textDidChange vs controlTextDidChange

Question

Can someone explain me why textDidChange isn't handling my delegate but controlTextDidChange works from NSTextField.

 - (void)controlTextDidChange:(NSNotification *)aNotification{
    NSBeep();
}

from

 - (void)textDidChange:(NSNotification *)aNotification{
    NSBeep();
}

Answer 1

controlTextDidChange: is the correct delegate method defined on NSTextField (inherited from NSControl).

textDidChange: is a method that, when called on NSTextField, makes it behave as if its text changed (including calling the above method). It is not a delegate method for you to implement.

It's a little inconsistent of Apple as they do have a textDidChange: delegate method on UISearchBarDelegate.

Answer 2

textDidChange: Informs the delegate that the text object has changed its characters or formatting attributes.

I'm guessing that means its font (text attributes) changes, and not the text inputted.