Mac OS For QuickTime Programmers

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Overview and Summary

This chapter summarizes the Mac OS functions and data structures that are supported for use with QuickTime 3. They are supported in current versions of the Mac OS and have also been ported to QuickTime for Windows 95 and Windows NT.

The Function Index lists all the QuickTime and Mac OS functions that are currently supported for Windows code. Mac OS functions not listed in the Index are supported only for Macintosh code.

These functions and data structures perform system-level tasks related to QuickTime processes. They are described in full technical detail in the subsequent chapters of this book:

• "Component Manager," tells you how to find, access, and create Mac OS components, the basic units from which the QuickTime software is built.
• "Introduction to File Management," and "Standard File Package," describe the Macintosh file system and tell you how to use the Macintosh standard file package to manage the user interface for naming and identifying files.
• "Introduction to Memory Management," and "Memory Manager," tell you how to create and dispose of pointers and handles, both within an application's memory partition and outside the partition.
• "Event Manager Reference," describes Macintosh event handling and the event record structure.
• "Window Manager Reference," describes Mac OS window records and graphics ports.
• "Color QuickDraw," and "Graphics Devices," tell you how to use Mac OS color graphics ports and graphics device records.
• "Offscreen Graphics Worlds," describes the Mac OS functions and data structures that QuickTime 3 programmers can access to use QuickDraw offscreen.
• "Pictures," tells you how to store and draw graphic images in picture records.

Much of the content of this book consists of background information that helps you understand how the Mac OS works. The purpose of this overview and summary chapter is to identify and highlight the particular API elements that you are most likely to use with QuickTime 3.

If you are a Windows developer and are not familiar with the Mac OS, first read QuickTime 3 For Windows Programmers. PDF and HTML versions of this book are included in the QuickTime 3 SDK.