Reference in C++ classes - c++

Question

I'm new to programming. I can not understand how to make a reference to the methods of another class.
I have several files and classes:
main.cpp
#include "mainwindow.h"
#include <QApplication>
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
QApplication app(argc, argv);
MainWindow w;
w.show();
return app.exec();
}
mainwindow.h
#ifndef MAINWINDOW_H
#define MAINWINDOW_H
#include <QtCore/QtGlobal>
#include <QMainWindow>
QT_BEGIN_NAMESPACE
namespace Ui {
class MainWindow;
}
QT_END_NAMESPACE
class Valve;
class MainWindow : public QMainWindow
{
Q_OBJECT
public:
explicit MainWindow(QWidget *parent = 0);
~MainWindow();
private:
void openValve(int id);
void closeValve(int id);
private:
Ui::MainWindow *ui;
Settings *settings;
Valve *valve;
};
class A {
...
private:
void start();
}
#endif // MAINWINDOW_H
mainwindow.cpp
#include "mainwindow.h"
#include "ui_mainwindow.h"
MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent) :
QMainWindow(parent),
ui(new Ui::MainWindow)
{
ui->setupUi(this);
this->setWindowFlags(Qt::CustomizeWindowHint);
this->setFixedSize(this->geometry().width(),this->geometry().height());
//класс для 7 клапанов
valve = new Valve(7);
}
MainWindow::~MainWindow()
{
delete settings;
delete ui;
}
void MainWindow::valveSwitch(int id)
{
if (valve->getState(id))
closeValve(id);
else
openValve(id);
}
void MainWindow::openValve(int id)
{
QString str = "Valve №" + QString::number(id);
valveButton[id-1]->setEnabled(false);
if (valve->open(id)) {
valveButton[id-1]->setEnabled(true);
//valveButton[id-1]->setPalette(QPalette(Qt::green));
//valveButton[id-1]->setStyleSheet(VALVE_OPEN_COLOR);
QString style = QString(DEFAULT_STYLE_BUTTON) + QString(DEFAULT_BACKGROUND_BUTTON);
valveButton[id-1]->setStyleSheet(style);
ui->mainLabel->setText(str + " open! :)");
}
else {
valveButton[id-1]->setEnabled(true);
ui->mainLabel->setText("Cant open " + str);
remoteDisconnect();
}
}
void MainWindow::closeValve(int id)
{
QString str = "Valve №" + QString::number(id);
valveButton[id-1]->setEnabled(false);
if (valve->close(id)) {
valveButton[id-1]->setEnabled(true);
//valveButton[id-1]->setPalette(style()->standardPalette());
valveButton[id-1]->setStyleSheet("");
ui->mainLabel->setText(str + " close! :)");
}
else {
valveButton[id-1]->setEnabled(true);
ui->mainLabel->setText("Cant close " + str);
remoteDisconnect();
}
}
A::A
{
}
A::~A
{
}
void A::start()
{
//MainWindow::openValve(2);
//valve.open(3);
}
How do I access MainWindow class methods openValve/closeValve from class A?
Or how can I access an instance valve of a class Valve of MainWindow's constructor from class A?

Answer 1

//MainWindow::openValve(2);
//valve.open(3);
At very first:
openValve is not static, so you need an instance of MainWindow to be able to call it:
MainWindow* mw_ex0;
// alternatively, if more appropriate:
MainWindow& mw_ex1;
mw_ex0->openValve(2);
mw_ex1.openValve(2);
The MainWindow instance could be a parameter of your function start or a member variable of class A – depending on your concrete needs.
Same applies if you want to access the valve member (valve is a pointer, so you need operator->): mw_ex0->valve->open(3); or mw_ex1.valve->open(3);).
However, you need to grant class A access to those currently private members; three options:
Make A a friend class of MainWindow - this allows A to access MainWindow's private members (might apply for Valve class, too, if open is not public).
Make the appropriate functions public (MainWindow::openValve and Valve::open); to access the valve member of MainWindow, too, you could make it public, too, but it is in general not recommendable to make the internals of a class publicly available to the outside world - someone might simply change your valve member to something else - and your program is broken... So rather provide a simple getter for.
Make A an inner class of MainWindow. Then it gets access to its outer class members implicitly (depending on the requirements for class A, this might not be suitable – up to you to decide...).
Sidenotes:
In your constructor, you do not initialise the settings member.
You do not clean up the valve member in your destructor (potential memory leak).
To avoid having to clean up, you could to incorporate valve directly in your class - this is not always suitable, but might be a good option here (up to you to decide, just showing the alternative):
class MainWindow
{
Valve valve;
};
MainWindow::MainWindow()
: valve(7) // calls constructor directly
{ }
Be aware that you now do use operator. to access the valve's members (mw_ex0->valve.open(3);). Advantage is that Valve will no be automatically cleaned up together with MainWindow. Alternatively, a std::unique_ptr could be used to hold the pointer to your Valve instance, then you get automatic cleanup, too.

Answer 2

You should pass a MainWindow object into the A::start method:
class A {
...
private:
void start(MainWindow & w);
}
void A::start(MainWindow & w) {
w._MainWindow_method_name_here_();
}
Or you should declare a static method in MainWindow class:
class MainWindow : public QMainWindow
{
Q_OBJECT
public:
explicit MainWindow(QWidget *parent = 0);
~MainWindow();
static void aStaticMethod();
};
void MainWindow::aStaticMethod() {
...
}
void A::start() {
MainWindow::aStaticMethod();
}
To access protected/private methods of MainWindow you should declare the A class as a friend of MainWindow:
class MainWindow : public QMainWindow
{
friend class A;
...
};
Update
I create a new class for it to work in a separate thread, and call its methods from the main class (by clicking on the button). Accordingly, I need class A to open / close valves, etc.
The "true Qt way" is to use signals & slots mechanism.
class MainWindow : public QMainWindow
{
Q_OBJECT
public:
explicit MainWindow(QWidget *parent = 0);
~MainWindow();
// Transform open/closeValve methods into slots
// (a method that can be assigned as an event handler)
//
public slots:
void openValve(int id);
void closeValve(int id);
private:
Ui::MainWindow *ui;
Settings *settings;
Valve *valve;
};
// This class should be a descendant of QObject
//
class A : public QObject
{
Q_OBJECT
// Transform this method to a slot, so it can be called
// as regular method, or can be assigned as an event handler,
// for instance, as QPushButton::click handler.
//
public slots:
void start();
// Add signals
//
signals:
void openValveSignal(int id);
void closeValveSignal(int id);
}
void A::start()
{
// do something and then emit the signal to open valve,
// MainWindow::openValve(2) will be called
emit openValveSignal(2);
...
// do something and then emit the signal to close valve,
// MainWindow::closeValve(3) will be called
emit closeValveSignal(3);
}
// connects A signals with MainWindow slots,
// so when you `emit A::***Signal()` then corresponding
// `MainWindow::***` method will be called
//
void initialize(MainWindow * pWnd, A * pA)
{
QObject::connect(pA, &A::openValveSignal, pWnd, &MainWindow::openValve);
QObject::connect(pA, &A::closeValveSignal, pWnd, &MainWindow::closeValve);
}
You can call a->start() method from MainWindow methods as usual. Or you can connect button clicked signal with A::start method, for instance:
void initialize(MainWindow * pWnd, QAbstractButton * pBtn, A * pA)
{
// C++11 lambda function is used here because A::start has no arguments
QObject::connect(pBtn, &QAbstractButton::clicked, [pA](){ pA->start(); });
QObject::connect(pA, &A::openValveSignal, pWnd, &MainWindow::openValve);
QObject::connect(pA, &A::closeValveSignal, pWnd, &MainWindow::closeValve);
}
so when you click a button then A::start method will be called automatically. And then MainWindow::open/closeValve methods will be called from A::start method.

Answer 3

Declare openValve as public method and valve as public object (open must be public too)
Then use as:
MainWindow mainWindow;
mainWindow.openValve(2);
mainWindow.valve.open(3);