Example code programming Objective-C with Cocoa in Xcode and Interface Builder (Leopard)
1: Example: Button
Implementing a simple button
The example is presented in two formats: Concise Text which has no illustrations and Illustrated Text.
The reason is that I frequently found illustrations to get in the way of learning.
A 2.3MB .zip file of this OS X 10.5 Leopard program may be downloaded by clicking here.
All the text and example code is licenced under GPL.
Concise Text (Illustrated text is below)
Create a new project in XCode: File->New Project->Cocoa Application.
Call it: ButtonApp.
Next do: File->New File and choose Objective C Class.
Call the files DoButton.h and DoButton.m, code them as shown below and save.
Note that the file is subclassed as NSButtonCell.
// DoButton.h #import <Cocoa/Cocoa.h> @interface DoButton : NSButtonCell { } - (IBAction)doSomething:(id)pId; @end // DoButton.m #import "DoButton.h" @implementation DoButton - (IBAction)doSomething:(id)pId; { NSLog(@"Hi there"); } // end doSomething @end
Now bring up Interface Builder by double clicking on MainMenu.nib in the Resources section of ButtonApp
Drag a Round Rect Button onto the Window.
Choose DoButton from the Class menu in the Inspector
Choose the Connections display in the Inspector and drag from the connection circle next
to the Action 'doSomething' to the button you dragged onto the window.
You will see a label pop-up that says 'Round Rect Button'.
Let go the mouse button and the display will change to show the link.
Save Interface Builder.
Return to XCode. Choose Run->Console. Now Build and Run.
When you click the button you will see 'Hi There' appear in the Console log.
Illustrated Text
Create a new project in XCode: File->New Project->Cocoa Application.
Call it: ButtonApp.
Next do: File->New File and choose Objective C Class.
Call the files DoButton.h and DoButton.m, code them as shown below and save.
Note that the file is subclassed as NSButtonCell.
// DoButton.h #import <Cocoa/Cocoa.h> @interface DoButton : NSButtonCell { } - (IBAction)doSomething:(id)pId; @end // DoButton.m #import "DoButton.h" @implementation DoButton - (IBAction)doSomething:(id)pId; { NSLog(@"Hi there"); } // end doSomething @end
Now bring up Interface Builder by double clicking on MainMenu.nib in the Resources section of ButtonApp
Interface Builder showing the window with button and Inspector
Drag a Round Rect Button onto the Window.
Choose DoButton from the Class menu in the Inspector
Interface Builder showing linking action with button
Choose the Connections display in the Inspector and drag from the connection circle next to the Action 'doSomething' to the button you dragged onto the window.
You will see a label pop-up as shown in the picture above.
Let go the mouse button and the display will change as shown.
Interface Builder showing link of action with button
Save Interface Builder.
Return to XCode. Choose Run->Console. Now Build and Run.
Cick on the button and you will see 'Hi There' appear in the Console log.
Download the code
Click the Download Link to obtain 001-ButtonApp.zip file of this whole OS X 10.5 Leopard program.
