using qt for gui development brad whitlock march 2002

Using Qt for GUI developmentUsing Qt for GUI development

Brad WhitlockBrad WhitlockMarch 2002March 2002

OutlineOutline

GUI toolkitsGUI toolkits What is Qt?What is Qt? Qt FeaturesQt Features Signals and slotsSignals and slots ExamplesExamples

– Creating a custom widgetCreating a custom widget– NetworkingNetworking

What makes a good What makes a good GUI Toolkit?GUI Toolkit? Implementation languageImplementation language Easy to programEasy to program

– Consistent interfaceConsistent interface– Little code for large resultsLittle code for large results

Excellent documentationExcellent documentation Availability of tools for code Availability of tools for code

generationgeneration PortabilityPortability Easy to extendEasy to extend

Some GUI ToolkitsSome GUI Toolkits

QtQt– Written in C++Written in C++– Qt programs are portableQt programs are portable– Object oriented. Allows your window to be encapsulated into a real C++ classObject oriented. Allows your window to be encapsulated into a real C++ class– Easy to hand codeEasy to hand code

GTKGTK– Written in CWritten in C– GTK programs are mostly limited to UNIX though GTK does exist on other platformsGTK programs are mostly limited to UNIX though GTK does exist on other platforms– Not object orientedNot object oriented

MotifMotif– Written in CWritten in C– Motif programs are limited to UNIXMotif programs are limited to UNIX– Not object orientedNot object oriented– Difficult to hand codeDifficult to hand code

MFCMFC– MFC programs are limited to WindowsMFC programs are limited to Windows

Qt BackgroundQt Background

Created and maintained by Created and maintained by Trolltech since 1995Trolltech since 1995

Now on version 3.0.2Now on version 3.0.2 Foundation of KDE a popular Foundation of KDE a popular

Linux desktop environmentLinux desktop environment

Qt is a C++ toolkit for cross-platform GUI and application development. It . It lets application developers target all lets application developers target all major operating systems with a single major operating systems with a single application source code.application source code.

Supported platformsSupported platforms– UNIXUNIX– MS Windows 9x/NT/2000/XPMS Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP– Mac OS XMac OS X– Embedded (PDA’s)Embedded (PDA’s)

What is Qt?

FeaturesFeatures

Fully object-orientedFully object-oriented Consistent interfacesConsistent interfaces Rich set of widgets (controls)Rich set of widgets (controls)

– Have native look and feelHave native look and feel– Drag and dropDrag and drop– Customizable appearanceCustomizable appearance

Utility classesUtility classes OpenGL supportOpenGL support Network supportNetwork support Database supportDatabase support Plugin supportPlugin support Unicode/Internationalization supportUnicode/Internationalization support GUI builderGUI builder

Utility classesUtility classes

This is a sample of the dozens of utility This is a sample of the dozens of utility classes provided by Qt.classes provided by Qt.

ContainersContainers– QString – String classQString – String class– QList – Template List classQList – Template List class– QMap – Template map classQMap – Template map class

ProgramProgram– QThread – Platform independent threadsQThread – Platform independent threads– QProcess – Launches processes and communicates with QProcess – Launches processes and communicates with

themthem

XMLXML– QXmlSimpleReader – Simple XML readerQXmlSimpleReader – Simple XML reader

WidgetsWidgets

A widget is a user interface component A widget is a user interface component such as a button or a scroll-barsuch as a button or a scroll-bar

Reusable!Reusable! Well defined interface Well defined interface Uses C++ inheritanceUses C++ inheritance All widgets derive from a common baseAll widgets derive from a common base Widgets may contain other widgetsWidgets may contain other widgets Custom widgets can be created from existing widgets Custom widgets can be created from existing widgets

or they can be created from scratchor they can be created from scratch

Qt Built-in WidgetsQt Built-in Widgets

Qt Built-in dialogsQt Built-in dialogs

File dialogFile dialog Font dialogFont dialog Color dialogColor dialog Printer dialogPrinter dialog

OpenGL SupportOpenGL Support

QGLWidgetQGLWidget Subclass of QWidget so it Subclass of QWidget so it

behaves like any other QWidgetbehaves like any other QWidget Gives you access to the OpenGL Gives you access to the OpenGL

contextcontext Can make raw OpenGL function Can make raw OpenGL function

callscalls

Network supportNetwork support

Remote files accessed using the FTP Remote files accessed using the FTP and HTTP protocolsand HTTP protocols

New protocols can be implemented by New protocols can be implemented by subclassing QNetworkProtocolsubclassing QNetworkProtocol

Inter-process communication and Inter-process communication and socket-based TCP and UDP networking socket-based TCP and UDP networking are also fully supportedare also fully supported

QSocket and QServerSocket provide QSocket and QServerSocket provide socket communicationsocket communication

Database supportDatabase support

Cross platform Cross platform interface for interface for accessing SQL accessing SQL databasesdatabases

Supported DatabasesSupported Databases– OracleOracle– Microsoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL Server– Sybase Adaptive ServerSybase Adaptive Server– PostgreSQLPostgreSQL– MySQLMySQL– ODBCODBC

Any Qt widget can be Any Qt widget can be made data awaremade data aware

SQL module fully SQL module fully integrated into integrated into Qt designerQt designer

Plugin supportPlugin support

Style pluginsStyle plugins Image readers/writersImage readers/writers Widget pluginsWidget plugins Netscape pluginsNetscape plugins

Unicode/InternationalizationUnicode/Internationalization

Programmer can freely Programmer can freely mix any language mix any language supported by Unicodesupported by Unicode

Includes tools to support Includes tools to support application translationapplication translation– Qt LinguistQt Linguist

Can identify strings that Can identify strings that need translation in the need translation in the source code using tr()source code using tr()– Button-Button-

>setText(tr(“Save”));>setText(tr(“Save”));

Qt DesignerQt Designer

Written using Qt Written using Qt so it is available so it is available on all platforms on all platforms where Qt is where Qt is availableavailable

Used to speed Used to speed design of Qt design of Qt applicationsapplications

Supports all Qt Supports all Qt widgets and can widgets and can be used to be used to incorporate incorporate custom widgetscustom widgets

Hello World!Hello World!

#include <qapplication.h>#include <qapplication.h>

#include <qlabel.h>#include <qlabel.h>

intint main( main(intint argc, argc, charchar *argv[]) *argv[])

{{

// Create an application object// Create an application object

QApplication *app = QApplication *app = newnew QApplication(argc, QApplication(argc, argv);argv);

// Create a label// Create a label

QLabel *label = QLabel *label = newnew QLabel(“Hello World!”, QLabel(“Hello World!”, 0, “label”);0, “label”);

app->setMainWidget(label);app->setMainWidget(label);

// Show the label and enter the main loop// Show the label and enter the main loop

label->show();label->show();

int int ret =ret = app->exec();app->exec();

// Clean up omitted// Clean up omitted

return ret;return ret;

}}

QApplicationQApplication Manages widget style, Manages widget style,

colors, global colors, global preferencespreferences

Operates main event Operates main event loop and dispatches loop and dispatches events to other events to other objectsobjects

Using LayoutsUsing Layouts

Layouts should be used to manage Layouts should be used to manage widget position and resize behaviorwidget position and resize behavior

Layout typesLayout types– HorizontalHorizontal– VerticalVertical– GridGrid

Layouts can be nestedLayouts can be nested User can control layout spacing, User can control layout spacing,

stretch, and strutstretch, and strut

Signals and SlotsSignals and Slots

Facilitates inter-object communicationFacilitates inter-object communication Replaces callback mechanism found in older Replaces callback mechanism found in older

toolkitstoolkits Type safe since arguments for signal must Type safe since arguments for signal must

match arguments slotmatch arguments slot Objects don’t have to care about other Objects don’t have to care about other

objects.objects. Can be overloaded or re-implemented in Can be overloaded or re-implemented in

subclassessubclasses Signals can be connected to multiple slots or Signals can be connected to multiple slots or

other signalsother signals

Signals and Slots 2Signals and Slots 2

An object emits a signal with a certain An object emits a signal with a certain prototypeprototype

Other objects may be connected to that Other objects may be connected to that object’s signalobject’s signal– connectconnect(button, (button, SIGNALSIGNAL(clicked()), qApp, (clicked()), qApp, SLOTSLOT(quit()));(quit()));

The slot functions for all the connected The slot functions for all the connected objects are calledobjects are called

Signals and Slots 3Signals and Slots 3

ExampleExample

classclass BankAccount : BankAccount : publicpublic QObject QObject{{ Q_OBJECTQ_OBJECTPublicPublic:: BankAccount() { curBalance = 0; }BankAccount() { curBalance = 0; } intint balance() balance() constconst { { returnreturn curBalance; } curBalance; }signalssignals:: voidvoid balanceChanged( balanceChanged(intint newBalance); newBalance);publicpublic slotsslots:: voidvoid setBalance( setBalance(intint newBalance) { newBalance) { ifif(curBalance != newBalance) {(curBalance != newBalance) { curBalance = newBalance;curBalance = newBalance; emitemit balanceChanged(curBalance); balanceChanged(curBalance); }} }}privateprivate:: intint curBalance; curBalance;}; };

UsageUsage

// Create 2 accounts that have zero balance// Create 2 accounts that have zero balanceBankAccount x, y;BankAccount x, y;

// Connect account x to account y so that // Connect account x to account y so that // whenever it gets money, account y gets// whenever it gets money, account y gets// the same amount.// the same amount.connectconnect(&x, (&x, SIGNALSIGNAL(balanceChanged(int)),(balanceChanged(int)), &y, &y, SLOTSLOT(setBalance(int)));(setBalance(int)));

// Set the balance for account x// Set the balance for account xx.setBalance(2450);x.setBalance(2450);

// Account y also now has $2450// Account y also now has $2450

Building classes that have Building classes that have signals and slotssignals and slots

Class definition must contain Class definition must contain Q_OBJECTQ_OBJECT macro macro Slots are defined with Slots are defined with slotsslots “keyword” “keyword”

– Can be declared public, protected, privateCan be declared public, protected, private Signals are declared with Signals are declared with signalssignals “keyword” “keyword”

– Qt provides the body for a signal functionQt provides the body for a signal function MOC preprocessorMOC preprocessor

– Reads class header file and creates supplementary C++ Reads class header file and creates supplementary C++ code to support signals/slotscode to support signals/slots

– All header files for classes defining signals/slots need to All header files for classes defining signals/slots need to use MOCuse MOC

– Easily incorporated into Make rulesEasily incorporated into Make rules– Transparent to userTransparent to user

Creating a custom Creating a custom widgetwidget

Derive from the Derive from the base classbase class– Provide all relevant Provide all relevant

behavior by overriding behavior by overriding or adding member or adding member functionsfunctions

Derive from an Derive from an existing classexisting class– Customize behavior Customize behavior

by overriding by overriding member functionsmember functions

Simple custom widgetSimple custom widget

#ifndef SIMPLE_H#ifndef SIMPLE_H#define SIMPLE_H#define SIMPLE_H#include <qwidget.h>#include <qwidget.h>#include <qtimer.h>#include <qtimer.h>#include <qpainter.h>#include <qpainter.h>#include <qpointarray.h>#include <qpointarray.h>

classclass Simple : Simple : publicpublic QWidget QWidget{{ Q_OBJECTQ_OBJECTpublicpublic:: Simple(QWidget *parent, Simple(QWidget *parent, const charconst char

*name) : QWidget(parent, name), *name) : QWidget(parent, name), shape(4)shape(4)

{{ angle = 0.;angle = 0.; timer = timer = newnew QTimer( QTimer(thisthis,"timer");,"timer"); connectconnect(timer, (timer, SIGNALSIGNAL(timeout()),(timeout()), thisthis, , SLOTSLOT(rotateAngle()));(rotateAngle())); shape.setPoint(0, QPoint(-50, -50));shape.setPoint(0, QPoint(-50, -50)); shape.setPoint(1, QPoint(50, -50));shape.setPoint(1, QPoint(50, -50)); shape.setPoint(2, QPoint(50, 50));shape.setPoint(2, QPoint(50, 50)); shape.setPoint(3, QPoint(-50, 50));shape.setPoint(3, QPoint(-50, 50)); setMinimumSize(200,200);setMinimumSize(200,200); }}

virtualvirtual ~Simple() { timer->stop(); }; ~Simple() { timer->stop(); }; virtualvirtual QSize sizeHint() { QSize sizeHint() { returnreturn

QSize(200,200); };QSize(200,200); };

publicpublic slotsslots:: virtual voidvirtual void show() { timer->start(50); QWidget::show(); } show() { timer->start(50); QWidget::show(); } virtual voidvirtual void hide() { timer->stop(); QWidget::hide(); } hide() { timer->stop(); QWidget::hide(); }protectedprotected:: virtual voidvirtual void paintEvent(QPaintEvent *pe) { paintEvent(QPaintEvent *pe) { QPainter paint(QPainter paint(thisthis);); paint.setBrush(QColor(0,0,255));paint.setBrush(QColor(0,0,255)); QWMatrix m1; m1.rotate(-angle);QWMatrix m1; m1.rotate(-angle); QWMatrix m2; m2.translate(width()/2,height()/2);QWMatrix m2; m2.translate(width()/2,height()/2); QWMatrix m3 = m1*m2;QWMatrix m3 = m1*m2; paint.setWorldMatrix(m3, TRUE);paint.setWorldMatrix(m3, TRUE); paint.drawPolygon(shape);paint.drawPolygon(shape); }}privateprivate slotsslots:: voidvoid rotateAngle() { rotateAngle() { angle += 3.;angle += 3.; ifif(angle >= 360.) angle -= 360.;(angle >= 360.) angle -= 360.; update();update(); }}privateprivate:: QTimer *timer;QTimer *timer; double angle;double angle; QPointArray shape;QPointArray shape;};};#endif#endif

Simple custom widget Simple custom widget 22#include <Simple.h>#include <Simple.h>#include <qapplication.h>#include <qapplication.h>#include <qvbox.h>#include <qvbox.h>#include <qpushbutton.h>#include <qpushbutton.h>

intintmain(main(intint argc, argc, charchar *argv[]) *argv[]){{ QApplication *app = QApplication *app = newnew QApplication(argc, argv); QApplication(argc, argv); QVBox *top = QVBox *top = newnew QVBox; QVBox; app->setMainWidget(top);app->setMainWidget(top);

Simple *s = Simple *s = newnew Simple(top, "simple"); Simple(top, "simple"); QPushButton *btn = QPushButton *btn = newnew QPushButton("Quit", top, QPushButton("Quit", top,

"btn");"btn"); app->app->connectconnect(btn, (btn, SIGNALSIGNAL(clicked()),(clicked()), qApp, qApp, SLOTSLOT(quit()));(quit()));

top->show();top->show();

intint ret = app->exec(); ret = app->exec(); deletedelete top; top; deletedelete app; app;

returnreturn ret; ret;}}

Simple networking Simple networking exampleexampleClassClass MessagePrinter : MessagePrinter : publicpublic QObject QObject{{ Q_OBJECTQ_OBJECTPublicPublic:: MessagePrinter(MessagePrinter(constconst QString &host, QString &host, intint port) : QObject() port) : QObject() {{ // Create a new socket and connect to a port.// Create a new socket and connect to a port. S = S = newnew QSocket( QSocket(thisthis);); connectconnect(S, (S, SIGNALSIGNAL(readyRead()),(readyRead()), thisthis, , SLOTSLOT(readMessage()));(readMessage())); S->connectToHost(host, port);S->connectToHost(host, port); }}

virtualvirtual ~MessagePrinter() { S->close(); }; ~MessagePrinter() { S->close(); };PrivatePrivate slotsslots:: voidvoid readMessage() readMessage() {{ if(S->canReadLine())if(S->canReadLine()) {{ qDebug(“MSG=%s”, S->readLine().latin1());qDebug(“MSG=%s”, S->readLine().latin1()); S->close();S->close(); }} }}PrivatePrivate:: QSocket *S;QSocket *S;};};

VisItVisIt

Developed here Developed here at LLNLat LLNL

Uses Qt 2.3 or Uses Qt 2.3 or greatergreater

Hand coded Hand coded windowswindows

Custom widgetsCustom widgets OpenGLOpenGL Uses some Qt Uses some Qt

networking networking codecode

Qt licensingQt licensing

Qt Free EditionQt Free Edition– For UNIX/X11For UNIX/X11– Version 2.2 and laterVersion 2.2 and later– Open source license QPL and GPLOpen source license QPL and GPL– May be freely copied and distributedMay be freely copied and distributed– Binaries may be redistributedBinaries may be redistributed

Users creating closed source projects Users creating closed source projects must purchase a development license must purchase a development license from Trolltechfrom Trolltech

Where to find QtWhere to find Qt

On the WebOn the Web– http://www.trolltech.comhttp://www.trolltech.com

On LC computersOn LC computers– /usr/gapps/visit/qt/current/<platform>//usr/gapps/visit/qt/current/<platform>/