More problems with QDockWidgets

[Perdrix]

I've re-structured my code so that I only have the one QMainWindow. This should have resolved the problems I reported against 6.4.0 with Dock Windows that Axel said were my fault!

Unfortunately:

I have a DockWidget that I want to place on the left and occupy both the top left and bottom left corners, and another that I want at either the bottom or right dock areas.

//
// Set the Docking Area Corner Configuration so that the
// Explorer Bar takes the full left side docking area
//
setCorner(Qt::TopLeftCorner, Qt::LeftDockWidgetArea);
setCorner(Qt::BottomLeftCorner, Qt::LeftDockWidgetArea);

explorerBar = new ExplorerBar(this);
addDockWidget(Qt::LeftDockWidgetArea, explorerBar);

pictureList = new DSS::PictureList(this);
addDockWidget(Qt::BottomDockWidgetArea, pictureList);

Problems:

1. The explorerBar control in the left dock area is expanded horizontally even though I don't believe it should be.

2. The pictureList which should occupy the central and right bottom dock areas is using the entire bottom dock area, even though I had reserved the bottom left corner for the left dock area.

3. If I undock the pictureList, I cannot dock it on the right dock area (oh dear this sounds familiar).

Here's the ui header for the explorer bar in case I made an error which resulted in it expanding horizontally:

/********************************************************************************
** Form generated from reading UI file 'ExplorerBar.ui'
**
** Created by: Qt User Interface Compiler version 6.4.0
**
** WARNING! All changes made in this file will be lost when recompiling UI file!
********************************************************************************/

#ifndef UI_EXPLORERBAR_H
#define UI_EXPLORERBAR_H

#include <QtCore/QVariant>
#include <QtWidgets/QApplication>
#include <QtWidgets/QDockWidget>
#include <QtWidgets/QFrame>
#include <QtWidgets/QGroupBox>
#include <QtWidgets/QLabel>
#include <QtWidgets/QScrollArea>
#include <QtWidgets/QSpacerItem>
#include <QtWidgets/QVBoxLayout>
#include <QtWidgets/QWidget>

QT_BEGIN_NAMESPACE

class Ui_ExplorerBar
{
public:
    QWidget *dockWidgetContents;
    QVBoxLayout *verticalLayout;
    QScrollArea *scrollArea;
    QWidget *scrollAreaWidgetContents;
    QVBoxLayout *verticalLayout_2;
    QGroupBox *registerAndStack;
    QVBoxLayout *verticalLayout_8;
    QFrame *frame_1;
    QVBoxLayout *verticalLayout_9;
    QLabel *openLights;
    QLabel *openDarks;
    QLabel *openFlats;
    QLabel *openDarkFlats;
    QLabel *openBias;
    QSpacerItem *verticalSpacer_3;
    QLabel *openFilelist;
    QLabel *saveFilelist;
    QSpacerItem *verticalSpacer_4;
    QLabel *clearList;
    QFrame *frame_2;
    QVBoxLayout *verticalLayout_10;
    QLabel *checkAll;
    QLabel *checkAbove;
    QLabel *unCheckAll;
    QFrame *frame_3;
    QVBoxLayout *verticalLayout_11;
    QLabel *registerChecked;
    QLabel *computeOffsets;
    QLabel *stackChecked;
    QLabel *batchStacking;
    QGroupBox *processing;
    QVBoxLayout *verticalLayout_5;
    QLabel *openPicture;
    QLabel *copyPicture;
    QLabel *doStarMask;
    QLabel *savePicture;
    QGroupBox *options;
    QVBoxLayout *verticalLayout_4;
    QLabel *settings;
    QLabel *ddpSettings;
    QLabel *loadSettings;
    QLabel *saveSettings;
    QLabel *recommendedSettings;
    QSpacerItem *verticalSpacer_2;
    QLabel *about;
    QSpacerItem *verticalSpacer_5;
    QLabel *help;
    QSpacerItem *verticalSpacer;

    void setupUi(QDockWidget *ExplorerBar)
    {
        if (ExplorerBar->objectName().isEmpty())
            ExplorerBar->setObjectName("ExplorerBar");
        ExplorerBar->resize(275, 763);
        QSizePolicy sizePolicy(QSizePolicy::Preferred, QSizePolicy::Expanding);
        sizePolicy.setHorizontalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy.setVerticalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy.setHeightForWidth(ExplorerBar->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        ExplorerBar->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy);
        ExplorerBar->setMinimumSize(QSize(260, 454));
        ExplorerBar->setFeatures(QDockWidget::DockWidgetFloatable|QDockWidget::DockWidgetMovable);
        ExplorerBar->setAllowedAreas(Qt::LeftDockWidgetArea);
        ExplorerBar->setWindowTitle(QString::fromUtf8("DeepSkyStacker"));
        dockWidgetContents = new QWidget();
        dockWidgetContents->setObjectName("dockWidgetContents");
        sizePolicy.setHeightForWidth(dockWidgetContents->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        dockWidgetContents->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy);
        dockWidgetContents->setMinimumSize(QSize(260, 430));
        verticalLayout = new QVBoxLayout(dockWidgetContents);
        verticalLayout->setSpacing(24);
        verticalLayout->setObjectName("verticalLayout");
        verticalLayout->setContentsMargins(5, 5, 5, 5);
        scrollArea = new QScrollArea(dockWidgetContents);
        scrollArea->setObjectName("scrollArea");
        sizePolicy.setHeightForWidth(scrollArea->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        scrollArea->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy);
        scrollArea->setWidgetResizable(true);
        scrollAreaWidgetContents = new QWidget();
        scrollAreaWidgetContents->setObjectName("scrollAreaWidgetContents");
        scrollAreaWidgetContents->setGeometry(QRect(0, 0, 263, 727));
        scrollAreaWidgetContents->setMinimumSize(QSize(230, 700));
        verticalLayout_2 = new QVBoxLayout(scrollAreaWidgetContents);
        verticalLayout_2->setObjectName("verticalLayout_2");
        registerAndStack = new QGroupBox(scrollAreaWidgetContents);
        registerAndStack->setObjectName("registerAndStack");
        QSizePolicy sizePolicy1(QSizePolicy::Preferred, QSizePolicy::Fixed);
        sizePolicy1.setHorizontalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy1.setVerticalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy1.setHeightForWidth(registerAndStack->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        registerAndStack->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy1);
        registerAndStack->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8("background-color: lightcyan"));
        verticalLayout_8 = new QVBoxLayout(registerAndStack);
        verticalLayout_8->setSpacing(5);
        verticalLayout_8->setObjectName("verticalLayout_8");
        verticalLayout_8->setContentsMargins(5, 5, 5, 5);
        frame_1 = new QFrame(registerAndStack);
        frame_1->setObjectName("frame_1");
        sizePolicy1.setHeightForWidth(frame_1->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        frame_1->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy1);
        frame_1->setFrameShape(QFrame::StyledPanel);
        verticalLayout_9 = new QVBoxLayout(frame_1);
        verticalLayout_9->setSpacing(4);
        verticalLayout_9->setObjectName("verticalLayout_9");
        verticalLayout_9->setContentsMargins(5, 5, 5, 5);
        openLights = new QLabel(frame_1);
        openLights->setObjectName("openLights");
        openLights->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8(""));

        verticalLayout_9->addWidget(openLights);

        openDarks = new QLabel(frame_1);
        openDarks->setObjectName("openDarks");
        openDarks->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8("margin-left: 30"));
        openDarks->setMargin(0);

        verticalLayout_9->addWidget(openDarks);

        openFlats = new QLabel(frame_1);
        openFlats->setObjectName("openFlats");
        openFlats->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8("margin-left: 30"));

        verticalLayout_9->addWidget(openFlats);

        openDarkFlats = new QLabel(frame_1);
        openDarkFlats->setObjectName("openDarkFlats");
        openDarkFlats->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8("margin-left: 30"));

        verticalLayout_9->addWidget(openDarkFlats);

        openBias = new QLabel(frame_1);
        openBias->setObjectName("openBias");
        openBias->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8("margin-left: 30"));

        verticalLayout_9->addWidget(openBias);

        verticalSpacer_3 = new QSpacerItem(20, 5, QSizePolicy::Minimum, QSizePolicy::Fixed);

        verticalLayout_9->addItem(verticalSpacer_3);

        openFilelist = new QLabel(frame_1);
        openFilelist->setObjectName("openFilelist");

        verticalLayout_9->addWidget(openFilelist);

        saveFilelist = new QLabel(frame_1);
        saveFilelist->setObjectName("saveFilelist");

        verticalLayout_9->addWidget(saveFilelist);

        verticalSpacer_4 = new QSpacerItem(20, 10, QSizePolicy::Minimum, QSizePolicy::Fixed);

        verticalLayout_9->addItem(verticalSpacer_4);

        clearList = new QLabel(frame_1);
        clearList->setObjectName("clearList");

        verticalLayout_9->addWidget(clearList);


        verticalLayout_8->addWidget(frame_1);

        frame_2 = new QFrame(registerAndStack);
        frame_2->setObjectName("frame_2");
        sizePolicy1.setHeightForWidth(frame_2->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        frame_2->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy1);
        frame_2->setFrameShape(QFrame::StyledPanel);
        verticalLayout_10 = new QVBoxLayout(frame_2);
        verticalLayout_10->setSpacing(4);
        verticalLayout_10->setObjectName("verticalLayout_10");
        verticalLayout_10->setContentsMargins(5, 5, 5, 5);
        checkAll = new QLabel(frame_2);
        checkAll->setObjectName("checkAll");

        verticalLayout_10->addWidget(checkAll);

        checkAbove = new QLabel(frame_2);
        checkAbove->setObjectName("checkAbove");

        verticalLayout_10->addWidget(checkAbove);

        unCheckAll = new QLabel(frame_2);
        unCheckAll->setObjectName("unCheckAll");

        verticalLayout_10->addWidget(unCheckAll);


        verticalLayout_8->addWidget(frame_2);

        frame_3 = new QFrame(registerAndStack);
        frame_3->setObjectName("frame_3");
        sizePolicy1.setHeightForWidth(frame_3->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        frame_3->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy1);
        frame_3->setFrameShape(QFrame::StyledPanel);
        verticalLayout_11 = new QVBoxLayout(frame_3);
        verticalLayout_11->setSpacing(4);
        verticalLayout_11->setObjectName("verticalLayout_11");
        verticalLayout_11->setContentsMargins(5, 5, 5, 5);
        registerChecked = new QLabel(frame_3);
        registerChecked->setObjectName("registerChecked");

        verticalLayout_11->addWidget(registerChecked);

        computeOffsets = new QLabel(frame_3);
        computeOffsets->setObjectName("computeOffsets");

        verticalLayout_11->addWidget(computeOffsets);

        stackChecked = new QLabel(frame_3);
        stackChecked->setObjectName("stackChecked");

        verticalLayout_11->addWidget(stackChecked);

        batchStacking = new QLabel(frame_3);
        batchStacking->setObjectName("batchStacking");

        verticalLayout_11->addWidget(batchStacking);


        verticalLayout_8->addWidget(frame_3);

        verticalLayout_8->setStretch(0, 7);
        verticalLayout_8->setStretch(1, 3);
        verticalLayout_8->setStretch(2, 4);

        verticalLayout_2->addWidget(registerAndStack);

        processing = new QGroupBox(scrollAreaWidgetContents);
        processing->setObjectName("processing");
        sizePolicy1.setHeightForWidth(processing->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        processing->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy1);
        processing->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8("background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240)"));
        verticalLayout_5 = new QVBoxLayout(processing);
        verticalLayout_5->setSpacing(4);
        verticalLayout_5->setObjectName("verticalLayout_5");
        verticalLayout_5->setContentsMargins(11, 6, 11, 6);
        openPicture = new QLabel(processing);
        openPicture->setObjectName("openPicture");

        verticalLayout_5->addWidget(openPicture);

        copyPicture = new QLabel(processing);
        copyPicture->setObjectName("copyPicture");

        verticalLayout_5->addWidget(copyPicture);

        doStarMask = new QLabel(processing);
        doStarMask->setObjectName("doStarMask");

        verticalLayout_5->addWidget(doStarMask);

        savePicture = new QLabel(processing);
        savePicture->setObjectName("savePicture");

        verticalLayout_5->addWidget(savePicture);


        verticalLayout_2->addWidget(processing);

        options = new QGroupBox(scrollAreaWidgetContents);
        options->setObjectName("options");
        sizePolicy1.setHeightForWidth(options->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        options->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy1);
        options->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8("background-color: lightcyan"));
        verticalLayout_4 = new QVBoxLayout(options);
        verticalLayout_4->setSpacing(4);
        verticalLayout_4->setObjectName("verticalLayout_4");
        verticalLayout_4->setContentsMargins(11, 6, 11, 6);
        settings = new QLabel(options);
        settings->setObjectName("settings");

        verticalLayout_4->addWidget(settings);

        ddpSettings = new QLabel(options);
        ddpSettings->setObjectName("ddpSettings");
        ddpSettings->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8("margin-left: 30"));

        verticalLayout_4->addWidget(ddpSettings);

        loadSettings = new QLabel(options);
        loadSettings->setObjectName("loadSettings");
        loadSettings->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8("margin-left: 30"));

        verticalLayout_4->addWidget(loadSettings);

        saveSettings = new QLabel(options);
        saveSettings->setObjectName("saveSettings");
        saveSettings->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8("margin-left: 30"));

        verticalLayout_4->addWidget(saveSettings);

        recommendedSettings = new QLabel(options);
        recommendedSettings->setObjectName("recommendedSettings");
        recommendedSettings->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8("margin-left: 30"));

        verticalLayout_4->addWidget(recommendedSettings);

        verticalSpacer_2 = new QSpacerItem(20, 10, QSizePolicy::Minimum, QSizePolicy::Expanding);

        verticalLayout_4->addItem(verticalSpacer_2);

        about = new QLabel(options);
        about->setObjectName("about");

        verticalLayout_4->addWidget(about);

        verticalSpacer_5 = new QSpacerItem(20, 5, QSizePolicy::Minimum, QSizePolicy::Expanding);

        verticalLayout_4->addItem(verticalSpacer_5);

        help = new QLabel(options);
        help->setObjectName("help");

        verticalLayout_4->addWidget(help);


        verticalLayout_2->addWidget(options);

        verticalSpacer = new QSpacerItem(20, 40, QSizePolicy::Minimum, QSizePolicy::Expanding);

        verticalLayout_2->addItem(verticalSpacer);

        scrollArea->setWidget(scrollAreaWidgetContents);

        verticalLayout->addWidget(scrollArea);

        ExplorerBar->setWidget(dockWidgetContents);

        retranslateUi(ExplorerBar);
        QObject::connect(openLights, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onOpenLights()));
        QObject::connect(openDarks, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onOpenDarks()));
        QObject::connect(openFlats, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onOpenFlats()));
        QObject::connect(openDarkFlats, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onOpenDarkFlats()));
        QObject::connect(openBias, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onOpenBias()));
        QObject::connect(openFilelist, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onOpenFilelist()));
        QObject::connect(saveFilelist, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onSaveFilelist()));
        QObject::connect(clearList, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onClearList()));
        QObject::connect(checkAll, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onCheckAll()));
        QObject::connect(checkAbove, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onCheckAbove()));
        QObject::connect(unCheckAll, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onUncheckAll()));
        QObject::connect(registerChecked, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onRegisterChecked()));
        QObject::connect(computeOffsets, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onComputeOffsets()));
        QObject::connect(stackChecked, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onStackChecked()));
        QObject::connect(batchStacking, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onBatchStacking()));
        QObject::connect(openPicture, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onOpenPicture()));
        QObject::connect(copyPicture, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onCopyPicture()));
        QObject::connect(doStarMask, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onDoStarMask()));
        QObject::connect(savePicture, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onSavePicture()));
        QObject::connect(settings, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onSettings()));
        QObject::connect(ddpSettings, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onDDPSettings()));
        QObject::connect(loadSettings, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onLoadSettings()));
        QObject::connect(saveSettings, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onSaveSettings()));
        QObject::connect(recommendedSettings, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onRecommendedSettings()));
        QObject::connect(about, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onAbout()));
        QObject::connect(help, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), ExplorerBar, SLOT(onHelp()));

        QMetaObject::connectSlotsByName(ExplorerBar);
    } // setupUi

    void retranslateUi(QDockWidget *ExplorerBar)
    {
        ExplorerBar->setStyleSheet(QString());
        dockWidgetContents->setWindowTitle(QString());
        registerAndStack->setTitle(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Registering and Stacking", "IDC_STACKING_TITLE"));
        openLights->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Open picture files...", "IDC_STACKING_OPENFILES"));
        openDarks->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "dark files...", "IDC_STACKING_OPENDARKS"));
        openFlats->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "flat files...", "IDC_STACKING_OPENFLATS"));
        openDarkFlats->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "dark flat files...", "IDC_STACKING_OPENDARKFLATS"));
        openBias->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "offset/bias files...", "IDC_STACKING_OPENOFFSETS"));
        openFilelist->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Open a File List...", "IDC_STACKING_LOADLIST"));
        saveFilelist->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Save the File List...", "IDC_STACKING_SAVELIST"));
        clearList->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Clear List", "IDC_STACKING_CLEARLIST"));
        checkAll->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Check all", "IDC_STACKING_CHECKALL"));
        checkAbove->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Check above a threshold...", "IDC_STACKING_CHECKABOVE"));
        unCheckAll->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Uncheck all", "IDC_STACKING_UNCHECKALL"));
        registerChecked->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Register checked pictures...", "IDC_REGISTERING_REGISTERCHECKED"));
        computeOffsets->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Compute offsets...", "IDC_STACKING_COMPUTEOFFSETS"));
        stackChecked->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Stack checked pictures...", "IDC_STACKING_STACKCHECKED"));
        batchStacking->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Batch stacking...", "IDC_STACKING_BATCHSTACK"));
        processing->setTitle(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Processing", "IDC_PROCESSING_TITLE"));
        openPicture->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Open picture file...", "IDC_PROCESSING_OPENFILE"));
        copyPicture->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Copy current picture to clipboard", "IDC_PROCESSING_COPYTOCLIPBOARD"));
        doStarMask->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Create a Star Mask...", "IDC_PROCESSING_CREATESTARMASK"));
        savePicture->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Save picture to file...", "IDC_PROCESSING_SAVEFILE"));
        options->setTitle(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Options", "IDC_OPTIONS_TITLE"));
        settings->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Settings...", "IDC_OPTIONS_SETTINGS"));
        ddpSettings->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Raw/FITS DDP Settings...", "IDC_OPTIONS_RAWDDPSETTINGS"));
        loadSettings->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Load...", "IDC_OPTIONS_LOADSETTINGS"));
        saveSettings->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Save...", "IDC_OPTIONS_SAVESETTINGS"));
        recommendedSettings->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "Recommended...", "IDC_OPTIONS_RECOMMANDEDSETTINGS"));
        about->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "About DeepSkyStacker...", "IDC_ABOUT"));
        help->setText(QCoreApplication::translate("ExplorerBar", "DeepSkyStacker's Help...", "IDC_CONTEXTHELP"));
    } // retranslateUi

};

namespace Ui {
    class ExplorerBar: public Ui_ExplorerBar {};
} // namespace Ui

QT_END_NAMESPACE

#endif // UI_EXPLORERBAR_H

[Perdrix]

Aha! The problem with the layout is located!
QSettings settings;
settings.beginGroup("MainWindow");
restoreGeometry(settings.value("geometry").toByteArray());
restoreState(settings.value("windowState").toByteArray());
settings.endGroup();

The saved geometry and window state were wrong for the new code structure! I deleted the old entries in the registry, and that resolved the layout problems:

Unfortunately the pictureList still won't dock on the right hand side :(

For the avoidance of doubt here's the ui header for the Picture List:

/********************************************************************************
** Form generated from reading UI file 'PictureList.ui'
**
** Created by: Qt User Interface Compiler version 6.4.0
**
** WARNING! All changes made in this file will be lost when recompiling UI file!
********************************************************************************/

#ifndef UI_PICTURELIST_H
#define UI_PICTURELIST_H

#include <QtCore/QVariant>
#include <QtWidgets/QApplication>
#include <QtWidgets/QDockWidget>
#include <QtWidgets/QHeaderView>
#include <QtWidgets/QTabBar>
#include <QtWidgets/QTableView>
#include <QtWidgets/QVBoxLayout>
#include <QtWidgets/QWidget>

QT_BEGIN_NAMESPACE

class Ui_PictureList
{
public:
    QWidget *dockWidgetContents;
    QVBoxLayout *verticalLayout_2;
    QTableView *tableView;
    QTabBar *tabBar;

    void setupUi(QDockWidget *PictureList)
    {
        if (PictureList->objectName().isEmpty())
            PictureList->setObjectName("PictureList");
        PictureList->resize(618, 255);
        QSizePolicy sizePolicy(QSizePolicy::Preferred, QSizePolicy::Preferred);
        sizePolicy.setHorizontalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy.setVerticalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy.setHeightForWidth(PictureList->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        PictureList->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy);
        PictureList->setMinimumSize(QSize(618, 253));
        PictureList->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8(""));
        PictureList->setFeatures(QDockWidget::DockWidgetFloatable|QDockWidget::DockWidgetMovable);
        PictureList->setAllowedAreas(Qt::BottomDockWidgetArea|Qt::RightDockWidgetArea);
        PictureList->setWindowTitle(QString::fromUtf8("Light Frames: 0      -      Dark Frames: 0      -      Flat Frames: 0      -   Dark Flat Frames: 0   -      Offset/Bias Frames: 0"));
        dockWidgetContents = new QWidget();
        dockWidgetContents->setObjectName("dockWidgetContents");
        QSizePolicy sizePolicy1(QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Expanding);
        sizePolicy1.setHorizontalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy1.setVerticalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy1.setHeightForWidth(dockWidgetContents->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        dockWidgetContents->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy1);
        verticalLayout_2 = new QVBoxLayout(dockWidgetContents);
        verticalLayout_2->setSpacing(0);
        verticalLayout_2->setObjectName("verticalLayout_2");
        verticalLayout_2->setContentsMargins(-1, -1, -1, 2);
        tableView = new QTableView(dockWidgetContents);
        tableView->setObjectName("tableView");
        tableView->setMinimumSize(QSize(600, 175));
        tableView->setSelectionMode(QAbstractItemView::ExtendedSelection);
        tableView->setSelectionBehavior(QAbstractItemView::SelectRows);
        tableView->setSortingEnabled(true);
        tableView->verticalHeader()->setVisible(false);

        verticalLayout_2->addWidget(tableView);

        tabBar = new QTabBar(dockWidgetContents);
        tabBar->setObjectName("tabBar");
        QSizePolicy sizePolicy2(QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Minimum);
        sizePolicy2.setHorizontalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy2.setVerticalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy2.setHeightForWidth(tabBar->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        tabBar->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy2);
        tabBar->setMinimumSize(QSize(0, 28));
        tabBar->setMaximumSize(QSize(16777215, 28));

        verticalLayout_2->addWidget(tabBar);

        PictureList->setWidget(dockWidgetContents);

        retranslateUi(PictureList);

        QMetaObject::connectSlotsByName(PictureList);
    } // setupUi

    void retranslateUi(QDockWidget *PictureList)
    {
        (void)PictureList;
    } // retranslateUi

};

namespace Ui {
    class PictureList: public Ui_PictureList {};
} // namespace Ui

QT_END_NAMESPACE

#endif // UI_PICTURELIST_H

D.

[Chris Kawa]

The code you posted results in something like this for me, so I don't know what you're doing, but it has to be something in the code you didn't show.

[Perdrix]

What platform? I am on Windows 11.

[Chris Kawa]

@Perdrix Same here, but it's inside the window, so it shouldn't matter. OS cares about the window and the frame. What's inside is controlled by Qt.

[Perdrix]

Then I am baffled, as here's all the code that I believe to be relevant:

void DeepSkyStacker::onInitialise()
{
	ZFUNCTRACE_RUNTIME();

	//
	// Set the Docking Area Corner Configuration so that the
	// Explorer Bar takes the full left side docking area
	//
	setCorner(Qt::TopLeftCorner, Qt::LeftDockWidgetArea);
	setCorner(Qt::BottomLeftCorner, Qt::LeftDockWidgetArea);

	ZTRACE_RUNTIME("Creating Explorer Bar (Left Panel)");
	explorerBar = new ExplorerBar(this);
	addDockWidget(Qt::LeftDockWidgetArea, explorerBar);

	ZTRACE_RUNTIME("Creating pictureList");
	pictureList = new DSS::PictureList(this);
	addDockWidget(Qt::BottomDockWidgetArea, pictureList);

	ZTRACE_RUNTIME("Creating stackedWidget");
	stackedWidget = new QStackedWidget(this);
	stackedWidget->setObjectName("stackedWidget");
	setCentralWidget(stackedWidget);

	ZTRACE_RUNTIME("Creating Stacking Panel");
	stackingDlg = new DSS::StackingDlg(this, pictureList);
	stackingDlg->setObjectName("stackingDlg");

	ZTRACE_RUNTIME("Adding Stacking Panel to stackedWidget");
	stackedWidget->addWidget(stackingDlg);

	winHost = new QWinHost(stackedWidget);
	winHost->setObjectName("winHost");
	stackedWidget->addWidget(winHost);

	ZTRACE_RUNTIME("Creating Processing Panel");
	BOOL result = processingDlg.Create(IDD_PROCESSING);
	if (FALSE == result)
	{
		int lastErr = GetLastError();
		ZTRACE_RUNTIME("lastErr = %d", lastErr);	
	}

	HWND hwnd{ processingDlg.GetSafeHwnd() };
	Q_ASSERT(NULL != hwnd);
	winHost->setWindow(hwnd);
	
	stackedWidget->setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Expanding);
	winHost->setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Expanding);

[Perdrix]

Aha! The problem with the layout is located!
QSettings settings;
settings.beginGroup("MainWindow");
restoreGeometry(settings.value("geometry").toByteArray());
restoreState(settings.value("windowState").toByteArray());
settings.endGroup();

The saved geometry and window state were wrong for the new code structure! I deleted the old entries in the registry, and that resolved the layout problems:

Unfortunately the pictureList still won't dock on the right hand side :(

For the avoidance of doubt here's the ui header for the Picture List:

/********************************************************************************
** Form generated from reading UI file 'PictureList.ui'
**
** Created by: Qt User Interface Compiler version 6.4.0
**
** WARNING! All changes made in this file will be lost when recompiling UI file!
********************************************************************************/

#ifndef UI_PICTURELIST_H
#define UI_PICTURELIST_H

#include <QtCore/QVariant>
#include <QtWidgets/QApplication>
#include <QtWidgets/QDockWidget>
#include <QtWidgets/QHeaderView>
#include <QtWidgets/QTabBar>
#include <QtWidgets/QTableView>
#include <QtWidgets/QVBoxLayout>
#include <QtWidgets/QWidget>

QT_BEGIN_NAMESPACE

class Ui_PictureList
{
public:
    QWidget *dockWidgetContents;
    QVBoxLayout *verticalLayout_2;
    QTableView *tableView;
    QTabBar *tabBar;

    void setupUi(QDockWidget *PictureList)
    {
        if (PictureList->objectName().isEmpty())
            PictureList->setObjectName("PictureList");
        PictureList->resize(618, 255);
        QSizePolicy sizePolicy(QSizePolicy::Preferred, QSizePolicy::Preferred);
        sizePolicy.setHorizontalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy.setVerticalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy.setHeightForWidth(PictureList->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        PictureList->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy);
        PictureList->setMinimumSize(QSize(618, 253));
        PictureList->setStyleSheet(QString::fromUtf8(""));
        PictureList->setFeatures(QDockWidget::DockWidgetFloatable|QDockWidget::DockWidgetMovable);
        PictureList->setAllowedAreas(Qt::BottomDockWidgetArea|Qt::RightDockWidgetArea);
        PictureList->setWindowTitle(QString::fromUtf8("Light Frames: 0      -      Dark Frames: 0      -      Flat Frames: 0      -   Dark Flat Frames: 0   -      Offset/Bias Frames: 0"));
        dockWidgetContents = new QWidget();
        dockWidgetContents->setObjectName("dockWidgetContents");
        QSizePolicy sizePolicy1(QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Expanding);
        sizePolicy1.setHorizontalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy1.setVerticalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy1.setHeightForWidth(dockWidgetContents->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        dockWidgetContents->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy1);
        verticalLayout_2 = new QVBoxLayout(dockWidgetContents);
        verticalLayout_2->setSpacing(0);
        verticalLayout_2->setObjectName("verticalLayout_2");
        verticalLayout_2->setContentsMargins(-1, -1, -1, 2);
        tableView = new QTableView(dockWidgetContents);
        tableView->setObjectName("tableView");
        tableView->setMinimumSize(QSize(600, 175));
        tableView->setSelectionMode(QAbstractItemView::ExtendedSelection);
        tableView->setSelectionBehavior(QAbstractItemView::SelectRows);
        tableView->setSortingEnabled(true);
        tableView->verticalHeader()->setVisible(false);

        verticalLayout_2->addWidget(tableView);

        tabBar = new QTabBar(dockWidgetContents);
        tabBar->setObjectName("tabBar");
        QSizePolicy sizePolicy2(QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Minimum);
        sizePolicy2.setHorizontalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy2.setVerticalStretch(0);
        sizePolicy2.setHeightForWidth(tabBar->sizePolicy().hasHeightForWidth());
        tabBar->setSizePolicy(sizePolicy2);
        tabBar->setMinimumSize(QSize(0, 28));
        tabBar->setMaximumSize(QSize(16777215, 28));

        verticalLayout_2->addWidget(tabBar);

        PictureList->setWidget(dockWidgetContents);

        retranslateUi(PictureList);

        QMetaObject::connectSlotsByName(PictureList);
    } // setupUi

    void retranslateUi(QDockWidget *PictureList)
    {
        (void)PictureList;
    } // retranslateUi

};

namespace Ui {
    class PictureList: public Ui_PictureList {};
} // namespace Ui

QT_END_NAMESPACE

#endif // UI_PICTURELIST_H

D.

[SGaist]

Hi,

Do you mean it won't dock when you move it by hand ?

On a side note, when you have save/restore geometry implemented in an application, it's a good idea to have a "factory reset" option that allows to restore to a sane default state for the case you experienced earlier.

[Perdrix]

Exactly so, I can undock it from the bottom dock area (and dock it back to the bottom dock area), but cannot dock to the right dock area.

David