No such slot when connecting widget signal with parent widget slot - qt

I have the following classes:
class MainWindow : public QMainWindow
{
Q_OBJECT
public:
explicit MainWindow(QStringList pluginsToStart, QWidget *parent = 0);
~MainWindow();
// some other stuff
public slots:
void on_timeDataChanged(logging::TimeValueVector<bool>& aData);
void on_importStarted();
}
and
class DataImporterWidget : public PluginWidget
{
Q_OBJECT
public:
explicit DataImporterWidget(QWidget *parent = 0);
~DataImporterWidget();
void initConnections(QMap<QString, PluginWidget*> pluginWidgetMap);
in the method initConnections, I want the widget to init the signal-slot connections like so:
void DataImporterWidget::initConnections(QMap<QString, PluginWidget*> pluginWidgetMap)
{
for(Importer* importer : this->getImporterMap().values())
{
connect(importer, SIGNAL(signal_timeDataChanged(logging::TimeValueVector<bool>&)),
parentWidget(), SLOT(on_timeDataChanged(logging::TimeValueVector<bool>&)));
}
connect(this, SIGNAL(signal_importStarted()), parentWidget(), SLOT(on_importStarted()));
}
Importer is a QGroupBox and a base class for derived sub classes specifying concrete data importer types.
It works like so: If I press a button, an DataImporterWidget is created and added to a QMdiArea as a QMdiSubWindow. When creating the DataImporterWidget I call the initConnections() method which sets up the signal-slot connections.
Now, when I run the program, I get the following message:
QObject::connect: No such slot
QMdiSubWindow::on_timeDataChanged(logging::TimeValueVector<bool>&) in src/dataimporter/DataImporterWidget.cpp:81
QObject::connect: No such slot QMdiSubWindow::on_importStarted() in src/dataimporter/DataImporterWidget.cpp:85
QObject::connect: (sender name: 'DataImporterWidget')
I do not understand why I get it because the slot is there. Even if I cast the parentWidget to the MainWindow, I get the same error.
PluginWidget is just a base class deriving from QWidget that holds some common functionality for my used plugins.
I put Q_OBJECT on each base and derived class but still get this error. However, if I set up the connections in the MainWindow, it works just fine, but I wonder why the above solution won't work.

Don't create the connection from child object, instead create it from parent object code after creating the child object.
This way you won't need to cast any type.

You did not shown a huge chunk of important code (like creating DataImporterWidget, setting MainWindow as its parent, the place where you call initConnections...). However, you said
If I use the new signal slot syntax, my program crashes with a
segmentation fault...
If it crashes, than you have to find a reason why. Using old signal-slot connect syntax does not cure the disease, it just delay its manifestation. According to this, the reason why you get a segfault can be parentWidget() == nullptr or parent is not initialized yet.
My advice, check your code, and make user the parent of DataImporterWidget is created and specified before your call initConnections().

I've found the problem. The reason is, that the MainWidget class holds a QMdiArea where I add my PluginWidgets. So, when I create the PluginWidget, I set the MainWidget as its parent, but as soon as I add it to the QMdiArea, it also becomes a child of QMdiSubWindow. The parentWidget was never null but it was the wrong one ...

Related

How may I fix my error prone on_foo_bar slots

I have eight list widgets in a tab widget. They have similar names, and Designer's "Go to slot" mechanism has made links to slots it names (in the "private slots" section of "mainwindow.h") like:
void on_SR0listWidget_itemClicked(QListWidgetItem *item);
I saw warnings that "Slots named on_foo_bar are error-prone," and now I need to change their names in order to discover if that's the cause of the weird behaviour I'm getting.
I tried simply refactoring the names, but that stopped the slot code from working. I used Designer's graphical "Edit Signal/Slot" mechanism and was able to connect a newly added list widget's "itemClicked(QListWidgetItem *item)" signal to a newly added slot, and it looks OK in the graphical representation, but there's no debug message (that I set up in the Slot function) when an item is clicked.
I also use those widgets' "entered" signals, so there will be at least 16 to fix. I would write a script if it could be done by parsing the relevant files.
One example of exactly how to rename one of my replacement slots and connect an "item clicked" or "entered" signal to it (and where it should go) would be a great help.
Signals/slots setup through the designer rely on the names of the widgets involved. This can lead to problems if the widget names are changed. There are times when using the designer method will lead to code that compiles but doesn't actually make the connections you expect. This is why you are getting that warning.
You can get more reliable behavior by connecting the signals and slots programmatically. For example, let's say you have a class header such as:
#include <QMainWindow>
namespace Ui {
class MyWindow;
};
class QListWidgetItem;
class MyWindow : public QMainWindow {
Q_OBJECT
public:
explicit MyWindow(QWidget* parent = nullptr);
~MyWindow() override;
private:
void handleItemClicked(QListWidgetItem* item); // this is your slot
Ui::MyWindow* ui;
};
You can connect the signal/slot together in the cpp file like this:
#include "MyWindow.h"
#include "ui_MyWindow.h"
#include <QDebug>
MyWindow::MyWindow(QWidget* parent)
: QWidget(parent),
ui(new Ui::MyWindow()) {
ui->setupUi(this);
// connect() has many overloads, but in this case we are passing:
// 1. the object emitting the signal
// 2. the signal being emitted
// 3. the object whose slot we want to call
// 4. the slot to connect to
connect(
ui->listWidget, &QListWidget::itemClicked,
this, &MyWindow::handleItemClicked);
}
MyWindow::~MyWindow() {
delete ui;
}
void MyWindow::handleItemClicked(QListWidgetItem* item) {
qDebug() << "item clicked";
}
You can still use the designer to layout your UI - but prefer to manage connections directly in code rather than through the designer.

Passing word count into dialog qt

I am building a notepad and want to count the words in a dialog.
QString input = ui->textEdit->toPlainText();
int spaces = input.count(" ");
ui->NumWordsLabel->setNum(spaces);
This is my attempt so far.
However, I want to execute this code in my dialog so I need to pass the
ui->textEdit->toPlainText()
Into my dialog.
This is how I create my dialog...
void MainWindow::on_actionWord_Count_triggered()
{
word_count = new Word_count();
word_count->show();
}
How would I get the required information into the dialog?
Thanks.
Generally you can pass constructor arguments to pass data to your classes. For example:
Header file:
class Word_count : public QDialog
{
Q_OBJECT
public:
explicit Word_count(QString text, QObject *parent = 0);
...
}
Source file:
Word_count(QString text, QObject *parent)
: QDialog(parent)
{
ui->setup(this);
... figure out word count and set labels ...
}
How to use:
void MainWindow::on_actionWord_Count_triggered()
{
word_count = new Word_count(ui->textEdit->toPlainText());
word_count->show();
}
Important notes:
The QObject *parent argument should always be present in the constructor arguments. Make sure to only place the = 0 in the header file, or else you will get an error.
Your constructor should be marked explicit, unless you know you do not want that. Explicit prevents the C++ compiler from automatically casting to your type using a given constructor.
Pass the parent parameter to your inheriting class, whether that be QDialog, QWidget or QObject, using the constructor initializer list syntax. This is done in the source file example with : QDialog(parent).
You can add as many arguments as you need, but they should be before the parent argument. This is because the parent argument has a default value that can be implied. Because you must specify arguments in order, it can not be implied if there are required parameters after it.
This only will work for creating the dialog. If you want the dialog to dynamically update, you'll need to use a slot or method like suggested by others. Alternatively, if you don't want a dynamically updating dialog, consider using exec instead of show so that users must close your word count dialog before continuing with their work.
Add a slot like void setText( const QString& text ) to your Word_count class.
Then, you can emit a signal like void textChanged( const QString& text ) const from your MainWindowclass.
Don't forget to connect both.

Multiple inheritance of QObject because of access to deleteLater() method

I use observer-observable pattern in my program. Everything worked before I had to change the code a little. If to be exact I changed the inheritance of IObserver class - right now it inherits QObject:
class IObserver : public QObject
{
...
I did it because of only one thing - I need deleteLater() method to be used in an observer, so I would be able to call implementation of virtual function deinitialization() of IObserver. Thus I could standardize every IObserver message handler.
The problem is, I already inherited QObject (indirectly) in some Observer classes. Like MainForm or AboutDialog. Everything is going fine until I try to call "connect" method in AboutDialog class.
What can I do? I really need this deleteLater() method since I can't use "delete this" in IObserver code - this will call IObserver destructor, not the MainForm or Storage classes for instance.
Thank you.
I really need this deleteLater() method since I can't use "delete this" in IObserver code - this will call IObserver destructor, not the MainForm or Storage classes for instance.
If you make your destructor virtual (and you should!) it will call the derived destructor just fine. But a problem is that destructing a object while it is handling some signal/slot might cause problems with the event loop. You would have to be very careful with delete this anyway.
The problem is, I already inherited QObject (indirectly) in some Observer classes.
One way you could implement this, not sure if the best thought:
template <typename Derived>
class IObserver
{
// Just to be sure: (C++11)
static_assert(is_base_of<Derived, QObject>::value,
"must inherit from QObject when using IObserver");
void deleteMe()
{
QObject* thisObject = dynamic_cast<QObject*>(this);
// no need for check if thisObject equals null. static assert does this.
thisObject->deleteLater();
}
};
class MainForm : public IObserver<MainForm>, public QMainWindow
{
// ...
};
I believe this pattern is called static polymorphism.
Abandon inheritance of QObject for IObserver. Instead of that add such method to interface.
class IObserver : public QObject {
public:
QObject *object() const = 0;
...
Then if implementation of interface inherits the QObject you will return this pointer from object() method. If implementation of interface doesn't inherit QObject you can simply return pointer to some simple QObject which will handle destruction of this object.
Then you can simply connect deleteLater for object returned by this method.
Off topic
Use of interfaces for observing in Qt usually is obsolete, slots and signals do this job perfectly and this is more flexible approach.

Passing signals through hierarchies

I am having some difficulty fully grasping how signals and slots are used in Qt. I am sure it is really basic but I'm just no getting it today.
I have a set of widgets a bit like this:
MainWindow
-->StackedWidget
-->ChildForms
Now the idea is that there are some actions on the Child widgets that will cause the stacked widget to display a different page.
So if I understand it properly I thought the way to connect signals and slots is to use the connect() at the scope that knows about the objects but what I have managed to get working doesn't do it this way. At the moment in my child form I use parentWidget() to access the slot of the StackedWidget but I am not very happy with really because it is giving the child information about the parent which it shouldn't have:
void TaskSelectionForm::setButtonMappings()
{
// Set up a mapping between the buttons and the pages
QSignalMapper *mapper = new QSignalMapper(this);
connect(mapper, SIGNAL(mapped(int)), parentWidget(), SLOT(setCurrentIndex(int)));
mapper->setMapping(ui->utilitiesButton, 2); // Value of the index
connect(ui->utilitiesButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), mapper, SLOT(map()));
}
But I am not really sure how I should do this and connect it up. Do I need to have signals at each level and emit through the tree?
A Bit of Signal-Slot Theory
The signal-slot connections are oblivious to parent-child relationships between QObjects, and any such relationship doesn't matter. You're free to connect objects to their children, to their siblings, to their parents, or even to QObjects that are in a separate hierarchy, or to lone QObjects that have neither parents nor children. It doesn't matter.
A signal-slot connection connects a signal on a particular instance of QObject to slot on another instance of QObject. To use the connect method, you need the pointers to the instance of sender QObject and the instance of receiver QObject. You then use the static QObject::connect(sender, SIGNAL(...), receiver, SLOT(...)). Those connections have nothing to do with any hierarchy there is between the sender and receiver.
You can also connect a signal to a signal, to forward it -- for example from a private UI element to a signal that's part of the API of the class. You cannot connect a slot to a slot, because it'd incur a bit of runtime overhead for a rarely-used case. The overhead would be an extra bool member in QObjectPrivate, plus a failed if (bool) test. If you want to forward slots to slots, there are at least two ways to do it:
Emit a signal in the source slot and connect that signal to the destination slot.
Obtain a list of all signals connected to the source slot, iterate on it and connect them to to the target slot. There's no easy way to maintain such connections when further signals are connected or disconnected from the source slot. Unfortunately, QObject only has a connectNotify(const char*) protected function, but not a signal -- so you can't hook up to it unless you would modify src/corelib/kernel/qobject[.cpp,_p.h,.h] to emit such a signal. If you truly need it, just modify the Qt source, you have access it for a reason, after all. Hacking the vtable without modifying Qt is possible, but discouraged for obvious reasons.
The Answer
Below is a self contained example that shows how to do what you want. Turns out I have answers to quite a few questions from my various experiments I've done in Qt in the past. I'm a packrat when it comes to test code. It's all SSCCE to boot :)
// https://github.com/KubaO/stackoverflown/tree/master/questions/signal-slot-hierarchy-10783656
#include <QtGui>
#if QT_VERSION >= QT_VERSION_CHECK(5,0,0)
#include <QtWidgets>
#endif
class Window : public QWidget
{
QSignalMapper m_mapper;
QStackedLayout m_stack{this};
QWidget m_page1, m_page2;
QHBoxLayout m_layout1{&m_page1}, m_layout2{&m_page2};
QLabel m_label1{"Page 1"}, m_label2{"Page 2"};
QPushButton m_button1{"Show Page 2"}, m_button2{"Show Page 1"};
public:
Window(QWidget * parent = {}) : QWidget(parent) {
// the mapper tells the stack which page to switch to
connect(&m_mapper, SIGNAL(mapped(int)), &m_stack, SLOT(setCurrentIndex(int)));
// Page 1
m_layout1.addWidget(&m_label1);
m_layout1.addWidget(&m_button1);
// tell the mapper to map signals coming from this button to integer 1 (index of page 2)
m_mapper.setMapping(&m_button1, 1);
// when the button is clicked, the mapper will do its mapping and emit the mapped() signal
connect(&m_button1, SIGNAL(clicked()), &m_mapper, SLOT(map()));
m_stack.addWidget(&m_page1);
// Page 2
m_layout2.addWidget(&m_label2);
m_layout2.addWidget(&m_button2);
// tell the mapper to map signals coming from this button to integer 0 (index of page 1)
m_mapper.setMapping(&m_button2, 0);
connect(&m_button2, SIGNAL(clicked()), &m_mapper, SLOT(map()));
m_stack.addWidget(&m_page2);
}
};
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
QApplication a(argc, argv);
Window w;
w.show();
return a.exec();
}
Connect(stackedwidget->currentactivewidget,SIGNAL(OnAction()),this,SLOT(PrivateSlot()));
PrivateSlot() is a slot declared privately. So in this function, you can add your code to change the page of stackedwidget corresponding to the action produced by currentactivewidget.
Again if you really want to pass the signal up the heirarchy, emit a publicsignal() at the end of private slot function.
Connect(this,SIGNAL(publicsignal()),Parentwidgetofstackedwidget(here mainwindow),SLOT(mainwindow_slot()));

Connect function to an event

I am trying to create an event handler that executes a function when the page load is done in the QWebView, the syntax i'm using is as follows:
webview->connect(webview,SIGNAL(loadFinished(bool)),this,SLOT(Load_Done()));
This function is created and implemented in a class that i'm using other than the main class if this helps.
The problem is that i'm getting the following:
No such slot QObject::Load_Finished()
It should be QObject::connect(...) not webview->connect. The rest looks fine as long as Load_Done() is defined.
Edit:
To make sure that signals and slots work properly, you need to declare your class that way:
class Facebook: QObject{
Q_OBJECT
public:
// ...
public slots:
void Load_Done();
}
The signal and the slot have to have the same signature, e.g.:
connect(webview,SIGNAL(loadFinished(bool)),this,SLOT(Load_Done(bool)));
Of course, LoadDone(bool) needs to exist in "this" and be a slot :)

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