---
title: "init(type:)"
framework: appkit
role: symbol
role_heading: Initializer
path: "appkit/nsdocument/init(type:)"
---

# init(type:)

Initializes a document of a specified type.

## Declaration

```swift
convenience init(type typeName: String) throws
```

## Parameters

- `typeName`: The string that identifies the document type.

## Return Value

Return Value The initialized NSDocument object, or, if the document could not be created, nil.

## Discussion

Discussion The default implementation of this method just invokes [self init] and [self setFileType:typeName]. You can override this method to perform initialization that must be done when creating new documents but should not be done when opening existing documents. Your override should typically invoke super, or at least it must invoke init(), the NSDocument designated initializer, to initialize the NSDocument private instance variables. note: In Swift, this method is marked with the throws keyword to indicate that it throws an error in cases of failure. When overriding this method, use the throw statement to throw an NSError, as described in Error Handling in The Swift Programming Language and About Imported Cocoa Error Parameters.

## See Also

### Creating a Document Object

- [init()](appkit/nsdocument/init().md)
- [init(contentsOf:ofType:)](appkit/nsdocument/init(contentsof:oftype:).md)
- [init(for:withContentsOf:ofType:)](appkit/nsdocument/init(for:withcontentsof:oftype:).md)