qmake does not generate 2nd install target in Makefile

Aleksey_K

Modified .pro file to install my custom Qt Designer plugin to Creator directory as well:

CONFIG      += plugin debug_and_release
TARGET      = $$qtLibraryTarget(WidgetBoxPlugin)
TEMPLATE    = lib
...
target.path = $$[QT_INSTALL_PLUGINS]/designer
creator_target.path = $$[QTCREATOR_BIN_PATH]/plugins/designer
INSTALLS    += target creator_target

And resulted dll file was copied into 2 paths (targets). Now it does not work for some reason: qmake does not generate install (copy) script for 2nd target (QTCREATOR_BIN_PATH is set). Think it is a bug in qmake or Qt Creator (QTCREATOR_BIN_PATH is set but not passed to qmake).

Full project: https://github.com/akontsevich/WidgetBox

Tried to modify .pro file like mentioned here: http://blog.qt.io/blog/2008/04/16/the-power-of-qmake/ and suggested there: https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTBUG-52580

Modified .pro file to following:

target.path = $$[QT_INSTALL_PLUGINS]/designer

creator_target.name = Copying the target dll to Qt Creator plugins directory as well
creator_target.input = $$qtLibraryTarget(WidgetBoxPlugin)
creator_target.path  = $$[QTCREATOR_BIN_PATH]/plugins/designer
creator_target.CONFIG += no_check_exist
creator_target.output = WidgetBoxPlugin.dll
creator_target.files =  $$[BUILDDIR]/WidgetBoxPlugin.dll
QMAKE_EXTRA_COMPILERS += creator_target

INSTALLS += target creator_target

Build output:

copy /y \WidgetBoxPlugin.dll \plugins\designer
Can't find specified file.

Think it is Qt Creator bug 3.6.1 - worked fine in previous versions. I see QTCREATOR_BIN_PATH variable is set, why it is not passed to qmake environment? Same for BUILDDIR

SGaist

Hi,

To retrieve environment variables, you need to use parenthesis not square brackets.

The square brackets are for properties set when Qt was built.

Aleksey_K

This post is deleted!

Aleksey_K

@SGaist works for QTCREATOR_BIN_PATH macro, thanks. Why square brackets works for target?

According to documentation (https://wiki.qt.io/QMake-top-level-srcdir-and-builddir) correct build dir macro is $$OUT_PWD, so correct installation code is:

target.path = $$[QT_INSTALL_PLUGINS]/designer

creator_target.name = Copying the target dll to Qt Creator plugins directory as well
creator_target.input = $qtLbraryTarget(WidgetBoxPlugin)
creator_target.path  = $$(QTCREATOR_BIN_PATH)/plugins/designer
creator_target.CONFIG += no_check_exist
creator_target.output = WidgetBoxPlugin.dll
creator_target.files = $$OUT_PWD/release/WidgetBoxPlugin.dll
QMAKE_EXTRA_COMPILERS += creator_target

INSTALLS += target creator_target

This works, thanks! Mark this as resolved!

P.S. Why engine of this forum sometimes eats 2nd dollar char $$?!

SGaist

Because QT_INSTALL_PLUGINS is defined at build time and is known to qmake.

As for the double $ problem, that's rather a question for the NodeBB folks