Multi-page QML application

[jars121]

G'day,

I'm looking to develop a multi-page application utilising many discrete .qml files. Each .qml file represents a different page (e.g. settings page, help page, etc.). The user can set a default page to be loaded on application start, so there isn't a 'main.qml' equivalent. Below is a simplistic representation of what I'm trying to accomplish. From the image, any of the QML files (QML 1 through QML 5) can be shown on application start, with each having its own set of configuration files. Once in a page, the user can navigate to any of the other .qml pages. The pages DO NOT have to be loaded into memory on application start, they can be instantiated during runtime.

As for the startup functionality, I have a preference parameter which saves the user's preference for their startup page. In main.cpp, I then specify which page is loaded into the QQmlApplicationEngine as follows (number of available QML files reduced to 2 for simplicity in the example code):

//Main.cpp
QQmlApplicationEngine engine;

preferencesFile *preferencesFilePointer = preferencesFile::getInstance();

if (preferencesFilePointer->startupQML() == "QML 1"){
    engine.load(QUrl(QStringLiteral("qrc:/QML1.qml")));
} else {
    engine.load(QUrl(QStringLiteral("qrc:/QML2.qml")));
}

The above code works as expected; if the user has saved QML1.qml as their startup preference, the QML1.qml file is presented. What I'm now trying to understand is the following:

1. Is the above a reasonable approach?
2. If the answer to 1 above is yes, would Loaders be the optimal/preferred mechanism by which I can switch between QML files in runtime?

I'm sure I'll have follow up questions, but some guidance on the above 2 would be greatly appreciated for now!

[IntruderExcluder]

@jars121 said in Multi-page QML application:

Is the above a reasonable approach?

Yep, it looks fine, why not?

If the answer to 1 above is yes, would Loaders be the optimal/preferred mechanism by which I can switch between QML files in runtime?

Loaders are fine too. You also may look into StackView or even go in dynamic object creation by hands.

[LeLev]

hi

I wonder how you do this, is the root component of all QMLs (1,2,3.. ) a QML ApplicationWindow or QML Window ?

@jars121 said in Multi-page QML application:

Is the above a reasonable approach?

a simpler approach is to actually have a main.qml and have a Loader in it to load the page + Settings to save your prefered page

//main.qml
ApplicationWindow {
property string initialPage : "QML1"

Settings {
    property alias firstPage : initialPage  
}

Loader{
// set the first page
}

}

[jars121]

Thank you both for your input.

@LeLev each QML is based on a Window architecture.

I gave this some further thought over night, and I tend to agree that using a main.qml is still probably the best approach. I'll eventually look to incorporate a SwipeView for movement between these various pages, so having a main.qml act as a loading page/container would be ideal.

I'll have a play with this approach today and post back with any issues.