A Cocoa window which is used multiple times (for instances of a class)

Question

Hi everyone,
I develop with newest xCode using Obj-C, Java and Cocoa.
It works perfectly to create a window and connect it to some code: I just design it, and connect it to a class which has been instantiated previously.
What I need now is a window, which is used multiple times. Means that I create a class where the window should be connected to, from which I create multiple instances.
I've seen that it works to create a class in Obj-C and just generate the window by code: it works to generate multiple windows. But how would I be able to design a window with InterfaeBuilder for a class which is not yetinstantiated? A class for which I create the instances while my app is running?
Thanks a lot for your answers!
-Lucas

Answer 1

Like PeeJay says, a custom window controller seems the way to go. Try creating a subclass of NSWindowController, with header something like this:
#import <Cocoa/Cocoa.h>
@interface MyWindowController : NSWindowController
IBOutlet NSTextField *infoField;
-(void)setInfoText:(NSString *)str;
@end
The implementation of the setInfoText would be something like:
-(void)setInfoText:(NSString *)str{
[infoField setStringValue:str];
Create a nib file with your window in interface builder. Drop the header file for your custom window controller into the interface builder window. Set the custom class of the nib's File's Owner to MyWindowController. You can then hook up the window and infoField outlets from File's Owner to your window.
In the body of your code where you open a new info window, add something like:
MyWindowController *windowController=[[MyWindowController alloc] initWithWindowNibName:@"nameOfWindowNibFile"];
[windowController setInfoText:@"Whatever"];
[windowController showWindow:self];
If you are going to have an undetermined amount of these custom window, it might be a good idea to store the window controller instances in a mutable array, rather than retaining instance variables for each one.
Jim