Re: How does an instance variable in the ObjC code get connected to an interface element in the NIB file? BACK ON TRACK

FROM : Paul Archibald
DATE : Mon Jun 16 21:29:50 2008

Okay, I see them now. I was missing them in the rather long list of 
outlets (over 130!) for the main controller.

I wanted to understand this better because I want to re-factor the 
code so that there are NOT 135 outlets for one controller. Currently 
we have two windows that handle different tasks, but share the 
controller. I want separate controllers for each window/task.

Thanks, Ken.


On Jun 13, 2008, at 6:22 PM, Ken Thomases wrote:

> On jun 13, 2008, at 4:21 PM, Paul Archibald wrote:
>

>> This puzzles me. I am tracing through some code in which I am 
>> looking at the value of some selected popup menu items. I am 
>> seeing the correct values for them, but I have to confess I don't 
>> know how the code is connected to the popup, or just why the code 
>> even works! I see the connections for the buttons on the 
>> interface, and I hit the breakpoints I expect, but I don't see any 
>> connections between the member variables and the popup items.
>>
>> There are instance vars for the popups in the code, but I don't 
>> see how they are connected to the NIB.

>
> It sounds to me like you're not familiar with "outlets", which is a 
> pretty basic part of Cocoa GUI design.  You probably need to review 
> the conceptual documentation:
>
> http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/
> CocoaFundamentals/
>
> http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/
> CocoaFundamentals/CommunicatingWithObjects/
> chapter_6_section_3.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002974-CH7-SW3
>
> Regards,
> Ken
>