Populate C++ model from external source in Qt

[milan]

I need to populate c++ model from a external source (for example USB). I have registered the model in main.cpp like this,

qmlRegisterType<HardwareDataModel>("org.example", 1, 0, "HardwareDataModel");

I need to change the private member of this HardwareDataModel class from the external source. Because I would like to change the the private data member of this model and fire signal to qml to change the UI. I got stuck how to proceed as I do not know how to populate those private data members. Do I need to instatiate HardwareDataModel in main.cpp? If yes, how to connect the instatiated HardwareDataModel object and one that is qmlRegisteredType (one shown above).

[VRonin]

http://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qtquick-modelviewsdata-cppmodels.html#qabstractitemmodel-subclass

[milan]

I am asking how to update the data members of model class without instatiating.

[SGaist]

Hi and welcome to devnet,

Do you mean you want to modify your model without any object to work on ?

[milan]

@SGaist . Sorry I am new to Qt. Yes if possible. But my concern is, QML should not request data i.e QML will not fire signal to C++. Instead, C++ model when it is updated, and the function inside C++ should inform QML to update UI i.e C++ will fire signal to QML. Now, i have only registered the model in main.cpp as using qmlRegisterType only. Also I cannot update the model, unless I fire signal to C++ from QML(which I do not want, I want model to update itself).

[milan]

@SGaist . Also the C++ model updates itself in every few seconds.

[VRonin]

Please read the linked part above. It's exactly what you need. The dataChanged signal from the C++ model is what will update the QML view

[milan]

@VRonin . Thank you for your reply, but how to update the C++ model itself. Could you help.

[VRonin]

Take this example and add as the last line in People's constructor

QTimer::singleShot(2000,m_model,[this](){
m_model->setData(
    m_model->index(0,0),
    QVariant::fromValue(Person("Marie", "Curie", Date(1867,11,7))),
    Qt::EditRole);
});

Hope this helps

[milan]

@VRonin . Thanks for your reply. But it does not help. This example uses setData to update the model class. The values for setData function in the example comes from QML or hardcoded C++ itself. This is not what I am looking for.

[SGaist]

How are you using your model currently ?

Because from your description, it seems that you only register it. You don't create any instance of it, be it from QML or C++.

The documentation @VRonin linked to shows both technique.

If that still doesn't help you get further then show us the code you are using.

[milan]

@SGaist

// Main QML file
import QtQuick 2.5
import QtQuick.Window 2.2
import QtQuick.Controls 1.5
import QtQuick.Layouts 1.2
import QtQuick.Controls.Styles 1.4
import QtQuick.Extras 1.4

// imported module
import org.example 1.0

Window {
    visible: true
    width: 480
    height: 480
    
    // our Generator model
    HardwareDataModel{
        id: hwDataModel
    }
    Label {
        id: myLabel
        text: hwDataModel.varVal
        visible: true
    }
}

#include <QtGui>
#include <QtQml>
#include "hardwaredatamodel.h"

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    QGuiApplication app(argc, argv);
    qmlRegisterType<HardwareDataModel>("org.example", 1, 0, "HardwareDataModel");
    QQmlApplicationEngine engine;
    engine.load(QUrl(QStringLiteral("qrc:/ui/main.qml")));

#ifndef HARDWAREDATAMODEL_H
#define HARDWAREDATAMODEL_H

#include <QtCore>
#include <QtGui>
#include <QAbstractItemModel>

class HardwareDataModel: public QAbstractItemModel
{
    Q_OBJECT
    Q_PROPERTY(int hwValue READ hwValue WRITE setHwValue NOTIFY hwValueChanged)

public:
    explicit HardwareDataModel(QObject *parent = nullptr);

    // Header:
    QVariant headerData(int section, Qt::Orientation orientation, int role = Qt::DisplayRole) const override;

    // Basic functionality:
    QModelIndex index(int row, int column,
                      const QModelIndex &parent = QModelIndex()) const override;
    QModelIndex parent(const QModelIndex &index) const override;

    int rowCount(const QModelIndex &parent = QModelIndex()) const override;
    int columnCount(const QModelIndex &parent = QModelIndex()) const override;

    QVariant data(const QModelIndex &index, int role = Qt::DisplayRole) const override;
    int hwValue() const;

public slots:
    void setHwValue(int hwValue); // this is autogenerated from Q_PROPERTY,  not using it

signals:
    void hwValueChanged();

private:
    int m_hwValue; // this value will be updated in every few secs, from hw source. but I have no idea how to achieve this
};

#endif // HARDWAREDATAMODEL_H

#include "hardwaredatamodel.h"
#include "main.h"
#include <chrono>
#include <thread>

HardwareDataModel::HardwareDataModel(QObject *parent) : QAbstractItemModel(parent)
{
}

QVariant HardwareDataModel::headerData(int section, Qt::Orientation orientation, int role) const
{
    // FIXME: Implement me!
}

QModelIndex HardwareDataModel::index(int row, int column, const QModelIndex &parent) const
{
    // FIXME: Implement me!
}

QModelIndex HardwareDataModel::parent(const QModelIndex &index) const
{
    // FIXME: Implement me!
}

int HardwareDataModel::rowCount(const QModelIndex &parent) const
{
    if (!parent.isValid())
        return 0;

    // FIXME: Implement me!
}

int HardwareDataModel::columnCount(const QModelIndex &parent) const
{
    if (!parent.isValid())
        return 0;

    // FIXME: Implement me!
}

QVariant HardwareDataModel::data(const QModelIndex &index, int role) const
{
    if (!index.isValid())
        return QVariant();

    // FIXME: Implement me!
    return QVariant();
}

int HardwareDataModel::varVal() const
{
    return m_varVal;
}

void HardwareDataModel::setVarVal(int varVal)
{
     emit hwValueChanged();
}

[VRonin]

• You don't need to start from scratch with a QAbstractItemModel subclass. It's usually easier to just use QStandardItemModel and switch to the custom model only if you feel a need for performance reasons.
• To update the model whenever you want and with whatever data you want from the C++ side you just call QAbstractItemModel::setData
• As posted twice above, to control your model from the C++ side you need to instantiate the model in the c++ side (or have a factory on the C++ side). See the below from http://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qtquick-modelviewsdata-cppmodels.html#qabstractitemmodel-subclass

 AnimalModel model;
    model.addAnimal(Animal("Wolf", "Medium"));
    model.addAnimal(Animal("Polar bear", "Large"));
    model.addAnimal(Animal("Quoll", "Small"));

    QQuickView view;
    view.setResizeMode(QQuickView::SizeRootObjectToView);
    QQmlContext *ctxt = view.rootContext();
    ctxt->setContextProperty("myModel", &model);

[milan]

@VRonin . Like I have said before, calling setData function will only set the model data once or as long as it is called. I want to populate it automatically using some thread or some different method.

[VRonin]

I want to populate it automatically using some thread or some different method.

I get the feeling that I didn't really understand your needs. To me this is trivial: emit a signal from the different thread/method and connect it to a slot that calls QAbstractItemModel::setData.

[milan]

@VRonin. Sorry if I could not elaborate my problem enough. I am designing UI for which the backend data comes from the hardware connected to USB port. Now, I have console application that is continously requesting and sending data to/from the USB port (10 data per second). The console prints the data without problem. Next, I need to visualize those data using some GUI. I chose QT as backend data request is in C++. Looking at QT, I saw Model-view pattern is recommended for larger application. So, I tried smaller application with model, whose data-member will be updated from the data received from the USB port. I am thinking of some thread, but it is also not working. The received data has to be represented in the UI updating almost real-time if possible. I chose to update label just for testing, but it would be some different GUI in future. Please let me know my description is still not clear enough.

[VRonin]

The description perfectly fits the above model of data update.

[milan]

@VRonin. Thanks for your reply. I am using QQmlApplicationEngine instead of QQuickView. Can I use qmlRegisterType instead of setContextProperty from QQuickView. Still, I do not understand how can calling setData will solve this problem. It has to be called again and again.

[VRonin]

@milan said in Populate C++ model from external source in Qt:

Can I use qmlRegisterType instead of setContextProperty from QQuickView

No, you need the model instance to be accessible to the C++ side.

I am using QQmlApplicationEngine instead of QQuickView.

QQmlApplicationEngine inherits QQmlEngine so you can use applicationEngine->rootContext()->setContextProperty("myModel", &model);

I do not understand how can calling setData will solve this problem. It has to be called again and again.

Yes it has, something has to be called again and again to update it though, doesn't it?

[milan]

@VRonin. Thank you very much for your reply. I get error when I try to add this code

    QCoreApplication::setAttribute(Qt::AA_EnableHighDpiScaling);
    QGuiApplication app(argc, argv);
    HardwareDataModel hardwareDataModel;

    QQmlApplicationEngine* engine;
    engine->rootContext()->setContextProperty("HardwareDataModel", &hardwareDataModel);
    engine->load(QUrl(QStringLiteral("qrc:/main.qml")));

    if (engine->rootObjects().isEmpty())
        return -1;

    return app.exec();

When I build this, I get linker error LNK2019.

main.obj:-1: error: LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "public: __cdecl HardwareDataModel::HardwareDataModel(class QObject *)" (??HardwareDataModel@@QEAA@PEAVQObject@@@Z) referenced in function main

Please help.