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  4. QSettings::beginWriteArray() produces incorrect output under Linux (bug?)

QSettings::beginWriteArray() produces incorrect output under Linux (bug?)

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  • Pl45m4P Pl45m4

    @JonB said in QSettings::beginWriteArray() produces incorrect output under Linux (bug?):

    Thank you, yes, please do try on whatever platform(s) you have. Armed with your results, I will presumably then have to go raise a bug report....

    Additionally I think there is a mistake or typo in the code example :)

    QList<Login> logins; // QList named LOGINS
    ...
    
    QSettings settings;
    settings.beginWriteArray("logins");
    for (int i = 0; i < logins.size(); ++i) {
        settings.setArrayIndex(i);
        settings.setValue("userName", list.at(i).userName); // LIST.at(i)???
        settings.setValue("password", list.at(i).password); // LIST.at(i)??? Shouldn't it be "logins.at(i)"?!
    }
    

    Discovered another weird thing, as I'm comparing the ini file on Window with the ini file on Linux.
    When you look at the order, you will see that Linux wrote password, userName, while on WIndows it's userName, password (as supposed due to code, where "userName" is written to settings first)...

    JonBJ Offline
    JonBJ Offline
    JonB
    wrote on last edited by JonB
    #5

    @Pl45m4
    My code is actually in Python, it's the same as the example but I didn't copy that bit of the C++ code so I didn't notice. Yes, using list in their code example is wrong, it should be logins :)

    I wouldn't rely on the order being the same from code to file or across platforms. QSettings probably holds some unordered dictionary for the keys, so output order would not be guaranteed. And that would be reasonable for ini file/registry saving.

    The only bit I care about is whether the file ends up with forward or backward slashes!

    Pl45m4P 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • JonBJ JonB

      @Pl45m4
      My code is actually in Python, it's the same as the example but I didn't copy that bit of the C++ code so I didn't notice. Yes, using list in their code example is wrong, it should be logins :)

      I wouldn't rely on the order being the same from code to file or across platforms. QSettings probably holds some unordered dictionary for the keys, so output order would not be guaranteed. And that would be reasonable for ini file/registry saving.

      The only bit I care about is whether the file ends up with forward or backward slashes!

      Pl45m4P Offline
      Pl45m4P Offline
      Pl45m4
      wrote on last edited by Pl45m4
      #6

      @JonB said in QSettings::beginWriteArray() produces incorrect output under Linux (bug?):

      The only bit I care about is whether the file ends up with forward or backward slashes!

      The slashes in the doc could be just for demonstration purposes. Just to show the QSetting hierarchy?!

      • The generated keys will have the form

      What if "form" is meant in terms of hierarchy, separated by single slashes and not showing the actual content of the save file?!

      If this is the case, it's very misleading, but occording to QSettings doc (at least on Windows) QSettings ignores '\' and converts them to '/' anyway...

      So it could be an unfortunately worded example for this:

      - logins
      -------- 1
      ------------- userName
      ------------- password
      -------- 2
      ------------- userName
      ------------- password

      Edit:

      Looks like arrays always have backslashes (if they should? I dont know...)
      https://forum.qt.io/topic/79494/qsetting-array/4

      Just found a version of QSettings code online.
      https://github.com/radekp/qt/blob/master/src/corelib/io/qsettings.cpp

      void QSettingsPrivate::processChild(QString key, ChildSpec spec, QMap<QString, QString> &result)
      {
          if (spec != AllKeys) {
              int slashPos = key.indexOf(QLatin1Char('/')); // ### SLASH
              if (slashPos == -1) {
                  if (spec != ChildKeys)
                      return;
              } else {
                  if (spec != ChildGroups)
                      return;
                  key.truncate(slashPos);
              }
          }
          result.insert(key, QString());
      }
      
      void QSettingsPrivate::beginGroupOrArray(const QSettingsGroup &group)
      {
          groupStack.push(group);
          if (!group.name().isEmpty()) {
              groupPrefix += group.name();
              groupPrefix += QLatin1Char('/'); // # SLASH!!
          }
      }
      

      In addition to that, QSettings uses the QDir::separator() which indeed returns a single slash ('/') on my Linux system and a backslash on Windows....

      I really don't know where the backslash is coming from and WHY? :-)


      If debugging is the process of removing software bugs, then programming must be the process of putting them in.

      ~E. W. Dijkstra

      JonBJ 1 Reply Last reply
      1
      • Pl45m4P Pl45m4

        @JonB said in QSettings::beginWriteArray() produces incorrect output under Linux (bug?):

        The only bit I care about is whether the file ends up with forward or backward slashes!

        The slashes in the doc could be just for demonstration purposes. Just to show the QSetting hierarchy?!

        • The generated keys will have the form

        What if "form" is meant in terms of hierarchy, separated by single slashes and not showing the actual content of the save file?!

        If this is the case, it's very misleading, but occording to QSettings doc (at least on Windows) QSettings ignores '\' and converts them to '/' anyway...

        So it could be an unfortunately worded example for this:

        - logins
        -------- 1
        ------------- userName
        ------------- password
        -------- 2
        ------------- userName
        ------------- password

        Edit:

        Looks like arrays always have backslashes (if they should? I dont know...)
        https://forum.qt.io/topic/79494/qsetting-array/4

        Just found a version of QSettings code online.
        https://github.com/radekp/qt/blob/master/src/corelib/io/qsettings.cpp

        void QSettingsPrivate::processChild(QString key, ChildSpec spec, QMap<QString, QString> &result)
        {
            if (spec != AllKeys) {
                int slashPos = key.indexOf(QLatin1Char('/')); // ### SLASH
                if (slashPos == -1) {
                    if (spec != ChildKeys)
                        return;
                } else {
                    if (spec != ChildGroups)
                        return;
                    key.truncate(slashPos);
                }
            }
            result.insert(key, QString());
        }
        
        void QSettingsPrivate::beginGroupOrArray(const QSettingsGroup &group)
        {
            groupStack.push(group);
            if (!group.name().isEmpty()) {
                groupPrefix += group.name();
                groupPrefix += QLatin1Char('/'); // # SLASH!!
            }
        }
        

        In addition to that, QSettings uses the QDir::separator() which indeed returns a single slash ('/') on my Linux system and a backslash on Windows....

        I really don't know where the backslash is coming from and WHY? :-)

        JonBJ Offline
        JonBJ Offline
        JonB
        wrote on last edited by JonB
        #7

        @Pl45m4
        From your https://forum.qt.io/topic/79494/qsetting-array/4 it looks like it is producing \s elsewhere. At least I know. Then it's perhaps just a docs issue.

        Pl45m4P 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • JonBJ JonB

          @Pl45m4
          From your https://forum.qt.io/topic/79494/qsetting-array/4 it looks like it is producing \s elsewhere. At least I know. Then it's perhaps just a docs issue.

          Pl45m4P Offline
          Pl45m4P Offline
          Pl45m4
          wrote on last edited by Pl45m4
          #8

          @JonB said in QSettings::beginWriteArray() produces incorrect output under Linux (bug?):

          @Pl45m4
          From your https://forum.qt.io/topic/79494/qsetting-array/4 it looks like it is producing \s elsewhere.

          Just because others face the same issue or behavior, it doesn't mean that it's intended or correct :)
          Could be wrong (buggy) since years / many releases, but seems to work :)

          @JonB said in QSettings::beginWriteArray() produces incorrect output under Linux (bug?):

          Then it's perhaps just a docs issue.

          The second part of my post (the Qt source code) shows that it's not a doc issue. You can also find the same comment in the source code ("The generated keys will have the form.... bla...")... Really weird...


          If debugging is the process of removing software bugs, then programming must be the process of putting them in.

          ~E. W. Dijkstra

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          0
          • Christian EhrlicherC Offline
            Christian EhrlicherC Offline
            Christian Ehrlicher
            Lifetime Qt Champion
            wrote on last edited by
            #9

            What's the problem as long as beginReadArray() can read them later on?

            Qt Online Installer direct download: https://download.qt.io/official_releases/online_installers/
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            JonBJ 1 Reply Last reply
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            • Christian EhrlicherC Christian Ehrlicher

              What's the problem as long as beginReadArray() can read them later on?

              JonBJ Offline
              JonBJ Offline
              JonB
              wrote on last edited by JonB
              #10

              @Christian-Ehrlicher
              At the time I raised the question I did not yet know whether it could be read OK. Now I am pleased to report it does. I merely asked to see if it was the same for others. I do not know if there any other consequences, hopefully not.

              So you belong to the "it doesn't matter what the docs say as long as it works" school ;-)

              Pl45m4P Christian EhrlicherC 2 Replies Last reply
              0
              • JonBJ JonB

                @Christian-Ehrlicher
                At the time I raised the question I did not yet know whether it could be read OK. Now I am pleased to report it does. I merely asked to see if it was the same for others. I do not know if there any other consequences, hopefully not.

                So you belong to the "it doesn't matter what the docs say as long as it works" school ;-)

                Pl45m4P Offline
                Pl45m4P Offline
                Pl45m4
                wrote on last edited by Pl45m4
                #11

                myCodeWorks.jpg

                Nevertheless, it would be satisfying (for me as well) if someone could explain where the backslashes come from, because even in current sources arrays start explicitly with '/'. (https://github.com/radekp/qt/blob/master/src/corelib/io/qsettings.cpp#L393)


                If debugging is the process of removing software bugs, then programming must be the process of putting them in.

                ~E. W. Dijkstra

                JonBJ 1 Reply Last reply
                2
                • Pl45m4P Pl45m4

                  myCodeWorks.jpg

                  Nevertheless, it would be satisfying (for me as well) if someone could explain where the backslashes come from, because even in current sources arrays start explicitly with '/'. (https://github.com/radekp/qt/blob/master/src/corelib/io/qsettings.cpp#L393)

                  JonBJ Offline
                  JonBJ Offline
                  JonB
                  wrote on last edited by JonB
                  #12

                  @Pl45m4

                  Nevertheless, it would be satisfying (for me as well) if someone could explain where the backslashes come from

                  All backslashes live in a land of their own, where everything is the wrong way round. They emanate from there, mystically. And sometimes arrive in pairs.

                  I will raise a report on the Qt bug forum tomorrow and they can decide whether it's a documentation or behaviour issue.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • JonBJ JonB

                    @Christian-Ehrlicher
                    At the time I raised the question I did not yet know whether it could be read OK. Now I am pleased to report it does. I merely asked to see if it was the same for others. I do not know if there any other consequences, hopefully not.

                    So you belong to the "it doesn't matter what the docs say as long as it works" school ;-)

                    Christian EhrlicherC Offline
                    Christian EhrlicherC Offline
                    Christian Ehrlicher
                    Lifetime Qt Champion
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #13

                    @JonB said in QSettings::beginWriteArray() produces incorrect output under Linux (bug?):

                    So you belong to the "it doesn't matter what the docs say as long as it works" school ;-)

                    No, but to the 'I don't care about the internals as long as the library can read it again'. Or do you really care how e.g. QDataStream encodes and decodes the stuff as long as it is doing what you expect?

                    Qt Online Installer direct download: https://download.qt.io/official_releases/online_installers/
                    Visit the Qt Academy at https://academy.qt.io/catalog

                    JonBJ 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • Christian EhrlicherC Christian Ehrlicher

                      @JonB said in QSettings::beginWriteArray() produces incorrect output under Linux (bug?):

                      So you belong to the "it doesn't matter what the docs say as long as it works" school ;-)

                      No, but to the 'I don't care about the internals as long as the library can read it again'. Or do you really care how e.g. QDataStream encodes and decodes the stuff as long as it is doing what you expect?

                      JonBJ Offline
                      JonBJ Offline
                      JonB
                      wrote on last edited by JonB
                      #14

                      @Christian-Ehrlicher
                      So are you saying you'd rather I didn't report it? When the docs choose to tell me the file will look like such & such and I try it and it does not, I shouldn't question it, shouldn't ask about it here but just assume it's fine? I don't understand your point/suggestion?

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • Christian EhrlicherC Offline
                        Christian EhrlicherC Offline
                        Christian Ehrlicher
                        Lifetime Qt Champion
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        From my pov that's only a documentation error.

                        Qt Online Installer direct download: https://download.qt.io/official_releases/online_installers/
                        Visit the Qt Academy at https://academy.qt.io/catalog

                        JonBJ 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • Christian EhrlicherC Christian Ehrlicher

                          From my pov that's only a documentation error.

                          JonBJ Offline
                          JonBJ Offline
                          JonB
                          wrote on last edited by JonB
                          #16

                          @Christian-Ehrlicher
                          No problem. I'll log it tomorrow, if it's only docs and the behaviour is intended then at least someone (might be you!) will have seen it and can decide.

                          1 Reply Last reply
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                          • JonBJ Offline
                            JonBJ Offline
                            JonB
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #17

                            For right or for wrong, raised https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTBUG-81951. Hopefully someone will check whether it's only a documentation issue or if it has any consequences.

                            1 Reply Last reply
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