Re: How to split large class files?

FROM : Bill Bumgarner
DATE : Sun Nov 04 21:04:45 2007

On Nov 4, 2007, at 11:37 AM, Arthur C. wrote:
> I have a controller class which has become quite large. It has many 
> instance variables which are all related to the view it connects to, 
> and which are manipulated inside the class. Is there a clear way to 
> split such a file into two (or more) components? I considered making 
> a category, but that's not quite good because it cannot have (new) 
> instance variables in it. Moreover, I cannot have the instance var 
> declarations in the original file and the code in the category; that 
> will generate many warnings.  Any suggestions?  Thanks in advance, 
> Arthur C.


You can certainly have the iVar declarations in the main @interface 
declaration and references to the ivars in categories without 
warnings.  Works fine.  If you are seeing warnings, then something 
else is hosed.

I'd suggest having a close look at your controller to see if it can't 
be broken up into multiple classes.  Huge source files are usually an 
indication that something needs to be refactored.  Usually.   
Controller classes are the one class that can sometimes grow quite 
large.

b.bum