[SOLVED] Using wildcards for SOURCES when build dir is different from source dir

lyuts

Hi guys,

I'm stuck with one problem when building my project and still can't find the reason for such behaviour. Consider the following project layout.

Here is my Project.pro:
@TEMPLATE = subdirs

SUBDIRS = Module1@

Here is my Module1.pro:
@TEMPLATE = lib

HEADERS = $$PWD/Part1/.h
$$PWD/Part2/.h

SOURCES = $$PWD/Part1/.cpp
$$PWD/Part2/.cpp@

Now i create build directory, because I want it to be separate from source directory, and run qmake:

$ cd <Project/Path>
$ mkdir build
$ cd build
$ qmake ../Project.pro
$ make

And here I get the following error:

@make[1]: *** No rule to make target ../../../Module1/Part1/f.cpp', needed byf.o'. Stop.@

I suppose this is because I have used wildcards for setting SOURCES and HEADERS variable. I think so, because If I don't use them and type the whole concrete paths when setting SOURCE/HEADERS my build goes ok.

Is this how it is supposed to behave when using wildcards, or it is a bug? If that is how it should be does anybody knows the way to fix that (of course I want to use wildcards because it save time and space:) )?

Thanks

In Module1.pro, you don't need the "$$PWD/", you can write a relative path.

Also, qmake doesn't like to have a build directory under src, try this instead:

@
$ cd
$ cd ..
$ mkdir build
$ cd build
$ qmake ../src/Project.pro
$ make
@

tobias.hunger

I think you are having some other issue: Qmake is very picky with where it wants its build directory. Try putting the build directory parallel to the source directory, not into it.

lyuts

[quote author="Nicolas" date="1286191411"]In Module1.pro, you don't need the "$$PWD/", you can write a relative path.

Also, qmake doesn't like to have a build directory under src, try this instead:

@
$ cd
$ cd ..
$ mkdir build
$ cd build
$ qmake ../src/Project.pro
$ make
@[/quote]

I do have to write $$PWD. PWD is the directory where the .pro file is located (this is from qmake variable reference). The location of sources is relative to $$PWD.

bq. Try putting the build directory parallel to the source directory, not into it.

I tried the same with build directory outside source directory. But the result was the same. I haven't tried to use build directory that is on the same level as my source directory is. Having them on the same exact level - isn't that a wrong limitation?

Thanks.

UPD: I can build Qt Creator with build directory that is several levels upper than the source tree.

[quote author="lyuts" date="1286192482"] [quote author="Nicolas" date="1286191411"]In Module1.pro, you don't need the "$$PWD/", you can write a relative path.
[/quote]

I do have to write $$PWD. PWD is the directory where the .pro file is located (this is from qmake variable reference). The location of sources is relative to $$PWD.
[/quote]
I can assure you you don't need the $$PWD. Maybe you can give it a try without it.

No other idea, sorry.

lyuts

[quote author="Nicolas" date="1286192967"]
I can assure you you don't need the $$PWD. Maybe you can give it a try without it.
[/quote]

This is maybe true when no wildcards are used. I put wildcards there and the no files could be located without $$PWD. When I put $$PWD the files list contains my files but the path prefixed is not correct, i.e. lead to a wrong location.

baysmith

The undocumented qmake function files(glob) might do what you want. Try this for Module1.pro:

@
TEMPLATE = lib

HEADERS = $$files(Part1/.h)
$$files(Part2/.h)

SOURCES = $$files(Part1/.cpp)
$$files(Part2/.cpp)
@

lyuts

Bradley, that's exactly what I was looking for :) Thank you so much, this solved my problem.

dfaure

Bradley: any plans on getting that documented? :-)