Bulding / adding subprojects ??

SGaist

Hi,

It depends on what you mean by subproject.

If you mean you would like to have several different projects built under the umbrella of one, then you should use the subdirs template.

Anonymous_Banned275

@SGaist For now I would like to be able to open QtCreator and load two projects at once ( yes I can do the separately, no issue ) and be able to share/ use both as a single project.
I can "add existing files" to my main project but running into some weir problems .

I did try to add "directories" but was unable to do so.

I am just looking to have a convenient way to share resources without "cut and paste". It keeps introducing strange unwanted stuff doing so.

I was retentively successful combining projects in another IDE , however, I am not so sure how QTCreator will react. Maybe it won'tt be worth the time spent.

Again - I am just looking for a convenient way , it is not a show stopper by any means.

Anonymous_Banned275

As expected - it sounded too simple to work by just adding "include" .

include (/home/d/CAT_MAIN/TEST_Application/TEST_Application.pro )

1.I build two identical projects and "included" the subproject in main project.
Obviously - Build main project complains of multiple definitions

Now here are my options

rename duplicate file
did not help
delete duplicate file
now the subpropject is no longer full app and without main won't obviously compile by itslef.
or ??

not so easy to fix.

Minor changes in subproject do not trigger rebuild - looks as the safest way is to always "rebuild all; " - sort of expected
I am adding new QtWIdget to sub-project - will be watching for smoke...

Now the main project build reports this error:

:-1: error: No rule to make target 'app_form.ui', needed by 'ui_app_form.h'. Stop.

It looks that I need to try plain C++ class , no widget derived.

Edit
Same problem

:-1: error: No rule to make target 'app_test_class.cpp', needed by 'app_test_class.o'. Stop.

OK. so WHERE / HOW I instruct main project - what "rule" is missing and where?

PS I did look at the link and it is way over my head , besides I do not want to get involved with "Windoze"

So for now adding "include ( project) " to main project is bogus - not enough to make it work... not even a good solid start...

Anonymous_Banned275

here is what Mrs Google found

https://www.programmersought.com/article/53875412403/

time to RTFM

Later

OK, let me simplify things,
AFTER adding the .pro file , using the above link, I get a NEW menu options
when clicking on the "project "
simple "Adding subproject..."

My qustion to the forum
"which option in the "multiprooject file" actually triggers thus option?

And the answer is

TEMPLATE = subdirs

placed in main project . .pro file makes add new subproject a child's play

time to ditch
"include (project file .pro) "

BUT - there is always a BUT

when BOTH main project and FIRST subproject have main window -
the project will try execute and "show " both!
Of course if BOTH have defunct placement only the subproject will actually be visible "on top" -. It can be moved...
BUT where is the main project main window ?
Nowhere because the process gets stuck running "standard" QApplication "llop" in first suboproject.

The main question - how does main project let FIRST subproject to execute anyway ??

What option / setting is missing ??

Or is the only option to actually execute the sub projects ??
That is NOT what I need - I need to "inlcude " the subprojects , not to run them individually.

Maybe the "include(project) is needed after all...

Anonymous_Banned275

@AnneRanch
Allow me to rephrase the next question.

Assuming the purpose of having project with subprojects is to "build a sub -project and when it works add it to the main project" .

That , to me , means the sub project has to be build and run independently from the main project. To do so it has to have "main" like any other software.
It does that.

Hence when sub project is added via " New Subproject..." it does compile / build / run independently as desired.

However, when main project is run it starts with "main window" then it runs "main window" of first sub project. Since subproject is build around / inside QApplication a(argc, argv); ( I do not know how else to call it ) THE PROCESS STOPS INSIDE QApplication loop of first sub project....
The sub project does nothing but shows main window for now.

I am assuming I am missing some instruction to "break" this chain and be able to incorporate sup project code into main project without actually running the sub projects.

Or am I totally off in the left field ??

Anonymous_Banned275

Just short add

I have successfully added plain C++ class to main project
The new cpp and h files are nowhere to be found in "projects" view
I can no longer add "New.." to main project - no such option...
I can no longer add "New Subproject -> Files and Classes" - no data in view
( see #1 This is what I used to add now invisible C++ class to main project)
I can still add New Subproject.

I am not a happy camper and RTFM no longer helps..

Anonymous_Banned275

@AnneRanch
Sorry group , but this is turning into proverbial can of worms.
Nothing works same each time it is used and seldom the way one expect.
It looks as adding
TEMPLATE = subdirs
in .pro file takes hold after ALL builds are used - I mean "Build" "Run qmake" "Rebuild" - perhaps one of them does it.

When running just the main project, without adding sub project, I get dialog asking to select executable.

That would solve the issue I had executing real project with subprojects , but I have no idea WHAT is plain Qt project executable . No .exe - In linux ! How do I know / identify "linux project executable ?" The dialog does not present executable files only so it is up to me know which one it is.

So _ I expect that there would be ONE executable WHEN there is only main project.

Then I would expect to be ask to select the executable - main project _ when I add my my first sub project.

The I get this

OK, there is no executable - BUT how do I get back to the original annoying dialog which let me select one?

See what I mean ?
First I get request to select executablee when there is only one ( running main project without adding sub projects) , now I am told there is no executable without slightest hit HOW to add /select one...

PS
Note the funky TAB title.

SGaist

It seems you did not understand the concept behind the subdirs template.

Each project that composes it is a complete project. It's not a way to structure your files for a single project.

See for example this tutorial.

If Qt Creator does not find any executable, then it means that none of your sub-project implements the app template.

Anonymous_Banned275

@SGaist

Here is a clean new " C_Project " "looking for executable "

No executable specified.

Which is "executable" ?

Help me solve that first.

SGaist

Remove the "TEMPLATE = subdirs". You're overwriting the original value.

Anonymous_Banned275

Here is normal" run , without the

TEMPLATE = subdirs

which enables "New subprogram..."

My interim conclusion
enabling "New subprogram " causes the "mising executable".
I must be missing something else in .pro file

WHAT is missing ?
WHY and HOW to fix it ?

SGaist

@AnneRanch said in Bulding / adding subprojects ??:

WHAT is missing ?

The understanding of how the subdirs template works.

@AnneRanch said in Bulding / adding subprojects ??:

WHY and HOW to fix it ?

For why: to make it work I guess.

For the how, I already provided a link to a tutorial that explains the concepts and one to a wiki page that also explains how it works.

So you should start by taking a step back, create a proper subdirs project from scratch and once your have it properly building and running, move back to your project.

Anonymous_Banned275

@SGaist
You are the man...
Sure , makes perfect sense - when app is replaced by subdirs all hell breaks loose.

So
TEMPLATE = app needs to be " reinstalled " , preferably in main project..

I'll go back to the first multi project which still somewhat works to see how
TEMPLATE = app was handled there.
There the problem was - the main "executable" somehow connected to the sub project "executable"....

This will take some time, but I;ll keep you posted .

SGaist

First thing: you can't just replace the template type in your application .pro file.

The subdirs template requires a structure to be followed. As explained in the links I have posted.

Anonymous_Banned275

@SGaist said in Bulding / adding subprojects ??:

@AnneRanch said in Bulding / adding subprojects ??:

WHAT is missing ?

The understanding of how the subdirs template works.

Yes, looks as the whole concept of "subproject" is good for what I wanted - be able to load multiple projects .

The only weird issue is the the "main project" is actually one, preferably the first "subproject".
But it will do.

SOLVED / CORRECTION
The basic Qt "subproject" concept is to have multiple projects "under one roof".
Unfortunately some tutorials concentrate on expanding this simple, primarily administrative concept thus making the implementation far more complicated then it is .

When one follows these tutorials , as I did , the QtCreator implementation is completely covered and it leads to few dead ends.

Here is my conclusion:

Start with :

New File or Project -> Other Project ->Subdirs Project
then use
project -> "New Subproject..." and select desired project type

finally use
Run
3. and your newly added FIRST (sub) project will (build and ) execute.

repeat step 2 3 as necessary

code / debug each added sub project as you would any other SINGLE project.
Qt will build / rebuild every sub project as necessary.

Essentially all is needed is to know to implement this scheme

TEMPLATE is your friend

In closing I really appreciate all the help received from the discussion participants.

PS
Like to hear from anybody who successfully Imported existing sub project using the "new subproject... " options.

Nevez

@AnneRanch
you are a great person. I searched many sites all day long. However, I was more confused about what to do. After reading and applying what in your last post, I've literally succeeded. Really thank you so much. Have a nice day..