ftp.nice.ch/pub/next/developer/resources/classes/UHInspector.README

This is the README for UHInspector.1.2.N.bs.tar.gz [Download] [Browse] [Up]

UHInspector_1.2				April 8, 1993

--------
Changes since version 1.0:  A new method has been added to the UHInspectedObject protocol (getLabelForInspector) so that the UHInspectorManager has an alternative to the inspected object's class name for use in its popuplist.  Also, enhancements have been made to allow UHInspectorManager to automatically provide Revert and OK buttons when needed.  A SineInspector is used in two of the demos to demonstrate use of these buttons. (And I got unlazy: now the popuplist and mode button automatically size and position themselves.)
----------
Changes since version 1.1:  A new example, InspectorMultiDemo, illustrates how to use the UHInspectorManager merely as a way of selecting via a popuplist any of several objects to be inspected, although each may be of the same class.  In the InspectorDemo, all instances of the same class are inspected together.  UHInspectorManager was modified to support this approach.  Also, some bugs and inconsistencies were corrected.
----------

UHInspector and UHInspectorManager Classes

These are classes to facilitate the use of inspectors and inspector panels similar to those in InterfaceBuilder.

UHInspector is the abstract class which implements inspector features.  Subclasses of UHInspector need only override the doOk: and doRevert: methods to implement an inspector for some inspectable object.  An inspector panel should be built in IB to work with the inspector.  Use of the inspector is easiest through UHInspectorManager.

UHInspectorManager owns an interface (UHInspectorManager.nib).  Together they provide a shared inspector panel for inspecting multiple object classes the way IB does.  To inspect an object, one need only pass the instance to UHInspectorManager.  UHInspectorManager will find that object's inspector panel, load it into its shared panel, and then carry out the inspection using the object's inspector (UHInspector subclass).

In other words, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THIS:  subclass UHInspector overriding the doOK: and doRevert: methods, design an inspector panel to work with it, and add a protocol method or two to your inspectable object.  Then when you want to inspect the object, just gives its id to the UHInspectorManager.  That's it!

The uhInspection.h file declares the relevant protocols, UHInspectedObject, UHInspectionRequest, and UHInspectionRequestor.

For more information, see the three demos:
	- InspectorDemo:  a demo of UHInspector and UHInspectorManager.
	- Inspector2Demo:  a demo of UHInspector and UHInspectorManager using the latter in "doubleInspector" mode.
	- InspectorSimpleDemo:  a demo of UHInspector without using UHInspectorManager.
	- InspectorMultiDemo:  a demo of UHInspector and UHInspectorManager to inspect SEPARATELY several instances of the same class (possibly).
	
Class .rtf docs will be coming later, but UHInspector and UHInspectorManager are fairly well commented.


John Glover
Electrical Engineering Department
University of Houston
glover@uh.edu

These are the contents of the former NiCE NeXT User Group NeXTSTEP/OpenStep software archive, currently hosted by Netfuture.ch.