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Forum Update on Monday, May 27th 2025

error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject .. from lib template

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  • O Offline
    O Offline
    OPit
    wrote on last edited by OPit
    #1

    Hi,
    I would like to create a custom class from the great lib QtAV, in a Qt lib template.
    When I compile my class directly from my app, it works well.
    But if I create my custom class in a custom qt lib ( (myStream.lib), I have the error : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject... when I call it during compilation of my app :

    my custom class is InputStreamPreview :

    #include <QtAVWidgets/VideoPreviewWidget.h>
    
    class InputStreamPreview : public QtAV::VideoPreviewWidget
    {
    Q_OBJECT
    ...
    

    the complete error messages is :

    myStream.lib(moc_inputstreampreview.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject const QtAV::VideoPreviewWidget::staticMetaObject" (?staticMetaObject@VideoPreviewWidget@QtAV@@2UQMetaObject@@B)
    

    I compile on VS2017 with Qt5.12 and QtAV1.12.0

    Have you got an idea to solve the problem ?
    Thanks.

    kshegunovK 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • SGaistS Offline
      SGaistS Offline
      SGaist
      Lifetime Qt Champion
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Hi and welcome to devnet,

      Can you show your .pro file ?

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

      O 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • O OPit

        Hi,
        I would like to create a custom class from the great lib QtAV, in a Qt lib template.
        When I compile my class directly from my app, it works well.
        But if I create my custom class in a custom qt lib ( (myStream.lib), I have the error : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject... when I call it during compilation of my app :

        my custom class is InputStreamPreview :

        #include <QtAVWidgets/VideoPreviewWidget.h>
        
        class InputStreamPreview : public QtAV::VideoPreviewWidget
        {
        Q_OBJECT
        ...
        

        the complete error messages is :

        myStream.lib(moc_inputstreampreview.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject const QtAV::VideoPreviewWidget::staticMetaObject" (?staticMetaObject@VideoPreviewWidget@QtAV@@2UQMetaObject@@B)
        

        I compile on VS2017 with Qt5.12 and QtAV1.12.0

        Have you got an idea to solve the problem ?
        Thanks.

        kshegunovK Offline
        kshegunovK Offline
        kshegunov
        Moderators
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Three possibilities (in order of commonality):

        1. You haven't specified the library for linking, or it is not found. See @SGaist's request and provide the project file so we can inspect it.
        2. You and/or the library you're using is missing __declspec(dllimport) and/or __declspec(dllexport) for some reason. Make sure when compiling the library that the relevant macros are defined and list the symbols from the dll so you can make sure they're exported.
        3. You're mixing incompatible compilers - the library is compiled with something e.g. mingw while you're trying to link with msvc (also versions matter).

        Read and abide by the Qt Code of Conduct

        O 1 Reply Last reply
        3
        • SGaistS SGaist

          Hi and welcome to devnet,

          Can you show your .pro file ?

          O Offline
          O Offline
          OPit
          wrote on last edited by
          #4
          This post is deleted!
          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • O Offline
            O Offline
            OPit
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            myStream lib

            TARGET = myStream
            DESTDIR = D:/Dev/Programme/myLibs/myStream/lib/ms
            TEMPLATE = lib
            CONFIG += static thread
            QT += widgets avwidgets
            
            UI_HEADERS_DIR = build/ms/h
            OBJECTS_DIR = build/ms/o
            RCC_DIR = build/ms/qrc
            MOC_DIR = build/ms/moc
            INCLUDEPATH = D:/Dev/Programme/3rdparty/ms/include
            LIBS = -LD:/Dev/Programme/3rdparty/ms/lib -lavformat
            
            HEADERS += \
                ../../src/inputstream.h \
                ../../src/dateparser.h \
                ../../src/inputstreammanager.h \
                ../../src/inputstreamcontrol.h \
                ../../src/inputscenecontrol.h \
                ../../src/inputstreamvideo.h \
                ../../src/inputstreampegasus.h \
                ../../src/inputstreaminfo.h \
                ../../src/inputstreamimages.h \
                ../../src/stabilizer.h \
                ../../src/inputstreampreviewslider.h \
                ../../src/inputstreampreview.h
             
            
            SOURCES += \     
                ../../src/inputstream.cpp \
                ../../src/dateparser.cpp \
                ../../src/inputstreammanager.cpp \
                ../../src/inputstreamcontrol.cpp \
                ../../src/inputscenecontrol.cpp \
                ../../src/inputstreamvideo.cpp \
                ../../src/inputstreampegasus.cpp \
                ../../src/inputstreamimages.cpp \
                ../../src/stabilizer.cpp \
                ../../src/inputstreampreviewslider.cpp \
                ../../src/inputstreampreview.cpp
            
            
            

            Application .pro

            QT += network widgets printsupport sql concurrent xml multimedia
            QT += webenginewidgets
            QT += avwidgets
            
            TEMPLATE = app
            DESTDIR = D:/Dev/Programme/AppTest/bin/ms
            VERSION = 4.0
            
            TARGET = AppTest
            DEFINES += TARGET_NAME=\\\"$$TARGET\\\"
            
            RC_FILE = ../../qrc/app.rc
            
            UI_HEADERS_DIR = h
            OBJECTS_DIR = o
            RCC_DIR = qrc
            MOC_DIR = moc
            
            INCLUDEPATH = D:/Dev/Programme/3rdparty/ms/include
            
            LIBS = -LD:/Dev/Programme/3rdparty/ms/lib \
                    -lmyGUI \
                    -lmyCharts \
                    -lmyObject \
                    -lmyStyleSheet \
                    -lmyScene \
                    -lmyStream -lswscale -lavformat -lavcodec -lavutil -lswresample -lws2_32 -lsecur32 \
                    -lmyGraphics \
                    -lmyCore \
                    -lopencv_core400 \
                    -lopencv_flann400 -ltbb -lzlib \
                    -lgandalf \
                    -lexiv2 -llibexpat \
                    -llibcrypto \
                    -lSMTPEmail \
                    -lproj_5_2 \
                    -lquazip
            
            RESOURCES += \
                ../../qrc/resource.qrc
            
            SOURCES += \
                ../../src/main.cpp \
                ../../src/core/interface.cpp \
                ../../src/core/core.cpp \
                ../../src/gui/maingui.cpp \
                ../../src/view/playerwidget.cpp \
                ../../src/view/sectionview.cpp \
                ../../src/view/inputstreampreview.cpp
            
            HEADERS += \
                ../../src/core/interface.h \
                ../../src/core/core.h \
                ../../src/gui/maingui.h \
                ../../src/view/playerwidget.h \
                ../../src/view/sectionview.h \
                ../../src/view/frame.h \
                ../../src/view/inputstreampreview.h
            
            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • kshegunovK kshegunov

              Three possibilities (in order of commonality):

              1. You haven't specified the library for linking, or it is not found. See @SGaist's request and provide the project file so we can inspect it.
              2. You and/or the library you're using is missing __declspec(dllimport) and/or __declspec(dllexport) for some reason. Make sure when compiling the library that the relevant macros are defined and list the symbols from the dll so you can make sure they're exported.
              3. You're mixing incompatible compilers - the library is compiled with something e.g. mingw while you're trying to link with msvc (also versions matter).
              O Offline
              O Offline
              OPit
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              @kshegunov

              1. QtAV is imported in Qt config, so I think all is good for that (just add QT += avwidgets)
              2. I have thinking about this problem but I don't know how to see if it's OK are not.
              3. I've checked, and it's ok about that.
              kshegunovK 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • O OPit

                @kshegunov

                1. QtAV is imported in Qt config, so I think all is good for that (just add QT += avwidgets)
                2. I have thinking about this problem but I don't know how to see if it's OK are not.
                3. I've checked, and it's ok about that.
                kshegunovK Offline
                kshegunovK Offline
                kshegunov
                Moderators
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                @OPit said in error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject .. from lib template:

                1. QtAV is imported in Qt config, so I think all is good for that (just add QT += avwidgets)

                Did you build that module yourself?

                1. I have thinking about this problem but I don't know how to see if it's OK are not.

                Firstly, use dependency walker to find out what the module links against, from there you could also see what kinds of symbols are exported. Then you can do the same for your library and see if everything matches.

                1. I've checked, and it's ok about that.

                How did you check? Where did you get the qtav module from, or did you compiled it yourself?

                Read and abide by the Qt Code of Conduct

                O 1 Reply Last reply
                2
                • kshegunovK kshegunov

                  @OPit said in error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject .. from lib template:

                  1. QtAV is imported in Qt config, so I think all is good for that (just add QT += avwidgets)

                  Did you build that module yourself?

                  1. I have thinking about this problem but I don't know how to see if it's OK are not.

                  Firstly, use dependency walker to find out what the module links against, from there you could also see what kinds of symbols are exported. Then you can do the same for your library and see if everything matches.

                  1. I've checked, and it's ok about that.

                  How did you check? Where did you get the qtav module from, or did you compiled it yourself?

                  O Offline
                  O Offline
                  OPit
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  @kshegunov Yes, I've built myself the QtAv lib (because the last precompile binaries not use the last version of QtAv).
                  I've checked which compiler was used during compilation, and it was the same for each module.

                  NB : if I link the moc_inputstreampreview.obj file directly in my app, it works ?!?

                  LIBS += path/of/file/moc_inputstreampreview.obj
                  
                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • O Offline
                    O Offline
                    OPit
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    If I open QtAvWidget1.dll, I found the function :

                    ?metaObject@VideoPreviewWidget@QtAV@@UEBAPEBUQMetaObject@@XZ
                    

                    I can't read .lib file from dependency walker, how can I check these files ?

                    kshegunovK 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • SGaistS Offline
                      SGaistS Offline
                      SGaist
                      Lifetime Qt Champion
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      In your build output, can you see whether the QtAV libraries are currently getting linked to your application ?

                      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
                      0
                      • O Offline
                        O Offline
                        OPit
                        wrote on last edited by OPit
                        #11

                        Hi,
                        I'm using QtCreator with visual studio compiler and I don't have a lot of informations during linking :

                        link /NOLOGO /DYNAMICBASE /NXCOMPAT /INCREMENTAL:NO /SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS "/MANIFESTDEPENDENCY:type='win32' name='Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls' version='6.0.0.0' publicKeyToken='6595b64144ccf1df' language='*' processorArchitecture='*'" /VERSION:4.0 /MANIFEST:embed /OUT:..\..\bin\ms\L2R_Video.exe @c:\Temp\L2R_Video.exe.4652.31672.jom
                        myStream.lib(moc_inputstreampreview.obj) : error LNK2001: symbole externe non résolu "public: static struct QMetaObject const QtAV::VideoPreviewWidget::staticMetaObject" (?staticMetaObject@VideoPreviewWidget@QtAV@@2UQMetaObject@@B)
                        ..\..\bin\ms\L2R_Video.exe : fatal error LNK1120: 1 externes non résolus
                        

                        But in my Makefile.Release file, the QtAv libs are well written :

                        LIBS          = /LIBPATH:D:\Dev\Programme\3rdparty\ms\lib 
                        D:\Dev\Programme\3rdparty\ms\lib\myStream.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Programme\3rdparty\ms\lib\swscale.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Programme\3rdparty\ms\lib\avformat.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Programme\3rdparty\ms\lib\avcodec.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Programme\3rdparty\ms\lib\avutil.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Programme\3rdparty\ms\lib\swresample.lib 
                        secur32.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Programme\3rdparty\ms\lib\myGraphics.lib 
                        ws2_32.lib shell32.lib advapi32.lib gdi32.lib User32.lib 
                        /LIBPATH:D:\Dev\Environnement\ms\Qt\5.12.0\msvc2017_64\lib D:\Dev\Environnement\ms\Qt\5.12.0\msvc2017_64\lib\Qt5WebEngineWidgets.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Environnement\ms\Qt\5.12.0\msvc2017_64\lib\Qt5PrintSupport.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Environnement\ms\Qt\5.12.0\msvc2017_64\lib\Qt5AVWidgets.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Environnement\ms\Qt\5.12.0\msvc2017_64\lib\Qt5OpenGL.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Environnement\ms\Qt\5.12.0\msvc2017_64\lib\Qt5Widgets.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Environnement\ms\Qt\5.12.0\msvc2017_64\lib\Qt5Multimedia.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Environnement\ms\Qt\5.12.0\msvc2017_64\lib\Qt5WebEngineCore.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Environnement\ms\Qt\5.12.0\msvc2017_64\lib\Qt5Quick.lib 
                        D:\Dev\Environnement\ms\Qt\5.12.0\msvc2017_64\lib\Qt5AV.lib 
                        ...
                        
                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • SGaistS Offline
                          SGaistS Offline
                          SGaist
                          Lifetime Qt Champion
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          Might be a silly question but are linking to libraries of the same type ? Meaning matching debug/release builds.

                          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
                          • O Offline
                            O Offline
                            OPit
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            @SGaist said in error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject .. from lib template:

                            silly

                            Sadly it's not the problem ...

                            aha_1980A 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • O OPit

                              @SGaist said in error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject .. from lib template:

                              silly

                              Sadly it's not the problem ...

                              aha_1980A Offline
                              aha_1980A Offline
                              aha_1980
                              Lifetime Qt Champion
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              @OPit And both have the same architecture, i.e. 32 vs. 64 bit?

                              Qt has to stay free or it will die.

                              O 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • O OPit

                                If I open QtAvWidget1.dll, I found the function :

                                ?metaObject@VideoPreviewWidget@QtAV@@UEBAPEBUQMetaObject@@XZ
                                

                                I can't read .lib file from dependency walker, how can I check these files ?

                                kshegunovK Offline
                                kshegunovK Offline
                                kshegunov
                                Moderators
                                wrote on last edited by kshegunov
                                #15

                                This:

                                @OPit said in error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject .. from lib template:

                                ?metaObject@VideoPreviewWidget@QtAV@@UEBAPEBUQMetaObject@@XZ
                                

                                Is very different from this:

                                ?staticMetaObject@VideoPreviewWidget@QtAV@@2UQMetaObject@@B
                                

                                The former is a method, the latter is a (global) variable. Please try again. Could you also provide the content of the moc file in question (the one that fixes the issue if linked with)?

                                Read and abide by the Qt Code of Conduct

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • aha_1980A aha_1980

                                  @OPit And both have the same architecture, i.e. 32 vs. 64 bit?

                                  O Offline
                                  O Offline
                                  OPit
                                  wrote on last edited by OPit
                                  #16

                                  @aha_1980 yes, the same architecture

                                  @kshegunov this is a link to download the file (I can't upload from the forum) :
                                  https://we.tl/t-bhEPIToZV2

                                  Thanks.

                                  kshegunovK 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • hskoglundH Offline
                                    hskoglundH Offline
                                    hskoglund
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    Hi, perhaps it's a namespace problem, you could try changing to a using statement in your InputStreamPreview.h:

                                    #include <QtAVWidgets/VideoPreviewWidget.h>
                                    
                                    using namespace QtAV;
                                    
                                    class InputStreamPreview : public VideoPreviewWidget
                                    {
                                    Q_OBJECT
                                    ...
                                    
                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    1
                                    • O OPit

                                      @aha_1980 yes, the same architecture

                                      @kshegunov this is a link to download the file (I can't upload from the forum) :
                                      https://we.tl/t-bhEPIToZV2

                                      Thanks.

                                      kshegunovK Offline
                                      kshegunovK Offline
                                      kshegunov
                                      Moderators
                                      wrote on last edited by kshegunov
                                      #18

                                      @OPit said in error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject .. from lib template:

                                      this is a link to download the file (I can't upload from the forum)

                                      I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I meant the generated moc_XXX.cpp file. I have no tools to inspect the object file even if I wanted to because I work exclusively on Linux.

                                      @hskoglund said in error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static struct QMetaObject .. from lib template:

                                      Hi, perhaps it's a namespace problem, you could try changing to a using statement in your InputStreamPreview.h

                                      A decent idea, but I don't think that's it. moc, while not too smart, does recognize namespaces and generates code accordingly. I do use them and everything links fine.

                                      Read and abide by the Qt Code of Conduct

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • O Offline
                                        O Offline
                                        OPit
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        @kshegunov oh sorry, this is the cpp file.

                                        https://we.tl/t-NXhNCGkSmc

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • hskoglundH Offline
                                          hskoglundH Offline
                                          hskoglund
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          Hi, do you have a moc_VideoPreviewWidget.cpp that's compiled using Qt 5.12? (The one in the link is built with Qt 5.9.1)

                                          O 1 Reply Last reply
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