newbie q: application window architecture
newbie q: application window architecture
- Subject: newbie q: application window architecture
- From: Carrie Brezine <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 19:55:21 -0500
hello,
I am new to Cocoa so I beg some patience as I try to explain my
questions.
I am building a data-entry application so that users can enter
information about a very complex set of objects. Each object can be
thought of heirarchically: the highest level qualities of an object,
say color and pattern, are also found at the lowest or most detailed
level, and must be completely specified wherever they occur. There is
far too much information about any one object to go on one data entry
window, and the data validations that must occur between controls are
significant. Therefore, I plan to split up the data into categories or
levels and create separate windows for different areas. I think these
should probably go in separate nib files as well, because otherwise I'm
afraid the nib will get too large.
Because some characteristics occur at all levels, I would like to
reuse certain data entry views on different windows. For instance, it
seems to me that the data entry view for color and pattern (I am using
"view" loosely here) could be reused on different windows so that I
wouldn't have to duplicate the controls and validations. One question
is, what is the difference between using a custom NSView and using a
group of controls subclassed into an NSBox? I've played around with
each and I think I can get either one to work. I don't need fancy
drawing, coloring, or mouse events (yet), just a group of controls.
However I *do* need lots of validations on the controls before I send
the info to the db. Instead of subclassing NSView for this, is it
correct to use NSBox and just add a subclass of NSObject to the nib
which would have the job of validating data? Or should data validation
always go in the NSWindowController?
One thing I haven't yet gotten to work correctly is loading the same
NSView content into different windows or boxes at the same time.
Suppose I have a custom NSview called MyView in its own nib and a
window with Box1 and Box2. I would like both Box1 and Box2 to show the
content of MyView, so I guess what I really need is to create two
instances of MyView? If anyone can point me to a reference for
something like this I'd be grateful.
Also a general application question-- my understanding is that the
MainMenu.nib is the one loaded when the app starts up. So if there is
a login screen, I presume it goes in there? and then the app launches
what will be the primary screen for the application?
thank you
Carrie
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