Thread: Starting to Make a Mac FrontEnd

no idea regarding your question, but props on joining the dev team!

it looks like we now have 2 or three strong developers who are working on nice, easy, clean frontends for up mac users!

let me know if you need hosting, im hosting dash_run (our latest frontend) for sti.

It would be great if we could all come together, we have been in need for a good solid frontend.

Originally Posted by hookid

My question is, how do you like import things into interface builder that you made in photoshop or things like that for your interface?

I did it for my first attempt at an interface that i've scrapped and started over. Hopefully I remember acurately for you

There are a couple of ways you can do it, but regardless the first thing you need to do is import the images into your XCode project.

If you want them to be static, then you can reference them in the attributes of the object in IB as the file name (no path needed) without the extention (i.e. just "image" if the file is "image.gif").

If you want to change them on the fly in your code (not that you can't do the above for a default and then do this to change it later), do something like:

Code:

NSString *imageName = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:@"volFull.gif"];
NSImage *volImage = [NSImage imageNamed:imageName];
[globalVolImage setImage:volImage];

Where globalVolImage is an outlet for a NSImageView object in your interface. Other interface objects should work similar.

Hope that helps.

-dave

Originally Posted by hookid

I just got a book on os x programming

If you haven't gotten Hillegass' book yet, I would suggest it. His is the best I have found so far about giving simple examples about how to code for interface elements. All the other books i've seen go through building some arbitrary app that make it difficult to figure out just the part you need. Also there is a great book that just focuses on Obj-C (non-Apple specific).

-dave

Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X (2nd edition)
Aaron Hillegass
Addison Wesley

Programming in Objective-C
Stephen G. Kochan
Developer's Library

Originally Posted by iamgnat

If you haven't gotten Hillegass' book yet, I would suggest it. His is the best I have found so far about giving simple examples about how to code for interface elements. All the other books i've seen go through building some arbitrary app that make it difficult to figure out just the part you need. Also there is a great book that just focuses on Obj-C (non-Apple specific).

-dave

Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X (2nd edition)
Aaron Hillegass
Addison Wesley

Programming in Objective-C
Stephen G. Kochan
Developer's Library

I bought "Beginning Mac OS X Programming" by Michael Trent and Drew McCormack

I looked at Cocoa programming for mac os x but it seemed like you had to know C, C++ as some people said in the reviews on amazon.com, and i dont know either, i know nothing.....so what do you recommend for someone who knows nothing? I think the book i have now might be good. The Programming in objective-c i might pick up too. Thanks

Originally Posted by hookid

I looked at Cocoa programming for mac os x but it seemed like you had to know C, C++ as some people said in the reviews on amazon.com, and i dont know either, i know nothing.....so what do you recommend for someone who knows nothing?

Hmmm. The Hillegass book seems pretty good in that regard, but I have been programming for years and unfortunately have a difficult time teaching others I would suggest picking up some basic programming books that focus more on logic and programming concepts rather than anything on a specific language. Programming is more about applying concepts through logic to achieve the result than the language you select. If you really understand logic, 90% of the languages out there are just syntax (most actually look very similar).

If you have trouble finding language agnostic books (look for things like pseudo code, program design, etc..) look for basic C books since Obj-C uses C as it's basic language (the object handling is the only difference that i've noticed so far).

For any language specific books, I would suggest books like Hillegass' that give simple clear examples rather than walking you through an end to end teaching situation. With the later, you're pretty much done with it as soon as you finish. With the former, you may find that you refer to it for years to come (I actually have a C book that I still refer to that was one of the first I bought over 15 years ago).

I can say though that even with my experience in C, it only helped with the basics of Obj-C. The "Programming in Objective-C" was the biggest help for me.

The real kicker is that we all learn differently. I personally can't go through the step-by-step type books. I need something specific to do and straight forward examples of how to go about it.

I hope that somehow helps.

-dave

Originally Posted by hookid

Hi i'm dedicated to making a frontend on mac. I just got a book on os x programming and im learning to use xcode and interface builder, and objective-c. My question is, how do you like import things into interface builder that you made in photoshop or things like that for your interface? Thanks

I just dragged and dropped the files into Xcode. Then, in interface builder, you can drag the images onto the controls.