macOS Structs declared in @interface

[CMT]

Many headers from Apple, line the NSTableView, have structs declared containing flags:

typedef struct __TvFlags {
    unsigned int        allowsColumnReordering:1;
    unsigned int        allowsColumnResizing:1;
    unsigned int        oldDrawsGridFlag:1;
    unsigned int        allowsEmptySelection:1;
    unsigned int        allowsMultipleSelection:1;
    unsigned int        allowsColumnSelection:1;
    unsigned int        selectionType:2;
    unsigned int        changingLayout:1; // Unused
    unsigned int        compareWidthWithSuperview:2;
    unsigned int        delegateWillDisplayCell:1;
    ...
    unsigned int        delegateShouldEditTableColumn:1;
    unsigned int        delegateShouldSelectRow:1;
    unsigned int        delegateShouldSelectTableColumn:1;
    unsigned int        delegateSelectionShouldChangeInTableView:1;
    unsigned int        oldAutoresizesAllColumnsToFit:1;
    unsigned int        dataSourceSetObjectValue:1;
    unsigned int        selectionPostingDisableCount:7;
} _TvFlags;

This brings me 2 questions:

1.What is this ":1" (or ":2") at the end of each line? I've never seen this!
2.How can I then access this struct from inside object: _TvFlags.(~) or _TvFlags->(~) (dereferenced)

Thanks!

 

[chown33]

Look up "bit fields" in a C language reference doc.

2.How can I then access this struct from inside object: _TvFlags.(~) or _TvFlags->(~) (dereferenced)

That doesn't make syntactical sense. _TvFlags is a typedef. You wouldn't use uint_32.(~). I'm not even sure what you intend (~) to mean.

If your question is, "How do I access the bit fields of the _tvFlags member variable, whose type is _TvFlags?", then the answer can be obtained by looking up "bit fields" in a C language reference doc. The short answer is: the same way you'd access any other member of any other struct. Since NSSize or NSRect is also a typedef'ed struct, consider how you'd access its members.

And you'd do well to heed this comment from NSTableView.h:

 /*All instance variables are private*/

 

[CMT]

Look up "bit fields" in a C language reference doc.

Thanks. I had never learned about it (beginner programmer)

That doesn't make syntactical sense. _TvFlags is a typedef.

Indeed. Sorry, I mean to use the struct itself like you concluded.

I'm not even sure what you intend (~) to mean.

Means "something".

The short answer is: the same way you'd access any other member of any other struct. Since NSSize or NSRect is also a typedef'ed struct, consider how you'd access its members.

Ok, thanks for the comparison which clarified things.

And you'd do well to heed this comment from NSTableView.h:

 /*All instance variables are private*/

I know they are private, and I do not intent to use this struct, just pointed it out. I will be using these struct's to flags in my classes.

Thank you chown33, everything is clear now.