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Access the UI, from multiple windows.

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  • SGaistS SGaist

    Hi,

    The usual fix to this one is: don't create static QWidget based objects.

    L Offline
    L Offline
    Loc888
    wrote on last edited by
    #15

    @SGaist I dont know what you mean.

    mrjjM 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • L Loc888

      @SGaist I dont know what you mean.

      mrjjM Offline
      mrjjM Offline
      mrjj
      Lifetime Qt Champion
      wrote on last edited by
      #16

      @Loc888
      Hi
      You cannot have global Widgets as they are NOT
      allow to be constructed before QApplication in main.
      They must be pointers and you can first new them After application is created.

      L 1 Reply Last reply
      1
      • SGaistS Offline
        SGaistS Offline
        SGaist
        Lifetime Qt Champion
        wrote on last edited by
        #17

        If you have anything that looks like static MyClass thingy where MyClass is derived from QWidget, then remove it.

        Interested in AI ? www.idiap.ch
        Please read the Qt Code of Conduct - https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct

        1 Reply Last reply
        1
        • mrjjM mrjj

          @Loc888
          Hi
          You cannot have global Widgets as they are NOT
          allow to be constructed before QApplication in main.
          They must be pointers and you can first new them After application is created.

          L Offline
          L Offline
          Loc888
          wrote on last edited by
          #18

          @mrjj I tried by reference, and this happend:

          Error: 'QWidget& QWidget::operator=(const QWidget&)' is private
          Class &operator=(const Class &) Q_DECL_EQ_DELETE;
          ^

          mingw48_32\include\QtWidgets\qwidget.h:728: in expansion of macro 'Q_DISABLE_COPY'
          Q_DISABLE_COPY(QWidget)
          ^

          It happend in this line Class &operator=(const Class &) Q_DECL_EQ_DELETE;

          I try later with pointers, and will see what happend.

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • SGaistS Offline
            SGaistS Offline
            SGaist
            Lifetime Qt Champion
            wrote on last edited by
            #19

            For more information why, read this.

            Interested in AI ? www.idiap.ch
            Please read the Qt Code of Conduct - https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct

            L 1 Reply Last reply
            1
            • SGaistS SGaist

              For more information why, read this.

              L Offline
              L Offline
              Loc888
              wrote on last edited by Loc888
              #20

              @SGaist

              Now i tried with pointers, error :

              error: invalid operands of types 'Settings_Window*' and 'Settings_Window*' to binary 'operator*'
              A* &Settings_Widget;
              ^

              void MainWindow::Get_Window_Data(Settings_Window* A)
              {

              A* &Settings_Widget;
              

              }

              What i did wrong?

              mrjjM 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • L Loc888

                @SGaist

                Now i tried with pointers, error :

                error: invalid operands of types 'Settings_Window*' and 'Settings_Window*' to binary 'operator*'
                A* &Settings_Widget;
                ^

                void MainWindow::Get_Window_Data(Settings_Window* A)
                {

                A* &Settings_Widget;
                

                }

                What i did wrong?

                mrjjM Offline
                mrjjM Offline
                mrjj
                Lifetime Qt Champion
                wrote on last edited by
                #21

                @Loc888
                Hi
                Why not just
                Settings_Window* MainWindow::Get_Window_Data()
                {
                return Settings_Widget; // Settings_Widget is * (pointer) ?
                }

                L 1 Reply Last reply
                1
                • mrjjM mrjj

                  @Loc888
                  Hi
                  Why not just
                  Settings_Window* MainWindow::Get_Window_Data()
                  {
                  return Settings_Widget; // Settings_Widget is * (pointer) ?
                  }

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  Loc888
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #22

                  @mrjj

                  It run at least, but is not working. If i check something, then press the button with this code, nothing happened. Probably is another copy.
                  I am tired, tomorrow i try something else.

                  Is this the way how i should use it?

                  MainWindow B;
                  
                  
                  if(B.Get_Window_Data()->ui->Checker_Box_01->isChecked())
                  {
                  
                      //Do something
                  
                  }
                  
                  jsulmJ 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • mrjjM Offline
                    mrjjM Offline
                    mrjj
                    Lifetime Qt Champion
                    wrote on last edited by mrjj
                    #23

                    Hi
                    Yes but im old school and always check pointers
                    so i would do

                    MainWindow B; // this should not be a second instance but the one you (might) create in main.cpp

                    Settings_Window * win=B.Get_Window_Data();

                    if (!win) {
                    qDebug() << "NULL ptr from Get_Window_Data";
                    return;
                    }
                    if(win->ui->Checker_Box_01->isChecked())
                    {
                        //Do something
                    }
                    if(win->ui->Checker_Box_XX->isChecked())
                    {
                        //Do something
                    }
                    
                    

                    However, the UI variable is private so unless the using class is friend, its not allowed.
                    So you make make UI public ( bad design )
                    or provide access functions for the widgets.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • L Loc888

                      @mrjj

                      It run at least, but is not working. If i check something, then press the button with this code, nothing happened. Probably is another copy.
                      I am tired, tomorrow i try something else.

                      Is this the way how i should use it?

                      MainWindow B;
                      
                      
                      if(B.Get_Window_Data()->ui->Checker_Box_01->isChecked())
                      {
                      
                          //Do something
                      
                      }
                      
                      jsulmJ Online
                      jsulmJ Online
                      jsulm
                      Lifetime Qt Champion
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #24

                      @Loc888 said in Access the UI, from multiple windows.:

                      B.Get_Window_Data()->ui->Checker_Box_01->isChecked()

                      From software design point of view this is so bad!
                      You should not expose internal details of your MainWindow like that.
                      Add public methods to MainWindow which return needed invormation without exposing internal implementation details.
                      Example:

                      class MainWindow...
                      {
                      public:
                          bool isSomethingActivated()
                          {
                              return ui->Checker_Box_01->isChecked();
                          }
                      }
                      
                      MainWindow B;
                      if(B.isSomethingActivated())
                      {
                          //Do something
                      }
                      

                      Now, the user of MainWindow does not have to know anything about how the MainWindow is designed (what UI elements it has for example) - it just calls a public interface method to get the information. Usn't this much nicer? One more advantage of this approach: if you later change your MainWindow UI the caller of the MainWindow will not be affected.
                      Example:

                      class MainWindow...
                      {
                      public:
                          bool isSomethingActivated()
                          {
                              // You decided that the condition should be different
                              return ui->Checker_Box_01->isChecked() && ui->Checker_Box_02->isChecked();
                          }
                      }
                      
                      // No need to change the caller of MainWindow
                      MainWindow B;
                      if(B.isSomethingActivated())
                      {
                          //Do something
                      }
                      

                      https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct

                      mrjjM 1 Reply Last reply
                      2
                      • jsulmJ jsulm

                        @Loc888 said in Access the UI, from multiple windows.:

                        B.Get_Window_Data()->ui->Checker_Box_01->isChecked()

                        From software design point of view this is so bad!
                        You should not expose internal details of your MainWindow like that.
                        Add public methods to MainWindow which return needed invormation without exposing internal implementation details.
                        Example:

                        class MainWindow...
                        {
                        public:
                            bool isSomethingActivated()
                            {
                                return ui->Checker_Box_01->isChecked();
                            }
                        }
                        
                        MainWindow B;
                        if(B.isSomethingActivated())
                        {
                            //Do something
                        }
                        

                        Now, the user of MainWindow does not have to know anything about how the MainWindow is designed (what UI elements it has for example) - it just calls a public interface method to get the information. Usn't this much nicer? One more advantage of this approach: if you later change your MainWindow UI the caller of the MainWindow will not be affected.
                        Example:

                        class MainWindow...
                        {
                        public:
                            bool isSomethingActivated()
                            {
                                // You decided that the condition should be different
                                return ui->Checker_Box_01->isChecked() && ui->Checker_Box_02->isChecked();
                            }
                        }
                        
                        // No need to change the caller of MainWindow
                        MainWindow B;
                        if(B.isSomethingActivated())
                        {
                            //Do something
                        }
                        
                        mrjjM Offline
                        mrjjM Offline
                        mrjj
                        Lifetime Qt Champion
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #25

                        @jsulm
                        And we come full circle \o/
                        I told OP that 4 days ago, but he seems unwilling to
                        create access functions :)
                        Maybe seeing your good example, OP will feel the joy of good design
                        and do it the right way.

                        L 3 Replies Last reply
                        0
                        • mrjjM mrjj

                          @jsulm
                          And we come full circle \o/
                          I told OP that 4 days ago, but he seems unwilling to
                          create access functions :)
                          Maybe seeing your good example, OP will feel the joy of good design
                          and do it the right way.

                          L Offline
                          L Offline
                          Loc888
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #26

                          @mrjj

                          It makes me a little bit mad, why everything need's to be complicated.
                          So, in main window can i use something like that:

                            B.Get_Window_Data()->ui->Checker_Box_01->isChecked()
                          

                          But in other window, i need to do it in other way?

                          jsulmJ 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • L Loc888

                            @mrjj

                            It makes me a little bit mad, why everything need's to be complicated.
                            So, in main window can i use something like that:

                              B.Get_Window_Data()->ui->Checker_Box_01->isChecked()
                            

                            But in other window, i need to do it in other way?

                            jsulmJ Online
                            jsulmJ Online
                            jsulm
                            Lifetime Qt Champion
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #27

                            @Loc888 You should no access internal implementation details of one window (class) from another. It is not related to Qt, this are simply software design basics...
                            And what is complicated about it? Is my example really complicated? What you're trying to do is much more complicated and error prone. Why do you want to know in window A how window B is constructed? Why not simply define simple APIs to communicate between windows? To be honest code like what you're trying to write would not pass code reviews in the company where I'm working.

                            https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct

                            L 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • mrjjM mrjj

                              @jsulm
                              And we come full circle \o/
                              I told OP that 4 days ago, but he seems unwilling to
                              create access functions :)
                              Maybe seeing your good example, OP will feel the joy of good design
                              and do it the right way.

                              L Offline
                              L Offline
                              Loc888
                              wrote on last edited by Loc888
                              #28

                              @mrjj Listen, i show you my code, cuz i am getting a little bit crazy, i can't create it in main.cpp, becasuse then how can i show it?

                              In MainWindow.h i have

                                  Settings_Window* Get_Window_Data();
                              
                                   Settings_Window* Settings_Widget = new Settings_Window;
                              

                              MainWindow.cpp

                              Settings_Window* MainWindow::Get_Window_Data()
                              {
                              
                                  return Settings_Widget;
                              
                              }
                              

                              Window1

                              MainWindow B;
                              
                              Settings_Window S;
                              
                              
                              if(B.Get_Window_Data()->ui->Checker_01->isChecked())
                              {
                              
                                
                              }
                              
                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • jsulmJ jsulm

                                @Loc888 You should no access internal implementation details of one window (class) from another. It is not related to Qt, this are simply software design basics...
                                And what is complicated about it? Is my example really complicated? What you're trying to do is much more complicated and error prone. Why do you want to know in window A how window B is constructed? Why not simply define simple APIs to communicate between windows? To be honest code like what you're trying to write would not pass code reviews in the company where I'm working.

                                L Offline
                                L Offline
                                Loc888
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #29

                                @jsulm I never gonna work for anybody from software design. I am doing it more like hobby.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • mrjjM mrjj

                                  @jsulm
                                  And we come full circle \o/
                                  I told OP that 4 days ago, but he seems unwilling to
                                  create access functions :)
                                  Maybe seeing your good example, OP will feel the joy of good design
                                  and do it the right way.

                                  L Offline
                                  L Offline
                                  Loc888
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #30

                                  @mrjj This method is not working

                                  Settings_Window* MainWindow::Get_Window_Data()
                                  {
                                  
                                  return Settings_Widget;
                                  
                                  }
                                  

                                  If i press the checkerbox, it should be setted to true

                                  void Settings_Window::on_CheckerBox_clicked()
                                  {
                                  
                                      B->Get_Window_Data()->ui->CheckerBox->setChecked(true);
                                  
                                  }
                                  

                                  Then when i go to window one, and press the button

                                  void Window1::on_Button001_clicked()
                                  {
                                  
                                  MainWindow* B = new MainWindow;
                                  
                                  
                                  if(B->Get_Window_Data()->ui->Auto_Reset_Data_Timer->isChecked())
                                  {
                                  
                                      //do something
                                  
                                    }
                                  
                                  }
                                  

                                  I don't understand all your methods, so if anyone can, please correct this stuff, cuz i have enough.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • mrjjM Offline
                                    mrjjM Offline
                                    mrjj
                                    Lifetime Qt Champion
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #31

                                    In what way not working ?
                                    it just returns the pointer to your
                                    Settings_Widget so only way it can fail is to return null.

                                    I wonder here
                                    void Window1::on_Button001_clicked()
                                    {

                                    MainWindow* B = new MainWindow; << you create new one. ?

                                    so you dont have one already ?
                                    Or is that on purpose ?
                                    So each time you click you make a new window ?

                                    L 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • mrjjM mrjj

                                      In what way not working ?
                                      it just returns the pointer to your
                                      Settings_Widget so only way it can fail is to return null.

                                      I wonder here
                                      void Window1::on_Button001_clicked()
                                      {

                                      MainWindow* B = new MainWindow; << you create new one. ?

                                      so you dont have one already ?
                                      Or is that on purpose ?
                                      So each time you click you make a new window ?

                                      L Offline
                                      L Offline
                                      Loc888
                                      wrote on last edited by Loc888
                                      #32

                                      @mrjj I have another button to activate and show that window.

                                      MainWindow* B = new MainWindow;
                                      

                                      No,i have already one window.
                                      I just use this to get MainWindow method, and try to set checkerBox as true but from ther.

                                      If i copy the same code from that button, and paste it to Window1, it's working, but is not the way how it should work, i dont want to set it ther....

                                      I mean:

                                      MainWindow* B = new MainWindow;
                                      
                                      B->Get_Window_Data()->ui->CheckerBox->setChecked(true);
                                      
                                      
                                      if(B->Get_Window_Data()->ui->Auto_Reset_Data_Timer->isChecked())
                                      {
                                      
                                          //do something
                                      
                                        }
                                      

                                      When i say "Is not working", i mean when i click the button, checkBox should return true, and when i compare it in another window, checkBox returns false, i think because i set it to another copy... How,i don't know. It should return Settings_Widget in window1.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • mrjjM Offline
                                        mrjjM Offline
                                        mrjj
                                        Lifetime Qt Champion
                                        wrote on last edited by mrjj
                                        #33

                                        Hi
                                        Im sorry if we frustrated you. We just know from experience
                                        what works bad over time so that is why we seem so keen to do it the right way.
                                        Lets start over.
                                        ok, so you have a normal main.cpp

                                        int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
                                          QApplication a(argc, argv);
                                          MainWindow w;
                                          w.show();
                                        
                                          return a.exec();
                                        }
                                        

                                        so w is mainwindow
                                        and it has the true Settings_Window embedded.

                                        So we need Window1 to have access to MainWins Settings_Window and not a new copy.
                                        So Window1 should NOT new one it self but get the one from Mainwin.

                                        I assume Mainwindow also creates and show Window1
                                        You can change its constructor to take a Settings_Window * and it can then store it for accessing.

                                        Like

                                        #include "Settings_Window.h"  // so it knows the TYPE ( make to use right name if not that)
                                        
                                        class Window1 : public QMainWindow
                                        {
                                            Q_OBJECT
                                        Settings_Window *GivenToMe;
                                        public:
                                            explicit Window1 (QWidget *parent = 0, Settings_Window *TheTrueOne) {
                                        GivenToMe = TheTrueOne; // store the pointer for later
                                        }
                                            ~Window1 ();
                                        ....
                                        };
                                        
                                        // then in MainWin where you show the Window1
                                        void MainWindow::ShowSettings() {
                                        Window1 * Win1= new Window1(this,   & S_Window ); // the & to make it pointer
                                        Win1->show();
                                        }
                                        

                                        now inside
                                        void Window1::SomeButtonClick() {
                                        // you now have GivenToMe that is the Settings_Widget from MainWindow
                                        now you can call public functions in it
                                        if ( GivenToMe -> SomeFunc() ) ...

                                        }

                                        If you do not want to create public access functions but go directly via UI you have to make it public
                                        so in Settings_Window.h

                                        private:
                                        Ui::Settings_Windowui;
                                        must be
                                        public:
                                        Ui::Settings_Window
                                        ui;

                                        to allow
                                        if ( GivenToMe -> ui->CheckerBox->isChecked() ) ...

                                        --

                                        What we tried to make you do was to add public access function in mainwindow
                                        so you would say
                                        if ( GivenToMe ->GetSettingForX() ) ( and it just returns the ui->Checker_01->isChecked() )

                                        but if you really not want that, then you can make ui public and the syntax you want is then possible
                                        even if its not best practice/bad idea/design.

                                        Hope this helps. :)

                                        L 2 Replies Last reply
                                        3
                                        • mrjjM mrjj

                                          Hi
                                          Im sorry if we frustrated you. We just know from experience
                                          what works bad over time so that is why we seem so keen to do it the right way.
                                          Lets start over.
                                          ok, so you have a normal main.cpp

                                          int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
                                            QApplication a(argc, argv);
                                            MainWindow w;
                                            w.show();
                                          
                                            return a.exec();
                                          }
                                          

                                          so w is mainwindow
                                          and it has the true Settings_Window embedded.

                                          So we need Window1 to have access to MainWins Settings_Window and not a new copy.
                                          So Window1 should NOT new one it self but get the one from Mainwin.

                                          I assume Mainwindow also creates and show Window1
                                          You can change its constructor to take a Settings_Window * and it can then store it for accessing.

                                          Like

                                          #include "Settings_Window.h"  // so it knows the TYPE ( make to use right name if not that)
                                          
                                          class Window1 : public QMainWindow
                                          {
                                              Q_OBJECT
                                          Settings_Window *GivenToMe;
                                          public:
                                              explicit Window1 (QWidget *parent = 0, Settings_Window *TheTrueOne) {
                                          GivenToMe = TheTrueOne; // store the pointer for later
                                          }
                                              ~Window1 ();
                                          ....
                                          };
                                          
                                          // then in MainWin where you show the Window1
                                          void MainWindow::ShowSettings() {
                                          Window1 * Win1= new Window1(this,   & S_Window ); // the & to make it pointer
                                          Win1->show();
                                          }
                                          

                                          now inside
                                          void Window1::SomeButtonClick() {
                                          // you now have GivenToMe that is the Settings_Widget from MainWindow
                                          now you can call public functions in it
                                          if ( GivenToMe -> SomeFunc() ) ...

                                          }

                                          If you do not want to create public access functions but go directly via UI you have to make it public
                                          so in Settings_Window.h

                                          private:
                                          Ui::Settings_Windowui;
                                          must be
                                          public:
                                          Ui::Settings_Window
                                          ui;

                                          to allow
                                          if ( GivenToMe -> ui->CheckerBox->isChecked() ) ...

                                          --

                                          What we tried to make you do was to add public access function in mainwindow
                                          so you would say
                                          if ( GivenToMe ->GetSettingForX() ) ( and it just returns the ui->Checker_01->isChecked() )

                                          but if you really not want that, then you can make ui public and the syntax you want is then possible
                                          even if its not best practice/bad idea/design.

                                          Hope this helps. :)

                                          L Offline
                                          L Offline
                                          Loc888
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #34

                                          @mrjj Thank you, i like exemples rly :)

                                          Because this is the only thing can help at least when you rly dont know what to do. Tomorrow i will try in this way.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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