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The Reference Library is a comprehensive collection of Apple technical resources, including Articles, Guides, Reference, Release Notes, Sample Code, Technical Notes, and Technical Q&As. Each of the links below leads to the resources for a specific topic.

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Xcode Mapping Tool for Core Data (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode mapping tool for Core Data.
Tools Guides 2007-12-30
Xcode Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode IDE and its major components, and provides and overview of the development process.
Tools Guides 2009-01-06
Xcode Project Management Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides practical descriptions of the major development tasks developers perform with Xcode.
Tools Guides 2009-01-06
Xcode Quick Tour for Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Provides a hands-on introduction to Xcode, Apple's comprehensive suite of software development tools for Mac OS X.
Tools Guides 2008-10-15
Xcode Refactoring Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Shows how to improve readability of source code while retaining its functionality.
Tools Guides 2009-01-06
Xcode Release Notes (HTML)
Lists changes to Xcode.
Tools Release Notes 2008-11-19
Xcode Source Management Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to manage source changes using source control and snapshots.
Tools Guides 2009-01-06
Xcode Tools for Core Data (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode modeling tools for Core Data.
Tools Guides 2008-04-15
Xcode Unit Testing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to incorporate test cases to validate individual units of source code.
Tools Guides 2008-05-02
Xcode User Default Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user defaults developers can use to customize Xcode behavior.
Tools Reference 2009-01-06
Xcode Workspace Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the Xcode workspace, and shows how to use its components and features.
Tools Guides 2009-01-06
XcodeClientServer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to manage multiple projects using new Xcode features.
Tools Sample Code 2005-06-06
ABPresence (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Displays a list of all the people in your Address Book and their iChat status.
User Experience Sample Code 2006-08-04
AbstractTree (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using NSTreeController with NSOutlineView, Bindings, and Core Data.
User Experience Sample Code 2008-03-17
Accessibility (ApplicationServices/HIServices) Reference (HTML)
Describes the low-level API for making applications accessible to assistive applications.
User Experience Reference 2008-10-15
Accessibility Inspector Release Notes (HTML)
User Experience Release Notes 2005-04-29
Accessibility Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the accessibility features built into Mac OS X.
User Experience Guides 2008-03-11
Accessibility Programming Guidelines for Carbon (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to access-enable Carbon applications.
User Experience Guides 2007-02-08
Accessibility Programming Guidelines for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa applications make their user interface available to external assistive applications.
User Experience Guides 2007-02-08
Activating CrashReporter in OS X (HTML)
Deprecated - QA1057: Explains of how to enable crash reporting in Mac OS X version 10.0.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2001-05-13
Appearance Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for coordinating the look of the standard Mac OS human interface.
User Experience Reference 2007-01-23
Apple Help Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to author, package, and display user help content in Mac OS X.
User Experience Guides 2007-10-31
Apple Help Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for finding and displaying help content using Apple's HTML-based help system.
User Experience Reference 2006-07-12
Apple Human Interface Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the Mac OS X user experience and explains how to design an application for Aqua.
User Experience Guides 2008-06-09
Apple Publications Style Guide (PDF)
Describes style and usage of Apple terms, including user interface terms that should be used in applications.
User Experience Guides 2008-10-16
AppleScript Studio Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create script-driven applications with complex user interfaces based on Cocoa UI classes. Includes tutorials.
User Experience Guides 2006-04-04
AppleScriptRunner (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to send mail and execute other AppleScripts from a Carbon application.
User Experience Sample Code 2006-07-31
Application Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for all things related to an application's user interface.
User Experience Reference 2008-11-19
Application Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for performing various application-level tasks in a Carbon application. Formerly titled Dock Manager Reference.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
Application Menu and Pop-up List Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa menus and lists work and how to manipulate items within them.
User Experience Guides 2007-06-26
Application Services Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for a number of services--such as Quartz 2D and ATSUI--that are essential to Carbon applications.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
Backup Core Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for managing the backup exclusion status of files and folders.
User Experience Reference 2006-07-31
BasicCocoaAnimations (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
"BasicCocoaAnimations" demonstrates the use of the animator proxy to easily animate Cocoa views and windows.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-06-11
BasicInputMethod (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
An input method implemented as a text service component for Mac OS X.
User Experience Sample Code 2003-01-14
Boinx Starts with Sample Code: FotoMagico Is a Powerful Digital Slideshow (HTML)
Starting with Apple sample code, tools and technologies, Boinx wrote FotoMagico in a matter of months.
User Experience Articles 2007-12-11
Boxes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa boxes.
User Experience Guides 2003-02-15
Browsers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa browsers.
User Experience Guides 2004-08-31
BundleLoader (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to load multiple Cocoa bundles or NSBundles (also known as plug-ins) into the main NSApplication.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-09-21
Button Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa buttons.
User Experience Guides 2008-10-15
ButtonMadness (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the various types of buttons using a nib file or programatically.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-10-30
Carbon Accessibility Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for making Carbon applications accessible to assistive technologies.
User Experience Reference 2006-02-07
Carbon Core Release Notes (HTML)
User Experience Release Notes 2007-10-31
Carbon Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes many fundamental user experience APIs used in Carbon applications.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
Carbon Help Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for displaying short onscreen hints in help tags.
User Experience Reference 2004-03-01
Carbon Porting Tutorial (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Porting a simple application from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X
User Experience Sample Code 2006-07-25
CarbonCocoa_PictureCursor (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use NSCursor from a Carbon based application.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-01-12
CBGroupIdentity Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for operating on user identities.
User Experience Reference 2007-05-14
CBIdentity Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to create and operate on identities.
User Experience Reference 2007-05-14
CBIdentityAuthority Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manipulate identity authority databases.
User Experience Reference 2007-05-14
CBIdentityPicker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that manages the identity picker.
User Experience Reference 2007-05-14
CBUserIdentity Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for operating on user identities.
User Experience Reference 2007-05-14
Clickable Static Text Item (HTML)
QA1380: Explains how to make a static text item respond to clicks
User Experience Technical Q&As 2004-10-05
Cocoa PDE with Carbon Printing (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Application that uses a Cocoa PDE along with the Carbon Printing APIs.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-07-27
CocoaSpeechSynthesisExample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use the Carbon Speech Synthesis API from within a Mac OS X Cocoa application.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-03-23
Collaboration Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for monitoring and editing identities.
User Experience Reference 2007-05-14
CollectPictColors (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Uses Picture Utilities package and KnowsPict application to demonstrate collecting colors used by Pict resources.
User Experience Sample Code 2003-10-10
Combo Box Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa combo boxes.
User Experience Guides 2002-11-12
Configuring the Recent Searches menu for NSSearchField (HTML)
QA1496: Discusses the common problem when adding menu items to the Recent Searches menu.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2006-11-27
Connecting the Font Menu in Interface Builder 3 (HTML)
QA1571: How to connect and configure the Font/Format menus in Interface Builder 3.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2008-01-21
Control and Cell Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the relationship between Cocoa control and cell objects.
User Experience Guides 2008-10-15
Control Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating Carbon controls.
User Experience Reference 2007-03-26
Core Services Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for many fundamental operating system services.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
CoreRecipes (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the use of Core Data (persistency and object-graph management) with a variety of application projects.
User Experience Sample Code 2005-06-01
CoreTextArc (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Illustrates the use of fonts, lines, and runs in a CoreText text drawing Carbon application.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-06-04
Crash in ABAddPropertiesAndTypes (HTML)
QA1404: How to correctly add custom Address Book properties using ABAddPropertiesAndTypes
User Experience Technical Q&As 2005-04-04
Creating an About Panel in Your Cocoa Application (HTML)
TN2179: Describes different ways in implementing your Cocoa application's "About" panel.
User Experience Technical Notes 2007-01-22
Creating Carbon Menus (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to create menus in Carbon applications.
User Experience Guides 2004-02-23
Creating Gray Scaled Images > 8 bits (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QD51: Shows how to create gray-scaled images at resolutions greater than 8 bits for display.
User Experience Technical Q&As 1997-11-17
CustomSave (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to customize the NSSavePanel.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-06-11
Dashboard Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Dashboard and WebKit technologies used in widgets.
User Experience Guides 2009-02-04
Dashboard Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for implementing Dashboard widgets.
User Experience Reference 2009-02-04
Dashcode User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Dashcode to create Dashboard widgets.
User Experience Guides 2009-03-04
Data Browser Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to present data in lists similar to the list and column views in the Finder.
User Experience Guides 2007-08-07
Data Browser Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used to display data in list or column views similar to the Finder.
User Experience Reference 2008-04-08
DatePicker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSDatePicker control.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-04-25
Debugging a WebKit Plug-in in Xcode (HTML)
QA1500: Directions for debugging a WebKit plug-in in Xcode.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2007-06-05
Debugging NSTableView's "Action Invocation" binding (HTML)
QA1472: Discusses the issues and factors that affect NSTableView's "Action Invocation" binding.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2006-11-13
Desktop Icons (HTML)
Explains how to provide custom icons for a Carbon application and its documents.
User Experience Guides 2002-08-19
Dialog Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C interface for implementing alerts and dialog boxes.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
Dialogs and Special Panels (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create alert panels. Includes links to documents about other types of panels.
User Experience Guides 2009-02-04
Dictionary Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create a dictionary and access it programmatically.
User Experience Guides 2007-05-30
Dictionary Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C and C routines that support programmatic access to dictionaries.
User Experience Reference 2007-05-29
DictionaryController (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
"DictionaryController" is a Cocoa application that demonstrates various ways in how to use the NSDictionaryController class.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-12-20
Disabling and Enabling an NSTextView (HTML)
QA1461: Shows how a Cocoa application can disable and enable an NSTextView.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2006-09-11
Disc Recording UI Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Objective-C and C API for presenting a user interface when burning audio and data CDs and DVDs.
User Experience Reference 2008-04-08
DiscRecording Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Mac OS X v10.5
User Experience Release Notes 2007-10-31
Display Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the C API for dynamically changing the arrangement and display modes of attached monitors. Replaced by Quartz Display Services.
User Experience Reference 2007-12-04
Displaying Help (HTML)
QA1006: Discusses how an application can ask the Help Viewer to display help about a particular topic.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2001-02-21
Dock Tile Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to provide an icon and contextual menu in Carbon applications.
User Experience Guides 2009-03-04
DockTile (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to customize your application's icon in the Dock by using the NSDockTile class.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-09-11
Drag and Drop Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement drag and drop in Cocoa.
User Experience Guides 2006-06-28
Drag Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for dragging objects within the user interface.
User Experience Reference 2006-07-12
Drawers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa drawers.
User Experience Guides 2003-02-04
Embedding Bonjour in Windows Applications (HTML)
TN2210: Details the proper steps necessary for a Windows Developer to include Bonjour for Windows in their application.
User Experience Technical Notes 2008-01-17
Embedding Hyperlinks in NSTextField and NSTextView (HTML)
QA1487: Shows how a Cocoa app can embed a hyperlink inside both NSTextField and NSTextView using NSAttributedString.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2006-10-02
Enabling the application menu's "Preferences" menu item on Mac OS X (HTML)
QA1552: Describes the two things you need to implement to enable the "Preferences" menu item on Mac OS X.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2008-01-21
Enumerating fonts with ATS (HTML)
QA1471: Describes the different ATS font enumeration methods
User Experience Technical Q&As 2006-04-14
Error -151 and NewGWorld (HTML)
Deprecated - QD18: Explains what the error code -151 means when in NewGWorld.
User Experience Technical Q&As 1995-09-15
File System Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and guidelines describing the structure and usage of the Mac OS X file system.
User Experience Guides 2008-07-11
Find By Content Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for performing relevance-ranked searches. Replaced by Search Kit.
User Experience Reference 2006-07-13