Is there a key combination in Xcode to implement a Protocol?

Question

In Visual Studio if I define a class to implement an interface e.g.

class MyObject : ISerializable {}

I am able to right click on ISerializable, select "Implement Interface" from the context menu and see the appropriate methods appear in my class definition.

class MyObject : ISerializable {
    #region ISerializable Members
    public void GetObjectData(SerializationInfo info, 
                StreamingContext context)
    {
        throw new NotImplementedException();
    }
    #endregion
}

Is there anything anything like this functionality available in Xcode on the Mac? I would like to be able to automatically implement Protocols in this way. Maybe with the optional methods generated but commented out.

Answer 1

XCode currently does not support that kind of automation. But: an easy way to get your code bootstrapped with a protocol is to option-click the protocol name in your class declaration

@interface FooAppDelegate : NSObject <NSApplicationDelegate, 
                                      NSTableViewDelegate> {

to quickly open the .h file defining the protocol. From there, copy and paste the methods you're interested in. Those headers tend to be well-commented, which helps in determining which methods you can safely ignore.

Answer 2

I have not seen that feature in Xcode. But it seems like someone could write a new user script called "Place Implementor Defs on Clipboard" that sits inside of Scripts > Code.

You did not find this useful.

Answer 3

There is not currently such a refactoring in Xcode.

If you'd like it, please file an enhancement request.