Here is the layout for a header (interface) file. For this example, we will assume that the name of your class is Foo.

//First put in any import statements

#import <Cocoa/Cocoa.h>

// Then forward-declare any non-Cocoa classes // (Except those being inherited from) // (See AdviceOnImportingHeaders)

@class BossMan;

// Next, put in this line which declares the name of the class // and gives the name of the superclass it derives from. In this // case the name of the class is Foo and the name of the // superclass is NSObject.

@interface Foo: NSObject

// Next, in braces, declare your instance variables and your outlets.

{

NSMutableArray foo; NSString *personName; float expectedRaise; BossMan bossApprovingRaise;

IBOutlet id textField; IBOutlet id customView; IBOutlet NSTextField *staticText; }

// Next, declare your actions…

• (IBAction) createEmployee: (id) sender;
• (IBAction) drawCoolStuff: (id) sender;

// and your instance methods.

• (id) init;
• (void) dealloc;
• (void) createFoo;

// Last, end your header with the following line…

@end

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For how to use forward declarations in a header file see AdviceOnImportingHeaders (you should not need to import header files directly into your header file except for importing the requisite super-class header). In the case of category headers, you need to import the header for the class on which you are adding the category.

forward-declaring your class names via the @class declaration is far-preferable when you need a reference to them in a header file.