How do I create a category in Xcode 6 or higher?

Question

I want to create a category on UIColor in my app using Xcode 6. But the thing is that in Xcode 6 there is no Objective-C category file template.

Is there any option to create a category in Xcode 6?

Solution 1

They didn't forget. They just moved it without telling anyone.

1. Click File -> New -> File

2. Select Objective-C file under Sources in iOS or Mac OS respectively and Click Next

3. Now under File Type: choose either Category, Protocol, or Extension

PS. Under File Name: whatever you type here will be either the Category, Protocol, or Extension Name.

Solution 2

To create CategoryBaseClass+CategoryName.m/.h:

1. File → New → File... or use ⌘N.
2. Select Objective-C File.

3. Type in category name, select File Type: Category, and then select the base class.

4. Complete the flow to create the category.

Solution 3

Here's a visual demonstration:

Solution 4

Xcode6-Beta5 update

The interface has now changed and it's possible to add a Category directly from the New > File window.

See unmircea's answer.

---

I was surprised myself, and I guess because of Swift they forgot about good old Objective-C.

You have two options:

1. Create an Objective-C class with the category name, example UIView+Powerups, then manually change the interface to match the one of category. Note that the snippet for the category interface and implementation is still working, so that's extra easy: type @interface-category and @implementation-category.

2. Import it from Xcode 5! Use this command:

   cp -r /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/Library/Xcode/Templates/File\ Templates/Cocoa\ Touch/Objective-C\ category.xctemplate /Applications/Xcode6-Beta.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/Library/Xcode/Templates/File\ Templates/Source/
   

   Close and reopen Xcode 6 and you'll find "Objective-C Category" in the wizard for the new file.

Solution 5

There is no predefined template to create category in Xcode 6 beta(for time being),they may add this option later. As a work around you can create a Cocoa Touch Class(its not proper i know but no other way) named UIImage+Additions(ClassName+CategoryName) and override its interface and implementation some thing like

UIImage+Additions.h

#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>

@interface UIImage(Additions)

+(void)testMethod;

@end 

UIImage+Additions.m

#import "UIImage+Additions.h"

@implementation UIImage (Additions)

+(void)testMethod
{

}

@end

Edit
This answer was written before finding a way of creating category in the Xcode 6 beta. Check unmircea's answer for the right way of creating category

View more solutions

Comments

[Yalamandarao]

Apple forgot to add Objective-c Category, Objective-c class extension, Objective-c Protocols templates....

[David Pettigrew]

I created a bug report #17627118 if you want to duplicate it.

[Alex the Ukrainian]

FYI: if you're on a later beta, just change Xcode-beta.app in the line to Xcode6-betaX.app where X is the beta number.

[Jay]

Wrong! Check out the answer by unmircea below for the correct answer - it's not gone, it has just moved..

[pronebird]

This is so confusing.

[unom]

They just accommodated to adding Swift and hidden everything under Objective-C or I think that they did. I personally don't get why Swift was added, Objective-C is such a beautiful and expressive language once you get to know it... It's Objects on top of C... Perrrfect

[Benjohn]

Heh, the description given for Objective-C File by XCode 6 is "An Empty Objective-C file.", rather than my description which would be, "one of the old, not at all empty, Objective-C files that you're used to", which threw me off fairly nicely!

[mbm29414]

@unmircea Thanks for posting such useful information. To Apple: This is stupid!

[Duck]

They didn't forget. They just moved it without telling anyone. what is typical, considering the crappy level of Apple documentations in general and most frequently the total lack of documentation.

[unom]

What are you missing on the Documentation level? It's true they always change things but the documentation is very good, although written in a style that is a little different from what other software companies.

[SefTarbell]

Thanks! I was stumped on this and could not find where they moved it.

[Zorayr]

Although this might be a working solution, it's probably a better idea to use the category support built into Xcode - this way, the templates will always be up to date.

[Zorayr]

No need for the workaround now since final version of XCode 6 has category support built-in.

[Anil Varghese]

@Zorayr It was answered before the final Xcode 6 version and the work around is not wrong also. Don't simply down vote.

[Matthieu Riegler]

Stack Exchange should change theirs algorithms to bring these kind of answers to the top !!

[alexzg]

This should be the preferred answer

[Jasper]

Whilst this may theoretically answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference.

[Iulian Onofrei]

@unmircea, I don't remember now, but I did stumble upon public methods not documented too.