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Leopard Reference Library
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.

A guided introduction for developers new to adopting the Mac OS X user experience.   Essential information for developers implementing application user interfaces.   APIs for implementing the look and feel of Mac OS X application software.
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Drag Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for dragging objects within the user interface.
Carbon Reference 2006-07-12
NSToolbarItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a single item in a window's toolbar.
Cocoa Reference 2006-06-28
NSComboBox Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for entering text or selecting from a pop-up list of items.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSComboBoxCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the text field that provides the user interface for NSComboBox objects.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSComboBoxCellDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving data requests from an NSComboBoxCell object.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSComboBoxDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving data requests from an NSComboBox object.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSDrawer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a retractable user interface element that displays view objects.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSForm Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a vertical matrix of NSFormCell objects.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSFormCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a title and text entry field in an NSForm object.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSPreferencePane Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the interface for subclasses to provide preference panes to System Preferences or other applications.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSScrollView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view for displaying content larger than its bounds.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSSearchField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field optimized for entering a search query.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSSecureTextField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field that hides its text.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSSlider Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for selecting a value from a continuous range of values.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSSliderCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an action cell that provides appearance and behavior for an NSSlider object.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSStepper Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control that can increment and decrement a value.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSStepperCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an action cell that provides appearance and behavior for an NSStepper object.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTableHeaderCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a column header of a table view.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTableHeaderView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a column header of a table view.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTabView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that supports switching between subviews.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSTabViewItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a single view in a tab view.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSToolbarItemValidation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for providing customized enabling and disabling of a toolbar item.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSToolTipOwner Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving requests for tooltip text.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSUserInterfaceValidations Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for participating in automatic enabling and disabling of controls.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSViewAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an animation in a view or window.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSWindowScripting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category on NSWindow for scripting basic properties and commands of windows in scriptable applications.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
Screen Saver Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for supporting and working with screen effects.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
Carbon Accessibility Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for making Carbon applications accessible to assistive technologies.
Accessibility Reference 2006-02-07
HIToolbar Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating toolbars in Carbon applications.
Carbon Reference 2005-09-08
HIArchive Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for storing and retrieving data in HIArchives.
Carbon Reference 2005-08-11
HIObject Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating human interface objects in Carbon applications.
Carbon Reference 2005-08-11
HIShape Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon API for manipulating HIShape objects.
Carbon Reference 2004-06-28
Carbon Help Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for displaying short onscreen hints in help tags.
Carbon, Help Technologies Reference 2004-03-01
Interface Builder Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for unarchiving interface objects.
Carbon Reference 2004-02-17
Speech Recognition Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C interface for recognizing and accepting spoken input.
Accessibility, Carbon, Speech Technologies Reference 2003-02-01
NSTableView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that displays and manages tabular data.
Cocoa Reference
Carbon Core Release Notes (HTML)
Text & Fonts Release Notes 2007-10-31
DiscRecording Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Mac OS X v10.5
Carbon, Cocoa Release Notes 2007-10-31
Speech Release Notes (HTML)
New document that describes new features, notes, and known issues for speech synthesis on Mac OS X v10.5.
Accessibility, Carbon, Speech Technologies Release Notes 2007-10-31
Input Method Kit Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Input Method Kit framework.
Text & Fonts 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.
Text & Fonts Release Notes 2007-07-17
Accessibility Inspector Release Notes (HTML)
Accessibility Release Notes 2005-04-29
SearchKit Release Notes (HTML)
Carbon, Cocoa Release Notes 2005-04-29
HID LED test tool (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
HID Manager sample project that shows how to set and clear keyboard LEDs.
Human Interface Device & Force Feedback Sample Code 2008-07-25
Image Kit with Core Data (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using Image Kit's browser view with Core Data content.
Cocoa Sample Code 2008-07-25
SpotlightFortunes (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to provision a Spotlight importer plug-in for a custom UTI, and how to use a NSMetadataQuery with bindings to display live query results in a table view.
Cocoa Sample Code 2008-06-06
HID Calibrator (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Human Interface Device Manager Calibrator sample
Human Interface Device & Force Feedback Sample Code 2008-05-07
HID Config Save (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Human Interface Device Manager Configuration sample
Human Interface Device & Force Feedback Sample Code 2008-05-07
HID Explorer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Human Interface Device Manager Explorer
Human Interface Device & Force Feedback Sample Code 2008-05-07
AbstractTree (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using NSTreeController with NSOutlineView, Bindings, and Core Data.
Cocoa Sample Code 2008-03-17
IconCollection (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use NSCollectionView along with NSWorkspace and named images to determine its content.
Cocoa Sample Code 2008-01-18
DictionaryController (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
"DictionaryController" is a Cocoa application that demonstrates various ways in how to use the NSDictionaryController class.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-12-20
SourceView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use NSOutlineView driven by NSTreeController.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-11-15
ButtonMadness (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the various types of buttons using a nib file or programatically.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-10-30
BundleLoader (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to load multiple Cocoa bundles or NSBundles (also known as plug-ins) into the main NSApplication.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-09-21
DockTile (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to customize your application's icon in the Dock by using the NSDockTile class.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-09-11
Cocoa PDE with Carbon Printing (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Application that uses a Cocoa PDE along with the Carbon Printing APIs.
Carbon Sample Code 2007-07-27
JavaFrameEmbedding example (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Small Cocoa application that demonstrates how to use JavaFrameEmbedding.framework
Java Sample Code 2007-06-12
LayerBackedOpenGLView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
"LayerBackedOpenGLView" provides a simple example of hosting Cocoa controls as subviews of an NSOpenGLView.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-06-12
BasicCocoaAnimations (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
"BasicCocoaAnimations" demonstrates the use of the animator proxy to easily animate Cocoa views and windows.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-06-11
CustomSave (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to customize the NSSavePanel.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-06-11
MenuItemView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates embedding an NSView inside a menu item or NSMenuItem.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-06-11
ViewController (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use "NSViewController".
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-06-11
TrackBall (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to build a custom control based on the NSControl class.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-06-07
PredicateEditorSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSPredicateEditor class.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-06-06
PrefsPane (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A Cocoa sample System Preferences bundle that demonstrates how to use the NSPreferencePane class.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-06-06
SpeedometerView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to make a custom NSView.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-06-06
CoreTextArc (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Illustrates the use of fonts, lines, and runs in a CoreText text drawing Carbon application.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2007-06-04
TextLayoutDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Customizing NSTextView with NSLayoutManager and a custom NSTextContainer.
Cocoa, Text & Fonts Sample Code 2007-06-01
HIView-NSView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to embed an NSView within an HIView in a Carbon window.
Carbon Sample Code 2007-05-29
ObjectPath (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSPathControl class.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-05-22
DatePicker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSDatePicker control.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-04-25
SearchField (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use and customize the features of the "NSSearchField" control.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-04-25
CocoaSpeechSynthesisExample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use the Carbon Speech Synthesis API from within a Mac OS X Cocoa application.
Speech Technologies Sample Code 2007-03-23
TrackIt (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSTrackingArea class.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-03-05
Grady (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSGradient class.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-02-28
TwoManyControllers (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to use an intermediate NSArrayController to populate an NSTableView across two to-many relationships.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-02-23
UIElementInspector (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates using the Accessibility API introduced in Mac OS X 10.2, which allows manipulation of an application's UI.
Accessibility Sample Code 2007-02-19
CarbonCocoa_PictureCursor (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use NSCursor from a Carbon based application.
Carbon Sample Code 2007-01-12
SetMouseAcclSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Find HID System Manager and get/set cursor acceleration
Accessibility, Human Interface Device & Force Feedback Sample Code 2006-11-28
NSFontAttributeExplorer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to gather and display various metric information for installed fonts using NSFont.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2006-10-26
MyCustomColorPicker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to write a custom color picker using Cocoa.
Cocoa Sample Code 2006-10-09
ImageBackground (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to draw an image in the background of an NSOutlineView and NSTableView.
Cocoa Sample Code 2006-10-02
InstallerPluginSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Provides instructions for extending software installation using custom plugins
Files & Software Installation Sample Code 2006-08-30
StickiesExample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Contains sample code and tools used by Sync Services Tutorial to demonstrate debugging syncing applications.
Apple Applications, Carbon, Cocoa Sample Code 2006-08-08
ABPresence (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Displays a list of all the people in your Address Book and their iChat status.
Apple Applications Sample Code 2006-08-04
SayIt (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Web Kit plug-in which speaks text passed via JavaScript
Speech Technologies Sample Code 2006-08-04
SetCustomIcon (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to programmatically set a custom icon for a file, folder, or disk.
Carbon Sample Code 2006-08-01
AppleScriptRunner (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to send mail and execute other AppleScripts from a Carbon application.
Carbon Sample Code 2006-07-31
Carbon Porting Tutorial (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Porting a simple application from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X
Porting Sample Code 2006-07-25
HelpHook (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Simple Help Viewer integration for J2SE applications, using a native Cocoa library.
Java Sample Code 2006-04-12
MyFirstJNIProject (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A Java application that calls the Address Book framework through the JNI
Java Sample Code 2006-04-12
iTunesController (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
iTunesController allows you to control iTunes without having to bring it to the foreground.
Accessibility, Carbon Sample Code 2006-02-23
PasteboardPeeker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using pasteboards for Copy and Paste, Drag and Drop, service support and filter services.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2005-08-10
SDKExample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to weak-link against the Carbon framework in various SDKs to adopt new OS features in a single executable.
Carbon Sample Code 2005-06-06
UnsharpMask (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to build Automator actions using Cocoa frameworks.
Apple Applications Sample Code 2005-06-06
UpdateXcodeSubprojects (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Updates all subprojects of an Xcode project to Xcode 2.1 format. Illustrates scripting techniques.
Tools Sample Code 2005-06-06
CoreRecipes (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the use of Core Data (persistency and object-graph management) with a variety of application projects.
Cocoa Sample Code 2005-06-01
HITextViewDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Overview of basic HITextView functionality, including Tiger's new font & spelling panel support.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2005-06-01
ImageMapExample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Implements a custom NSView, an image map, and accessorizes it (i.e. makes it work with accessibility).
Accessibility Sample Code 2005-06-01