributes, the distinguishing characteristics of rich text.
Text Manipulation Guides 2004-02-16
Text Editing Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to control the behavior of the Cocoa text system as it performs text editing.
Text Manipulation Guides 2008-02-08
Text Encoding Conversion Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for transferring text across other platforms or over the Internet.
Text Manipulation Reference 2005-07-07
Text Fields (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text fields.
Text Manipulation Guides 2004-02-09
Text Input and Output (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to read and write text files in Cocoa.
Text Manipulation Guides 2004-02-10
Text Input Source Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for operating on text input sources, such as keyboards, character palettes, and ink input.
Text Manipulation Reference 2007-06-07
Text System Storage Layer Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system stores the information it needs to lay out text.
Text Manipulation Guides 2005-08-11
Text Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for operating on strings (formatting, sorting, converting, comparing).
Text Manipulation Reference 2007-05-29
Text Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text views.
Text Manipulation Guides 2004-02-09
Using Ink Services in Your Application (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Ink Services works and how to customize handwriting recognition.
Text Manipulation Guides 2003-07-24
Connecting the Font Menu in Interface Builder 3 (HTML)
QA1571: How to connect and configure the Font/Format menus in Interface Builder 3.
Tools Technical Q&As 2008-01-21
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.
Typography Guides 2007-12-11
Apple Type Services for Fonts Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for ATS-based font access and management.
Typography Reference 2007-12-11
ATSUI Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to lay out, process, and draw Unicode text.
Typography Guides 2007-07-10
ATSUI Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for rendering Unicode-encoded text with advanced typographic features.
Typography Reference 2007-06-28
Core Text Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to do text layout and font-related operations using the Core Text programming interfaces.
Typography Guides 2008-06-09
Core Text Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an API providing text and font services.
Typography Reference 2007-12-04
The Euro Currency Symbol (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TN1140: The available information about Mac OS and Mac Mac OS X Server support for the Euro currency symbol.
Typography Technical Notes 2000-01-01
Font Handling (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the Cocoa font management system and how users select fonts.
Typography Guides 2008-02-08
FontSync Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for content-based font identification and comparison.
Typography Reference 2002-10-01
Improving ATSUI Text Drawing Performance (HTML)
QA1027: Talks about one way of improving ATSUI text drawing performance.
Typography Technical Q&As 2001-04-17
NamingTableAccess (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Digs out the contents of the NamingTable in a TrueType 'sfnt'.
Typography Sample Code 2003-01-14
NSATSTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a typesetter that places glyphs for text layout.
Typography Reference 2009-03-04
NSFont Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a font.
Typography Reference 2007-06-08
NSGlyphGenerator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a glyph generator for text layout.
Typography Reference 2006-05-23
NSGlyphStorage Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface between a glyph generator and glyph storage.
Typography Reference 2009-01-06
NSSimpleHorizontalTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the deprecated technology replaced by NSATSTypesetter.
Typography Reference 2006-05-23
NSTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for typesetter objects that perform text line layout.
Typography Reference 2007-03-26
TextNameTool (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A command line tool sample illustrating how to use various graphical facilities and services without a login.
Typography Sample Code 2003-10-27