Developer --> Technical Publications
PATH  Mac OS X Server Documentation > Mac OS X Server Release Notes


[Back]

MacOS X Server Release Notes Copyright © 1998 by Apple Computer, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MacOS X Server Developer Release Notes:
InterfaceBuilder

InterfaceBuilder is used to design and build cross-platform application interfaces using Yellow Box objects. Frameworks provide palettes that add UI elements and associated code required for InterfaceBuilder to edit, layout and test interfaces that leverage Yellow Box Frameworks.

Notes Specific to Customer Release 1

Undo

InterfaceBuilder allows infinite undo of changes made in design windows.

Auto Palette Loading

When launched, InterfaceBuilder will search for palettes in /System/Developer/Palettes and load any palettes that were not removed during previous launches of InterfaceBuilder. A standard installation of Mac OS X will auto load EOPalette.palette and JavaBeans.palette.

If a user unloads a palette, that palette will not automatically load on future launches of InterfaceBuilder. To unload palettes, use the menu item "Edit" -> "Preferences ..." to bring up the Preferences panel; then use the pop-up button to select "Palettes". All known palettes will be shown with their icon and their name, names in grey text are loaded. Double-click on a palette whose name is shown in grey text; InterfaceBuilder will unload that palette.

Alert Panel and Info Panel

New alert panels and new about panels resemble Application Framwork standard panels; it is recommended that users leverage standard panels provided by the Application Framework; see release notes and documentation for the following methods:

NSApplication:

    - (void)orderFrontStandardAboutPanelWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)optionsDictionary;
    - (void)orderFrontStandardAboutPanel:(id)sender;

NSPanel:

    NSRunAlertPanel(NSString *title, NSString *msg, NSString *defaultButton, NSString *alternateButton, NSString *otherButton, ...);

Horizontal Group in SplitView

InterfaceBuilder will now group in a horizontal splitview if views are layed out horizontally when selected.

Known Problems

Some Changes do not Undo

Changes made within an inspector are not recorded on the undo stack. Some of these changes will be undone along with the last change on the undo stack (and can then be redone). Changes made within document windows (e.g. adding or removing a window) cannot be undone.

Changes in ProjectBuilder not Reflected

ProjectBuilder allows some change to nib files that will not be reflected by InterfaceBuilder. If a user changes the name of a nib in ProjectBuilder, IB will not change the name of that nib if it is open. Changes to the localization of a file or the removal of a nib file are also not handled by InterfaceBuilder.

Users should be careful when saving changes to a nib file that has been moved, renamed or deleted by ProjectBuilder while InterfaceBuilder had this file open.

Palettes can't be written in Java

InterfaceBuilder does not support palettes written in Java.

Notes Specific to Developer Release 2

Inspectors sendActionOnEndEditing

All NSTextFields and NSFormCells within Application Framework object's inspectors will sendActionOnEndEditing. If a user makes changes to a textfield, but does not commit this change by pressing 'Enter'; then ends editing (by switching inspectors, changing the selection, moving keyboard ui, etc...), the change will get committed.

FormCells and TextFields will sendActionOnEndEditing

The FormCells and TextFields in the Views palette will sendActionOnEndEditing. The Form instance also has a prototype cell that will sendActionOnEndEditing.

Text in Views Palette

InterfaceBuilder's Views palette now includes two TextFields archived for use as text. "Message Text" should be used as a title; its font is set to be the User's Message Font. "Information Text" should be used for status or informational text; its font is set to be the User's Tool Tip Font.

Keyboard UI for Menu Editing

InterfaceBuilder now allows editing of menus using keyboard navigation. Left/Right will change the selection of horizontal menus; Up/Down will change the selection of vertical menus. Down will open a submenu of a horizontal menu; Right will open a submenu of a verticle menu. Left will close a verticle menu. Space will allow editing of the currently selected menu item.

New Windows have Min Size

New windows and panels dragged from the Windows palette will have a minimum size.

Group in SplitView

Group in splitview will try not to resize the selected views. InterfaceBuilder will use the upper-left view as a base frame and extend that frame to accomodate all selected views. Views will only be resized to adjust their width.