Setting dataSource for NSTableView across scenes in a storyboard - cocoa

Question

I am using XCode 6 on OS X 10.10 and have a storyboard containing a window with a split view controller, as shown in the following image.
The split view controller (highlighted in the image) is an instance of MyViewController, which has the following code:
MyViewController.h
#import <Cocoa/Cocoa.h>
#interface MyViewController : NSSplitViewController <NSTableViewDataSource>
#end
MyViewController.m
#import "MyViewController.h"
#implementation MyViewController
- (NSInteger)numberOfRowsInTableView:(NSTableView *)tableView {
return 7;
}
- (id)tableView:(NSTableView *)tableView objectValueForTableColumn:(NSTableColumn *)tableColumn row:(NSInteger)row {
return [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%ld", (long)row];
}
#end
I would like to make the view controller the dataSource of the NSTableView in my storyboard, however I am unable to connect them. Is there a reason for this?

Answer 1

In your NSSplitViewController-subclass viewDidLoad-method set the data source programmatically. You need to implement the child view controller class as well (with the tableView outlet connected to the control).
MySplitViewController.m
- (void)viewDidLoad
{
[super viewDidLoad];
for (NSSplitViewItem *item in self.splitViewItems)
{
NSViewController *controller = item.viewController;
if ([controller isKindOfClass:[MyChildController class]])
{
MyChildController *myController = (MyChildController *)controller;
myController.tableView.dataSource = self;
[myController.tableView reloadData];
}
}
}
But to tell you the truth I don't like this approach. It's more better when the table view's data source methods are in the native view controller class.
Another way to do that. MyChildController.h file:
#class MyChildViewController;
#protocol MyChildControllerDelegate <NSObject>
- (void)childController:(MyChildViewController *)controller didSelectRowAtIndex:(NSUInteger)index;
#end
#interface MyChildViewController : NSViewController <NSTableViewDataSource, NSTableViewDelegate>
#property (nonatomic, weak) id<MyChildControllerDelegate> delegate;
#property (nonatomic, retain) NSArray *items;
#property (nonatomic, weak) IBOutlet NSTableView *tableView;
#end
Don't forget to implement all the table view dataSource and delegate methods you need. MySplitViewController.m file:
- (void)viewDidLoad
{
[super viewDidLoad];
for (NSSplitViewItem *item in self.splitViewItems)
{
NSViewController *controller = item.viewController;
if ([controller isKindOfClass:[MyChildController class]])
{
MyChildController *myController = (MyChildController *)controller;
myController.delegate = self;
[myController setItems:_items];
}
}
}