add QLabel into QLineEdit

[marlenet15]

@mrjj So the actual text "Date:" can be changed to "Jan 19 2016" or any format of date?

[mrjj]

@marlenet15
yes
its not pretty but
\J\a\n\ \1\9\ \2\0\1\6:AAAAAA

does look correct.

[raven-worx]

i also think the input mask is actually the best way, or maybe even better a custom QValidator.
But to just add something to the (rather ugly) QLabel idea: You could use QLineEdit::setTextMargins() to move the left-most position of the cursor.

[marlenet15]

@mrjj So right now in my code the date that is going into the QLineedit is the current date. So I would need to separate the string and make sure to add \ ? Also what do the A's mean? the ones you put in your example?

[marlenet15]

@raven-worx yes I agree the input mask Is the best way to go. However, it's a new concept for me since I never heard of it. That is why I am very confused to how it works.

[mrjj]

@raven-worx said:
setTextMargins
+1 That would work for custom control.

yes, you would need to put \ into your date.
the AAAA is input specifier .
Go to a LineEdit and find inputmask property and press F1 to read about them.

[marlenet15]

@mrjj So if the user is allowed 100 characters for the QLineEdit do I have to put 100 A's?

[mrjj]

@marlenet15 erhm, yes I think. maybe there is way
but inputmasks are normally used for short input like date
or iP etc

[raven-worx]

@marlenet15
if you are familiar with regular expressions you might want to use QRegExpValidator which will result in the same behavior
And set it on the line edit.

[mrjj]

@raven-worx
oh. So QRegExpValidator can have static text?

[raven-worx]

@mrjj
Of course, a regular expression can have a static text included

[mrjj]

@raven-worx
yes, but i didn't know it would show in lineEdit as Validator sounds so none visual :)

[marlenet15]

@raven-worx Can you please show me an example of that? I have never heard of that and I googled it and I didn't find anything about that :)

[raven-worx]

@marlenet15
you can see how to use QRegExpValidator in the link i've posted.
Use a RegExp similiar to this one. There are tons of material on the web about regexp to learn.

QRegExp("Comments\\: ([Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Nov|Dec] [0-3]?[0-9] [0-9]{4}\\: (.+))");

This regexp is surely not perfect, but enough to get an idea and continue to learn the syntax i guess.

[kshegunov]

@raven-worx
If I may interject, [Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Nov|Dec] is not okay for matching one should use a (non-capturing) group instead. i.e: (?:Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Nov|Dec).

[ValentinMichelet]

My two cents: if you have Qt5, consider using QRegularExpressionValidator and QRegularExpression instead, since the motor has been remarkably improved.

[marlenet15]

@raven-worx I just tried it and the amazing thing is the cursor moves automatically moves to the right of the date. However, I can still edit the date and I don't want it to be edited whatsoever. When the mouse clicks the QLineEdit, I want it so that the cursor starts right after the date text. :( Is it possible for this? Thank you so much for you help!

This is the code I used:

QRegExp rx("Comments\\: ([Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Nov|Dec] [0-3]?[0-9] [0-9]{4}\\: (.+))");
QValidator *validator = new QRegExpValidator(rx, this);
ui->lineEdit->setValidator(validator);

QDate date = QDate::currentDate();
QTime time = QTime::currentTime();
ui->lineEdit->setText(date.toString("MMM dd yyyy")+" "+time.toString("hh:mm:ss"));

[raven-worx]

@marlenet15

Try this:

QString dateTimeStr = QDateTime::currentDateTime().toString("MMM dd yyyy hh:mm:ss");
QString rxStr("Comments\\: %1\\: (.+)");
QRegExp rx( rxStr.arg(dateTimeStr), Qt::CaseSensitive, QRegExp::RegExp2 );
QValidator *validator = new QRegExpValidator(rx, this);
ui->lineEdit->setValidator(validator);

[marlenet15]

@raven-worx I can still edit the date_time stamp :(

[kshegunov]

@marlenet15
Hello,
I believe you are going to need an input mask after all. I think you should try something like this:

QString date = QDateTime::currentDateTime().toString("MMM dd yyyy hh:mm:ss");
QString heading = QStringLiteral("Comments %1: %2").arg(date); //< Construct the heading
QRegularExpression escaperx(QStringLiteral("([AaNnXx09Dd#HhBb><!\\\\]{1})")); //< Escape regex for input mask special characters
heading.replace(escaperx, QStringLiteral("\\\\1")); //< Escape the input mask

QString mask = heading.arg("", 255, QLatin1Char('x')); //< Add 255 optional characters to the mask for the user to fill.
_dateLabel->setInputMask(mask);

Then if you wish you could add a validator to ensure the user has entered correct data.

Kind regards.

EDIT:
I had forgotten to add the actual characters that the user can fill to the mask, but I edited the example and it should be correct now.