OS X storyboard: how to show a window programmatically? - macos

Question

I am creating an OS X status bar application.
I am trying to achieve the following:
app starts invisible, with menu bar item
click on menu bar item shows the main window
on deactivate, the window is hidden
So I am trying to programmatically show the main window when the menu item is clicked, but with no success.
My main window has "Hide on deactivate" checked. Once hidden, I cannot make it visible again using code.
Here is the code I have for now, but it doesn't work:
#IBAction func menuClick(sender: AnyObject) {
var mainWindow = NSStoryboard(name: "Main", bundle: nil)?.instantiateInitialController()
mainWindow?.makeKeyAndOrderFront(self)
}

Answer 1

This is how you have to do to show your Windows programmatically:
import Cocoa
#NSApplicationMain
class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
let mainWindow = NSWindow(contentRect: NSMakeRect(0, 0, NSScreen.mainScreen()!.frame.width/2, NSScreen.mainScreen()!.frame.height/2), styleMask: NSTitledWindowMask|NSResizableWindowMask|NSMiniaturizableWindowMask|NSClosableWindowMask, backing: NSBackingStoreType.Buffered, defer: false)
func createNewWindow(){
mainWindow.title = "Main Window"
mainWindow.opaque = false
mainWindow.center()
mainWindow.hidesOnDeactivate = true
mainWindow.movableByWindowBackground = true
mainWindow.backgroundColor = NSColor(calibratedHue: 0, saturation: 0, brightness: 1, alpha: 1)
mainWindow.makeKeyAndOrderFront(nil)
}
func applicationDidFinishLaunching(aNotification: NSNotification) {
// lets get rid of the main window just closing it as soon as the app launches
NSApplication.sharedApplication().windows.first!.close()
}
func applicationWillTerminate(aNotification: NSNotification) {
// Insert code here to tear down your application
}
#IBAction func menuClick(sender: AnyObject) {
createNewWindow()
}
}
or you can create an optional NSWindow var to store your window before you close it as follow
import Cocoa
#NSApplicationMain
class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
var defaultWindow:NSWindow?
func applicationDidFinishLaunching(aNotification: NSNotification) {
// lets get rid of the main window just closing it as soon as the app launches
defaultWindow = NSApplication.sharedApplication().windows.first as? NSWindow
if let defaultWindow = defaultWindow {
defaultWindow.close()
}
}
func applicationWillTerminate(aNotification: NSNotification) {
// Insert code here to tear down your application
}
#IBAction func menuClick(sender: AnyObject) {
if let defaultWindow = defaultWindow {
defaultWindow.makeKeyAndOrderFront(nil)
}
}
}

Answer 2

The makeKeyAndOrderFront method is a NSWindow method, but instantiateInitialController returns the window controller, not its window.
Also, if the window is hidden on deactivate, you wouldn't want to instantiate another copy. Keep a reference to the window and re-show that.
Finally, you may need to bring the app to the front too. Call [NSApp activateIgnoringOtherApps:YES] (or the Swift equivalent).