Extending the Macintosh Toolbox: Programming Menus, Windows, Dialogs, and More (Macintosh Inside Out) [Paperback]

John C. May (Author, Preface), Judy B. Whittle (Preface)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 19, 1991 | ISBN-10: 0201577224 | ISBN-13: 978-0201577228

The Macintosh interface presents a sophisticated and complex challenge to all Macintosh programmers. Its intuitive system of icons, menus, scroll bars, and dialog boxes can be much more difficult to program than it is to use. The Macintosh Toolbox, the set of programming tools incorporated into all Macintosh computers, is the key to programming the interface.

"Extending the Macintosh Toolbox" is a comprehensive, hands-on guide to working with the Toolbox. It provides a practical set of routines designed to speed up development of applications. The book begins with the basics of initializing the Toolbox, building menus, creating dialogs and windows, and handling cursors and icons. The book then covers more advanced topics in depth, including picts, resources, Edit text, and popup menus. The book also contains an extensive library of valuable routines to allow you to create and customize Macintosh interfaces for your application.

You will also learn how to: draw rectangles and scrolling lists; create buttons, radio buttons, and icons; develop complex dialog boxes; significantly reduce the time required to develop a fully functional application; and much more.

In addition, appendices provide a helpful glossary and a thorough bibliography. This complete coverage of vital Toolbox concepts and features makes "Extending the Toolbox" an essential guide for all programmers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley Publishing Company (October 19, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201577224
• ISBN-13: 978-0201577228
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,301,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not very helpful....., February 23, 2001

By 

Sven Reiche (Los Angeles, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extending the Macintosh Toolbox: Programming Menus, Windows, Dialogs, and More (Macintosh Inside Out) (Paperback)

Although I'm glad to see that there are some 3rd party documentation about the Macintosh Toolbox, I do not find "Extending the Macintosh Toolbox" helpful for any programmer. My main impression was that the book tries to address beginner and advanced programmer in the same time, which leaves both parties unsatisfied. In addition the book gives many examples, where some of them are redundant. Unfortunately these exemples aren't explained very well in the context of the Toolbox library and definitions. Too often 'magic numbers and definition' appear or it is mention that 'you have to do it this way' without any explaination why. I also miss an appendix or reference to the most common Toolbox functions, which are not cover by the main part of the book. Another point is that the concept of Macintosh resources are poorly documented, leaving the reader in the state that he barely can set up the resource file for his own program. Despite this the book is very well written and gives a detailed explaination of all examples.

In conclusion other books (such as the Macintosh Toolbox Essential) exist which give a more detailed and understandable description of the Macintosh programming concept, making this book absolute obsolete.