How to enable ARC for a single file

79
votes

I want to bring a single Objective-C class written using ARC into an old project. The internet provides many references for how to enable ARC for your project and then disable it for single files but I want to do the opposite.

I want to leave the project as it is, i.e. using manual reference counting, and then enable ARC just for the new file. (My searches have failed me here.)

Is this possible? How?

2
objective-cautomatic-ref-counting
This isn't a duplicate! It's asks the opposite of the linked question. The linked question does not provide the answer. The title of this question comes up as a Google suggestion for which there is no obvious page. @Caleb's answer is the perfect one. – Carlton Gibson
I have to agree with you there... the linked supposed duplicate thread doesn't mention "-fobjc-arc" once. The people who marked this as a duplicate should be shot out of a giant cannon into the sun. – Herr Grumps
The problem linked as a duplicate isn't the correct one. However, this one is and was written earlier: stackoverflow.com/questions/8768176/… – ThomasW
Note that when you do a do a Google search, this is the question that comes up first. – ThomasW

2 Answers

119
votes

Add the -fobjc-arc flag to any files for which you'd like to enable ARC, as described in the ARC documentation.

11
votes

Select Target > Build Phases > Compile Source > Select Your class > Double Click> Type

-fobjc-arc in dialog box enter image description here

Enter.