Interface Builder Gesture Guide

Gestures for Making Connections

Using the Connections Panel

  1. Control-click (or right-click) the source object and release the mouse button to display the connections panel.

  2. Drag the circle next to the outlet or action you want to connect over the target object for the connection. (Hovering over an object causes it to reveal its children.) The target object should highlight to indicate a connection is possible. If it does not highlight, the target object is not of the right type and cannot be connected.

  3. Release the mouse button to create the connection.

  4. If you are configuring the source object’s sent action, Interface Builder displays a list of the target object’s action methods. Select the desired action method from the list to finish the connection.

Using Mouse Drag

  1. Control-click (or right-click) the source object of the connection and do not release the mouse button.

  2. While holding the mouse button, drag to the target object.

  3. Release the mouse button over the target. Inter face Builder displays a prospective list of actions and outlets.

  4. Select the desired outlet (of the source object) or action (of the target object) to create the connection.

Using the Connections Inspector

  1. Select the source object and open the connections inspector (Command-5).

  2. Follow steps 2-4 in Using the Connections Panel to create the connection.

Modifier Keys

Modifier key

Description

Command

When you hold down this key, single-clicking an object toggles its selected state. You can use this modifier key to add objects to the current selection one at a time. You can also toggle the resize behavior for windows by holding down this key; see Design-Time Resizing Modes for Windows.

Option

After selecting an object, pressing this key and moving the mouse over a different object displays alignment information for that object relative to the selected object. Pressing the Option key during drag-and-drop operations copies the selected objects instead of moving them.

Shift

When pressed, single-clicking an object adds that object to the current selection. Pressing this key while resizing an object maintains the object’s aspect ratio.

Control

When held down, clicking a Cocoa object displays its connections panel. Holding down the Control key is equivalent to right-clicking the object and the two behaviors have the same end result.

Inspector Gestures

Action

Gesture

Display inspector window

Shift-Command-I

Display attributes inspector

Command-1

Display effects inspector

Command-2

Display size inspector

Command-3

Display bindings inspector

Command-4

Display connections inspector

Command-5

Display identity inspector

Command-6

Library Gestures

Action

Gesture

Display Library window

Command-Shift-L

Add selected item to active workspace

Return or Enter

Workspace Gestures

Action

Gesture

Location

Move selection by 1 pixel

Arrow (Left, Up, Right, Down)

Move selection by 5 pixels

Shift-Arrow

Size

Resize selection to fit

Command-=

Guides

Display position guides

Option (with selection)

Display layout rectangles

Command-L

Add horizontal guide

Command-Shift-_

Add vertical guide

Command-Shift-|

Navigation

Reveal selection in document window

Command-Option-Up Arrow

Reveal selection in Library window

Command-Option-Right Arrow

Display in a popup menu all of the objects currently under the mouse

Shift-Control-Click

Document Window Gestures

Action

Gesture

Display icon view

Command-Option-1

Display list view

Command-Option-2

Display column view

Command-Option-3

Reveal selection in workspace

Command-Option-Down Arrow

Reveal selection class in Library window

Command-Option-Double Click

Document Window and Workspace Gestures

Action

Gesture

Activation

Activate document window

Command-0

Activate document info window

Command-Option-I

Selection

Select parent object

Command-Control-Up Arrow

Select child object

Command-Control-Down Arrow

Select next sibling object

Command-Control-Right Arrow

Select previous sibling object

Command-Control-Left Arrow

Editing

Duplicate selection

Command-D

Option-Mouse Drag

Navigation

Display declaration for selection

Command-/

Command-Double Click

Display documentation for selection

Command-Option-/

Option-Double Click