Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template

[jsulm]

@AnneRanch said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

Is "auto " type "standard" in Qt or some option I forgot to set ?

This has nothing to do with Qt. "auto" is a C++ keyword and was introduced in C++11 if I remember correctly. What compiler do you use (compiler version is also important).

[JKSH]

@AnneRanch said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

Is "auto " type "standard" in Qt or some option I forgot to set ?

auto is a C++ keyword that asks the compiler to automatically deduce the datatype by looking at the surrounding code. In your case, the following two lines produce exactly the same outcome on a C++11-compliant compiler:

• auto returnValue = futureWatcher.future().result();
• QVector<QStringList> returnValue = futureWatcher.future().result();

As @jsulm mentioned, auto has been part of the C++ standard for 10 years (but it was widely available on common compilers years before that).

If your compiler is moderately old, you can enable C++11 by adding CONFIG += c++11 to your .pro file and re-running qmake. Nonetheless, we highly recommend that you use a recent version of your compiler + IDE, and that you take advantage of C++11 features in your code (which includes auto and powerful template features).

[Anonymous_Banned275]

@JKSH said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

QVector<QStringList> returnValue = futureWatcher.future().result();

Still no go.

/media/d/QT/QT_PROJECT_CAT/CAT_V1/configuredialog.cpp:402: error: 'class QFuture<void>' has no member named 'result'
     QVector<QStringList> returnValue = futureWatcher.future().result();
                                                               ^

More..
Adding
CONFIG += C++11

creates havoc with QT examples where "nullptr" is used . Hence I have a choice to rebuild the entire application and undefine "nullptr".
No thanks at this point - to late in the game.

PS
Thanks for the history lesson, however "auto" was introduced to C much . much earlier...

[Pl45m4]

@AnneRanch said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

class QFuture<void>' has no member named 'result'

You seem to use a QFuture<void> which has no result. In order to get any result from your QFutureWatcher's QFuture, you need to set a type.

Like QVector<T> ( -> QFuture<T>)

See here:

• "Void" future, just the function is running with QtConcurrent:run, no return type.
  (https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qtconcurrentrun.html#passing-arguments-to-the-function)

• QFuture is from type QFuture<QString> because the function, that runs in QtConcurrent:run is returning a QString
  (https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qtconcurrentrun.html#returning-values-from-the-function)

So check your QFutureWatcher and your QFuture setup.

Edit:

If this

QVector<QStringList> HCI_Scan_Dialog::HCI_Scan_Scan(QStringList *string_array)

is your function, your QFuture shouldn't be <void>. Does your function actually return a QVector<QStringList> / QStringList?

[JonB]

@AnneRanch said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

Thanks for the history lesson, however "auto" was introduced to C much . much earlier...

The auto keyword in C means a totally different thing from the auto we are talking about here in C++, introduced at C++11. It may be confusing that they chose to use the same keyword for a different purpose, but there you are.

The auto you are referring to in C is a storage/scope specifier. The auto we are talking about here in C++ is for type inference. Quite different.

[Anonymous_Banned275]

@Pl45m4 said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

@AnneRanch said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

class QFuture<void>' has no member named 'result'

You seem to use a QFuture<void> which has no result. In order to get any result from your QFutureWatcher's QFuture, you need to set a type.

Like QVector<T> ( -> QFuture<T>)

See here:

• "Void" future, just the function is running with QtConcurrent:run, no return type.
  (https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qtconcurrentrun.html#passing-arguments-to-the-function)

• QFuture is from type QFuture<QString> because the function, that runs in QtConcurrent:run is returning a QString
  (https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qtconcurrentrun.html#returning-values-from-the-function)

So check your QFutureWatcher and your QFuture setup.

Edit:

If this

QVector<QStringList> HCI_Scan_Dialog::HCI_Scan_Scan(QStringList *string_array)

is your function, your QFuture shouldn't be <void>. Does your function actually return a QVector<QStringList> / QStringList?

Seems that the discussion is back what I originally asked for help with

what is the correct syntax

to retrieve the data from "run " function " for further processing.
Yes, I did not clearly specify if each part is defined with correct types.

BTW at this point it is immaterial if the "run:function" actually returns anything - I need to have correct syntax and return types first.
.
I'll recheck my definitions to make sure it is correct.

[JKSH]

@AnneRanch said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

error: 'class QFuture<void>' has no member named 'result'

QFutureWatcher<void> does not expect a result (as implied by the void), hence the error.

Use QFutureWatcher<QVector<QStringList>> instead. (Also, double-check that HCI_Scan_Scan() indeed returns QVector<QStringList>)

@Pl45m4 said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

If this

QVector<QStringList> HCI_Scan_Dialog::HCI_Scan_Scan(QStringList *string_array)

is your function, your QFuture shouldn't be <void>. Does your function actually return a QVector<QStringList> / QStringList?

A QFutureWatcher<void> can watch any QFuture<T>. However, QFutureWatcher<void>::future() returns QFuture<void>, not the original QFuture<T>.

[Pl45m4]

@JKSH said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

However, QFutureWatcher<void>::future() returns QFuture<void>, not the original QFuture<T>.

Yes, that's what I wanted to say there :)

So future().result() on a QFuture<void> shouldn't return her QStringList or QStringList-vector, but I cant see where the <void> is coming from?! Must be a QFutureWatcher<void> somewhere in the code, where we cant see it?

[JKSH]

@Pl45m4 said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

I cant see where the <void> is coming from?! Must be a QFutureWatcher<void> somewhere in the code, where we cant see it?

@AnneRanch's original post contains a variable named futureWatcher but it didn't show the type declaration. Judging from the error message, the declaration must have been QFutureWatcher<void> futureWatcher;

That just needs to change to QFutureWatcher<QVector<QStringList>> futureWatcher;

[Pl45m4]

@JKSH

Found it :)

QFutureWatcher<void> is specialized to not contain any of the result fetching functions. Any QFuture<T> can be watched by a QFutureWatcher<void> as well. This is useful if only status or progress information is needed; not the actual result data.

See also QFuture and Qt Concurrent.

(https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qfuturewatcher.html#details)

@AnneRanch

If you have a <void> type somewhere, you can't work with the result.

[Anonymous_Banned275]

FYI
After changing this

    // this is wrong
    //  QFutureWatcher<void> futureWatcher;
#ifdef BYPASS
    /media/d/QT/QT_PROJECT_CAT/CAT_V1/configuredialog.cpp:275: error: '>>' should be '> >' within a nested template argument list
                                                               QFutureWatcher<QVector<QStringList>> futureWatcher;
    ^
#endif
    QFutureWatcher<QVector<QStringList> > futureWatcher;

The "run" function works as expected, however , the supporting QConcurrent " 1 seconds ticks" needs work.

    qDebug()<< "test apply delay function spin to each vector                                  setup map ";
    // test map vector array with spin function
    futureWatcher.setFuture(QtConcurrent::map(vector, spin));

/media/d/QT/QT_PROJECT_CAT/CAT_V1/configuredialog.cpp:465: error: no matching function for call to 'QFutureWatcher<QVector<QStringList> >::setFuture(QFuture<void>)'
     futureWatcher.setFuture(QtConcurrent::map(vector, spin));
                                                            ^

I'll try to fix that myself...

Appreciate all the help , it has been revealing how things can get complex if one does not pay attentions to ALL PARTS of the code.

[Pl45m4]

@AnneRanch said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

The "run" function works as expected, however , the supporting QConcurrent " 1 seconds ticks" needs work.

Yes, because now you cant use your changed futureWatcher the same way as used by the Qt Example.
(spin function doesn't return a QStringList vector)

[Anonymous_Banned275]

@Pl45m4
Yes, I realized that. But I hacked it , at lest for now , by defining another
QFutureWatcher

   QFutureWatcher<QVector<QStringList> > futureWatcher_run;
    // 1 seconds tick 
    // keep curent SIGNAL / SLOT
    QFutureWatcher<void> futureWatcher;   // keep for  SIGNAL etc 1 second ticks 

Now as I suspected - I have lost the "concurrency" - the "run" , as coded , blocks process and I have no "concurrent" 1 second ticks running in QProgressDialog.
More fun work.... perhaps just checking for "result" AFTER the "concurrent " is done will work. QProgressDialog sits on top on the area which eventually will show the results , so no hurry until it is gone from view.

[Anonymous_Banned275]

I need to discuss / clarify ONE more "problem" .

I hope I can explain "the problem" using my interpretations of Qt documentation. It is somewhat dupe of what I have said / posted before.

My "primary objective" was to utilize / write multi threaded code to account for a function which takes abut 10 seconds to execute .
I am using "QtConcurrent "framework " which does support multi threading .
I do "QtConcurrent::run" to run time consuming function in ONE thread AND futureWatcher.setFuture(QtConcurrent::map(vector, spin)); in additional FOUR threads.
As is - It all works as expected.

The "time consuming function" retrieves data for further processing.
I have a lengthy discussion elsewhere about how to pass / retrieve such data for such processing and it DOES work using following code:

QVector<QStringList> returnValue = futureWatcher_run.future().result();

The problem is , as far as I can identify it - the futureWatcher_run.future().result() no longer "runs " as multi threaded / QtConcurrent framework - it appears to run in main thread and is blocking.

Am I wrong ?

I do not have code implemented to actually see / debug the thread execution of the above code.

I do realize my problem is harder to visualize without full code, but how can I verify / change the "returnValue" code to make sure it runs in QtConcurrent framework and in its OWN thread , and not to be blocking?

    QStringList *stringList = new  QStringList(); // temporary pass QStringList
    QElapsedTimer timerHCI;
    timerHCI.start();

    futureWatcher_run.setFuture(QtConcurrent::run(HCI, &HCI_Scan_Dialog::HCI_Scan_Scan,stringList));
    
    
    // test returnValue
    int returnValueIndex = 0;
    int returnValueSize = 0;
    
    qDebug()<< "futureWatcher.setFuture(QtConcurrent::run(HCI, "
               "&HCI_Scan_Dialog::HCI_Scan_Scan,stringList)) elapsed time " <<  timerHCI.elapsed() ;
    
#ifdef BYPASS
    // takes real time
    QVector<QStringList> returnValue = futureWatcher_run.future().result();

[J.Hilk]

@AnneRanch I' don't quite understand your situation, why do you think its not running in its own thread?

Any way, if you want to, take a look at my git repo
https://github.com/DeiVadder/QtThreadExample

In that I have a project that covers all Qt ways of parallel processing, Related functions are number form 1 to 5.

Qt Concurrent is the number 4

[Anonymous_Banned275]

@J-Hilk said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

@AnneRanch I' don't quite understand your situation, why do you think its not running in its own thread?

Actually - that is silly for me to say.
Of course it is running in its own thread, problem is it is NOT QtConcurrent - one of he expected multi threads .
But I cannot simply prove it - the "debug" is getting too complicated.
I know for sure it is blocking - it is causing the main window to "go gray".
That is from my initial experience - when I was not running QtConcurrent correctly - the main window would turn gray at completion of the function.

I'll take a look at your code.
thanks.

Any way, if you want to, take a look at my git repo
https://github.com/DeiVadder/QtThreadExample

In that I have a project that covers all Qt ways of parallel processing, Related functions are number form 1 to 5.

Qt Concurrent is the number 4

[JKSH]

@AnneRanch said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

Appreciate all the help , it has been revealing how things can get complex if one does not pay attentions to ALL PARTS of the code.

You're welcome. Indeed, complexity tends to grow exponentially.

futureWatcher.setFuture(QtConcurrent::map(vector, spin));

You started this thread by asking about QtConcurrent::run(), and now you're adding QtConcurrent::map() to the mix. These two functions are very different.

Let's step back a bit. First, please describe in your own words:

• What does QtConcurrent::run() do? What does it return?
• What does QtConcurrent::map() do? What does it return?

perhaps just checking for "result" AFTER the "concurrent " is done will work.

Yes, you should do this.

The reason for the "block" is documented at https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qfuture.html#result

[Anonymous_Banned275]

@JKSH said in Need more help with C++ code syntax - QTConncurent and template:

• What does QtConcurrent::run() do? What does it return?

I "runs" time consuming function " which scans (HCI inquiry) for nearby bluetooth devices and returns their address and name.

• What does QtConcurrent::map() do? What does it return?

It "runs" QProgressDialog and updates its "progress bar" in roughly 1 second intervals . The interval is not important.

Thanks to QConcurrent these functions run in multiple threads , hence in 'parallel fashion " as far as the user is concerned.

perhaps just checking for "result" AFTER the "concurrent " is done will work.

Yes, you should do this.

The reason for the "block" is documented at https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qfuture.html#result

I'll check that.

In the mean time - for entertainment purposes - here is somewhat sanitized version of basic code - the "result" code is still under construction.

{
# ifdef TRACE
    qDebug() << "QDEBUG TRACE START initialize time consuming task";
    qDebug() << "file     " << __FILE__;
    qDebug() << "function "<<__FUNCTION__;
    qDebug() << "@line    " << __LINE__;
    //qDebug()<<"TEMPORARY EXIT ";
    //   return;#ifdef BYPASS
#endif
    qDebug() << " SETUP         declare / define (?) consuming function QFutureWatcher<QVector<QStringList> > futureWatcher_run;";
    QFutureWatcher<QVector<QStringList> > futureWatcher_run;
    qDebug() << " SETUP         declare / define (?) QFutureWatcher<void> futureWatcher;1 second ticks";
    QFutureWatcher<void> futureWatcher;   // keep for  SIGNAL etc 1 second ticks


    qDebug()  << "SETUP         # of iterations as vector array ";
    QVector<int> vector;
    //NOTE for now - # of iterations 3*4* estimated number of devices
    //TODO something smarter - use "finished" SIGNAL
    int iterations = 35;               // temp MN
    for (int i = 0; i < iterations; ++i)
    {
        // first vector cSTART initialize time consuming taskontains time consuming function - no delay
        // rest of them  - single delay time (1 S)
    #ifdef PROCESS
        //qDebug()<<" interations loop ?? index " << i;
        qDebug()<<" vector.append(i) index " << i; // LOOP ";
        // another delay "iterations
        //qDebug()<<" another delay iterations (?) ";
    #endif
        vector.append(i);
    }

    qDebug()<<"SETUP            Create QProgressDialog dialog - set paramaters ";
    // this is a default QProgressDialog constructor
    QProgressDialog dialog;
    //    	QProgressDialog(const QString & labelText,
    //    const QString & cancelButtonText, int minimum, int maximum,
    //            QWidget * parent = 0, Qt::WindowFlags f = 0)
    #ifdef BYPASS
    QProgressDialog dialog ( "TEST window title   ",
                             " BUTTON text", 0, iterations ,0 ,0);
    //BUG  did not set to TEST window title  here
    // dialog.setWindowModality(Qt::WindowModal);
    #endif
    //     dialog.labelText(" what is label ?" ); no matching function ??
    dialog.setWindowTitle("TEST window title  ");
    dialog.setFixedWidth(500);                    //W.setWindowTitle("TEST window title  ");
    // set defaulrs  of what ???
    //    dialog.setMaximum(100);
    //    dialog.setRange(10, 1000 );
    //    If set to 0, the dialog is always shown as soon as any progress is set.
    //    The default is 4000 milliseconds.
    //    int	minimumDuration() const
    //    void	setMinimumDuration(int ms)
    dialog.setMinimumDuration(0);
    // sets delay time to ~ 5 seconds
    dialog.setRange(0,0);
    // single shot label only
    //dialog.show(); //This is done querying the number of processor cores

    //NOTE won;t work unitil what is done ???
    qDebug()<< "SETUP        test timer";
    QElapsedTimer timer;
    timer.start();
#ifdef BYPASS
    //TODO later
    dialog.setLabelText(QString("Progressing using %1 thread(s)...\nTODO Elapsed time %2  [mS] ")
                        .arg(QThread::idealThreadCount()).arg(timer.elapsed()));
    dialog.show();          // test show
#endif

    qDebug()<<"SETUP           ALL connect function futureWatcher and dialog connect SIGNAL  SLOT ";
    // # of iterations ?? " << iterations ; // vector.append(i) LOOP ";

    qDebug()<<"SETUP           setup future WatcherSIGNAL(finished()";
    // Resets the progress dialog. The progress dialog becomes hidden if autoClose() is true.
    //QObject::connect(&futureWatcher, SIGNAL(finished()), &dialog, SLOT(reset())); // reset to what ??


    qDebug()<<"SETUP           setup dialog, SIGNAL(canceled()";
    //QObject::connect(&dialog, SIGNAL(canceled()), &futureWatcher, SLOT(cancel())); // TOK

    // how to emulate these ??
    QObject::connect(&futureWatcher, SIGNAL(progressRangeChanged(int,int)), &dialog, SLOT(setRange(int,int)));
    QObject::connect(&futureWatcher, SIGNAL(progressValueChanged(int)), &dialog, SLOT(setValue(int)));


    // add tracking  slot
    //QObject::connect(&futureWatcher, SIGNAL(progressValueChanged(int)), this , SLOT(setValue(int)));




    // create test SLOT to monitor progressValueChanged(int)
    qDebug() << "SETUP        ! create test SLOT to monitor progressValueChanged(int)";
    QObject::connect(&futureWatcher, SIGNAL(progressValueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(on_doTaskButton_2_clicked()));

    //   QObject::connect(&futureWatcher, SIGNAL(progressValueChanged(int)),this, SLOT(on_doTaskButton_3_clicked()));
    QObject::connect(&futureWatcher, SIGNAL(progressRangeChanged(int,int)),this, SLOT(on_doTaskButton_3_clicked()));



    // create test SLOT to monitor progressValueChanged(int)
    qDebug() << "SETUP         create test SLOT to monitor progressValueChanged(int)";
    QObject::connect(&futureWatcher, SIGNAL(progressValueChanged(int)), this,
                     SLOT(on_doTaskButton_2_clicked())); // &dialog.getValue())));





    qDebug() << "SETUP          HCI_Scan_Dialog *HCI = new HCI_Scan_Dialog () with HCI_Scan_Scan  function ";
    HCI_Scan_Dialog *HCI = new HCI_Scan_Dialog ();



    // run HCI_Scan_scan with   QStringList   array as parameter

    qDebug() << "RUN            futureWatcher_run.setFuture(QtConcurrent::run(HCI, &HCI_Scan_Dialog::HCI_Scan_Scan,stringList));";
    QStringList *stringList = new  QStringList(); // temporary pass empty QStringList
    QElapsedTimer timerHCI;
    timerHCI.start();
    // takes no real time - but HCI_Scan_scan does !
    futureWatcher_run.setFuture(QtConcurrent::run(HCI, &HCI_Scan_Dialog::HCI_Scan_Scan,stringList));
    qDebug() << "CZECH          futureWatcher_run.setFuture(QtConcurrent::run(HCI, &HCI_Scan_Dialog::HCI_Scan_Scan,stringList));";
    qDebug() << "CZECH          futureWatcher_run.setFuture(QtConcurrent::run(HCI, &HCI_Scan_Dialog::HCI_Scan_Scan,stringList)) elapsed time "
          <<  timerHCI.elapsed() << " mS" ;

    // NOTE  no progress dialog here , no main window gray either
    // TODO get real thread ID here

    qDebug() << "RUN            futureWatcher.setFuture(QtConcurrent::map(vector, spin));";
    futureWatcher.setFuture(QtConcurrent::map(vector, spin));

The reason for the "block" is documented at https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qfuture.html#result
    // test real duration of dialog here

    qDebug() << "RUN            dialog.exec(); // run modal dialog;";
    QElapsedTimer timer_wait;
    timer_wait.start();
    //     futureWatcher.progressValue()
    qDebug()<<"TODO   ??  futureWatcher.progressValue() " << futureWatcher.progressValue();  // what is this for ??
    dialog.exec(); // run modal dialog
    qDebug()<< "futureWatcher.setFuture(QtConcurrent::run(HCI, "
               "&HCI_Scan_Dialog::HCI_Scan_Scan,stringList)) elapsed time " <<  timer_wait.elapsed() ;

}

PLEASE NOTE

The reason for the "block" is documented at https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qfuture.html#result

Unfortunately to mitigate this "blocking / waiting for ANY ( first?) result " , which in my case takes 10 seconds - the "result" code , as suggested , cannot be simply placed willy-nilly .

It is back to "emit" SIGNAL or wait until "finished" SIGNAL is emitted.
I am already setup to emit "single device found" SIGNAL from the function itself, not from the "QConcurretn code ".

It will take some care and time to add all the necessary emits , SIGNAL SLOT....

Thanks for all the forum help I am making some (slow) progress.

[Anonymous_Banned275]

Posting this has given me an idea to take a different approach

    What does QtConcurrent::run() do? What does it return?

I "runs" time consuming function " which scans (HCI inquiry) for nearby bluetooth devices and returns their address and name.

    What does QtConcurrent::map() do? What does it return?

It "runs" QProgressDialog and updates its "progress bar" in roughly 1 second intervals . The interval is not important.

Naturally - I have been coding these (two main ) tasks sequentially , with emphasis on the QtConncurent " functions" - mainly what they do. What I have missed is "block" approach which is little different that just " function returns..." when coding in event driven environment.

I will try to rebuild the code using this "block" philosophy , maybe it will make the code interaction easier to see.
Here is my goal in pseudo-code

{// QtConcurrent block START 
         {#  QtConcurrent::run() block 
         code 
        {#QtConcurrent::run()    block 
         {#   QtConcurrent::map() block 
                   {#   setup  spin vector array  block 
                code 
    ..           {#   setup  spin vector array  block  
              code 
        {# QtConcurrent::map()   block 
     code 

}// QtConcurrent block END 


Of course that still does not help to figure out how to process "the time consuming function results / return". 
What is puzzling - QtConcurennt  is multi threading  framework and by (my) definition one of the advantages of multi threading is NOT to have blocking processes. 
So why is "result" blocking  ? 
(I still cannot prove it, I have no "get actual thread ID" code , but it appears to   "run" in main process thread and if it blocks that thread - no good. ) 
Is it not part of the QtConcurrent framework ?

[Pl45m4]

@AnneRanch

result() is blocking the main thread, because you want to use the result there. If the result is not ready, it would not make any sense to continue with the code. Every use of result data would be invalid. So it waits until there is a result, then, for example assigns it to your local variable and continues.
Same as waitForFinished(), with the only difference that you don't care about the returned values, when using this.

The calculation of your result happens in multiple threads concurrently, but the calling thread (your main thread), where you want to use the result, has to wait.