Xcode Cheat Sheet Git (Page 2 of 2) in pdf

XCODE TIPS & TRICKS

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1. DECIDE WHERE TO OPEN A FILE

4. TABS

In Xcode, you can open a file in various ways: in the standard

Tabs are well-known from almost every IDE and text editor.

editor, in a new or existing assistant editor, in a new or existing

However, three things make tabs in Xcode especially powerful:

tab, or in a new window. Here’s how you can decide about this:

a) Each tab can be configured individually. For example, one tab

⌥

⇧

— When clicking on a file in the Navigator, hold down

could contain just two editor panes, while another one could

contain the project navigator, a single editor pane, and the

— When clicking on a symbol in an editor pane, hold down

utilities area. You can therefore configure tabs that are

⌘

⌥

⇧

optimized for different use cases (like coding, debugging,

A pop-over will appear and let you choose where exactly you

interface builder tasks, etc).

want the file to be displayed.

b) Tabs persist in a workspace. When reopening a project,

Xcode restores its tabs — including their unique structure.

2. OPEN QUICKLY

This makes it worthwhile to take some time to configure

your “perfect” setup.

You shouldn’t waste your time digging for a file in your folder

hierarchy. Instead, you can use Xcode’s “Open Quickly” dialog by

c) By double-clicking a tab, you can assign it a name. Named

⌘

⇧

pressing

. Simply start typing any part of a file’s

tabs can then be used in “Behaviors” (see #5).

name — it doesn’t even have to be consecutive letters: “mwinco”

will find your ”MainWindowController” class.

5. BEHAVIORS

As if that wouldn‘t be cool enough, this dialog also lets you

With “Behaviors”, you can tell Xcode how to react when certain

⌘

⌥

⇧

decide where exactly to open the file: hold down

events happen. For example, you could have the console view

while double-clicking the file to bring up the pop-over from #1.

shown whenever your app starts running, or you could have a

new tab opened whenever you start a search.

3. CUSTOM CODE SNIPPETS

This becomes even more powerful when combined with named

Whenever you find yourself typing the same bits of code mul-

tabs. For example, whenever your app pauses, you can have

tiple times, you should create a code snippet. To do that, first

Xcode open your named tab “Debug” — a tab that you configu-

make sure that the “Code Snippet Library” pane is displayed

red exactly how you want it to look (maybe with an assistant

⌘

⌥

⌃

by pressing

editor and the debugger shown, but the project navigator

hidden).

Now go back to your editor pane and start typing what will soon

be a custom snippet — and remember to insert placeholders for

Behaviors can be configured in Xcode’s preferences window.

values you have to fill out when invoking it (e.g. “<#token#>”).

KEYBOARD SYMBOLS

Then highlight and drag that code to the library pane. Apart

from naming it, you should also define a “Completion Shortcut”:

⌘

⌥

Command key

Option (alt) key

when you type these letters later, Xcode will offer to substitute

⌃

⇧

Control key

Shift key

them with your custom snippet.

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Xcode Cheat Sheet Git Page 2

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