chari@nueces.UUCP (Chris Whatley) (04/30/89)
In article <8827@polya.Stanford.EDU>, ali@polya.Stanford.EDU (Ali T. Ozer) writes: > You > can now include .nib files (and any other data file you might need) > in Mach-O segments of your executable. It's very easy to open a stream > bound to data stored in a Mach-O segment; thus you can read any random > data from the executable itself. Of course, there are "convenience" > methods such as "loadNibSection:," "newFromMachO:," provided to > make it real easy to read common forms of data (such as .nib files, > TIFF bitmaps, sound data, etc) out. Does this mean that "ResEdit" capabilities could exist in Interface Builder so that I could edit the icon that was included as a segment in my program without having to recompile? I hope Apple doesn't have "resources" copyrighted. :-) Re: Library When, if ever, will it be unnecessary to purchase the massive binders of documentation that you need to program the NeXT effectively? I only really need bits of the References at my fingertips since my university has copies available in it's computing library. Can I expect Objective-C documentation, DPS manuals, correct man pages :-) ? If there is one thing that I love about this system, it is the on-line documentation and to a certain extent, the Librarian (the limited appreciation of the Library has to do with its current beta state). I can't imagine getting around this system and learning how to program it using "man -k" (If you haven't guessed yet, I had not yet been introduced to the headaches of Unix administration when I got this machine though I have been using Unixes since I was about 15). It would be really great if NeXT put *all* of the documentation on disk so that I could read it on the screen or print stuff out to read in my easy chair if needed. Chris -- Chris Whatley | "Thank you.. !bigtex!nueces!chari@cs.utexas.edu | Ah.. Thank me!" chari@walt.cc.utexas.edu | --Data 1607 Nueces,Austin TX 78723 - 512/453-4238 |
ali@polya.Stanford.EDU (Ali T. Ozer) (04/30/89)
In article <281@nueces.UUCP> chari@nueces.UUCP (Chris Whatley) writes: >In article <8827@polya.Stanford.EDU> I say: >> You can now include .nib files (and any other data file you might need) >> in Mach-O segments of your executable. > >Does this mean that "ResEdit" capabilities could exist in Interface Builder >so that I could edit the icon that was included as a segment in my program >without having to recompile? The data in the Mach-O segments is read-only and cannot be edited. (I'm not sure if you can edit it without changing the size; that'd be all you need to in most cases. Avie? Actually Interface Builder does not let you edit a .nib file that's been put into an executable anyway.) There is however another way to include .nib files with your application: Through app wrappers. You'd do this if you wanted your data and .nib files available seperately from your executable, but with the convenience of having the user deal with just one icon. If your program is called "Foo," you create a directory named "Foo.app," put the Foo executable and all your data files in the directory. When user sees the directory Foo.app in the browser, they see a file, not a directory. When they move it, copy it, etc, it behaves like one file. When they "open" it (double-click on it), Workspace Manager launches the "Foo" application in the directory. There are ways to get in the directory; "Open Directory" in the Workspace Manager menu lets you see the contents. You can get to it through the shell. You can also get to it through the standard file requesters. This capability exists in 0.8, by the way; check out the DSPMusic demo in the demos directory. >Re: Library > >Can I expect Objective-C documentation, DPS manuals, correct man pages :-) ? 0.9 does come with a lot more of the documentation on line than 0.8 does. However, the Obj-C documentation and the Adobe DPS manuals aren't online in 0.9. Ali Ozer, NeXT Developer Support aozer@NeXT.com
avie@wb1.cs.cmu.edu (Avadis Tevanian) (05/01/89)
In article <8850@polya.Stanford.EDU> ali@polya.Stanford.EDU (Ali T. Ozer) writes: >In article <281@nueces.UUCP> chari@nueces.UUCP (Chris Whatley) writes: >>Does this mean that "ResEdit" capabilities could exist in Interface Builder >>so that I could edit the icon that was included as a segment in my program >>without having to recompile? > >The data in the Mach-O segments is read-only and cannot be edited. (I'm >not sure if you can edit it without changing the size; that'd be all you need >to in most cases. Avie? Actually Interface Builder does not let you edit >a .nib file that's been put into an executable anyway.) > Mach-O segments are generally thought to be read-only for two reasons. First, because they are part of the executable, and its not very nice to edit executables that may be running. Second, because it tends to be difficult to rearrange data in them when sizes and positions change (this is the job of ld). So, after editing a nib file, or changing a TIFF icon, or whatever, all you need to do is relink (run ld). It is possible to change InterfaceBuilder to try to make changes in place (perhaps by allocating more space then needed ahead of time, for expansion of the nib file(s)), and with some other improvements, but we haven't done this yet. >There is however another way to include .nib files with your >application: Through app wrappers. App wrappers are a feature that should be avoided if possible. My general guidelines are as follows: 1) While developing, keep your .nib file separate from the binary, in the directory with your sources. Interface Builder will edit it directly and you can test your program without recompiling. 2) When you release your app, combine the .o's, .nib files, images, etc. into one Mach-O binary. 3) If you can't put everything in the Mach-O binary, then just use an app wrapper, but use and app wrapper as a last resort. -- Avadis Tevanian, Jr. (Avie) Chief Operating System Scientist NeXT, Inc. avie@cs.cmu.edu or avie@NeXT.com --