NSTableView problems - displaying custom TableView from with a SplitView panel

Question

I am developing my first app for OSX. Sorry for asking stupid questions. I have spent a few hours trying to figure this out on my own, with no luck so far.

I want to make an iTunes-like interface. I used NSSplitView, placed NSView for navigation and NSTableView above that. [I am aware that there better alternatives to NSSplitView, yet my goal is to both - develop an app and also to learn Cocoa/OSX in the process.] Atop NSView panel designated for navigation, I am trying to place NSTableView. However, my table is not being displayed. I therefore have questions...

I understand that for cells to be populated, controller must implement NSTableViewDataSource. I tried that, but was so far unsuccessful - to the point that I don't see the table. Please advise:

1. Can I have a working NSTableView-derived custom class also implementing NSTableViewDataSource? If this cannot work, please advise why or point me to an explanation.
2. Am I correct in thinking that all elements can be manipulated programmatically, in the sense that I use IBOutlet in headers to point to the right object, yet do nothing with InterfaceBuilder - have everything controlled from within my Objective-C code? Do I have to use IB?

Thank you.

Answer 1

1. Yes that will work but it's an unusual approach. Generally the tableview delegate/datasource is something enclosing the tableview. You'd normally only subclass NSTableView if you require some additional functionality not provided by default (for me that has been custom behaviour to input).
2. Yes you can do it all programmatically, however you will find it much easier to use IB. The IB-loaded views are created programmatically under the hood, using the information contained in the nib file. You will find it long-winded and tedious pretty quickly.

WRT to your issue with not seeing the table, you will need to add logging/breakpoints on the few key delegate/datasource methods to ensure they are being called (start with the daddy of them all numberOfRowsInTableView: ). If they are not then you aren't setting the delegate/datasource correctly in the tableview.