ROS with QtCreator: autocompletion - c++

Question

I'm using and like QtCreator to code and build my ROS projects written in c++.
Unfortunately the auto-completion for my own header files is not working: e.g. #include "LineTracker.hh"
Building the project works perfectly. And also the auto-completion for other external packages like ros or opencv is working.
Update 2.0: With QtCreator 3.6 the solution is not working
Update 1.0: Found a solution, see bottom!
Thats how my CMakeLists.txt looks:
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8.3)
project(line_tracking)
SET(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++11")
find_package(catkin REQUIRED COMPONENTS
roscpp
tf
sensor_msgs
image_transport
cv_bridge
)
catkin_package()
include_directories(
include
${catkin_INCLUDE_DIRS}
${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}
)
add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME}
src/line_tracking.cpp
src/EDLineDetector.cpp
src/LineTracker.cpp
)
target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME}
${catkin_LIBRARIES}
)
# --- QT CREATOR STUFF ---
#Add all files in subdirectories of the project in
# a dummy_target so qtcreator has access to all files
FILE(GLOB children ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/*)
FOREACH(child ${children})
IF(IS_DIRECTORY ${child})
file(GLOB_RECURSE dir_files "${child}/*")
LIST(APPEND extra_files ${dir_files})
ENDIF()
ENDFOREACH()
add_custom_target(dummy_${PROJECT_NAME} SOURCES ${extra_files})
#
The file/package structure looks standard like this:
CMakeLists.txt
|
+ -- src
|
+ -- include
How do I have to adapt my CMakeLists.txt that QtCreator finds my headers for autocompletion?
Thank you very much for your help!
Sidenote:
When I use the top CMakeLists.txt file of the catkin workspace in QtCeator and I include the header files under their package path like this: #include <packageName/include/headerFile.h> the auto-completion is working but the build is not working anymore. So this is only a bad and not userfriendly hack to get auto-completion during coding.
Update 1.0:
I found a solution which is working:
I create a library from all the (class) files which have header files, and link the library to the main file, instead of adding the files as executables. I posted it here as answer.
But I don't know why it is working like this and not without the way over the library. Any explanations?
Update 2.0:
I just upgraded to QtCreator 3.6 and there my solution with the library in not working anymore.
Does anybody know another solution?!

Answer 1

Update: This solution does NOT work with QtCreator 3.6
I found a solution to my own question. Not so much fun, but anyway, I spent a lot of time with that issue so here the solution, which is hopefully useful for others:
Auto-completion with CMakeLists.txt in QtCreator 3.5.1 for your own classes:
Create a library with all your classes: ADD_LIBRARY(myFilesLib src/class1.cpp ...)
Add your executable (main function): add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME} src/main.cpp)
Link your library to your executable: target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME} myFilesLib)
With this way over the library, auto-completion is working in QtCreator!
For ROS (catkin) don't forget to link the ${catkin_LIBRARIES}.
Here the whole CMakeLists.txt:
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8.3)
project(example_project)
SET(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++11")
find_package(catkin REQUIRED COMPONENTS
roscpp
)
catkin_package()
include_directories(
include
${catkin_INCLUDE_DIRS}
${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}
)
# Create a library with all your classes
add_library(myFilesLib
src/class1.cpp
src/class2.cpp
src/class3.cpp
)
target_link_libraries(myFilesLib
${catkin_LIBRARIES}
)
# add your executable
add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME}
src/main.cpp
)
# link the library with your classes to the executable
target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME}
${catkin_LIBRARIES}
myFilesLib
)
I don't know why it is working only with the way over the library but it is working. Maybe somebody has an explanation?!

Answer 2

This is really annoying. Finally I figured out a solution, that works at Qt Creator 4.1.0, and probably works at other versions.
Write your include_directories correctly, so that compilation is OK.
Below the include_directories, add the following line. Note that the sequence matters, the following line must locate below the include_directories.
file(GLOB_RECURSE HEADERS */*.hpp */*.h)
Add ${HEADERS} # for qtcreator... in one of your add_executable. like:
add_executable(slam_pp_node
${HEADERS} # for qtcreator...
src/***.cpp
)
The above should be enough to solve the autocompletion problem. If not, add the following lines at the end of your CMakeList.txt:
file(GLOB_RECURSE EXTRA_FILES */*)
add_custom_target(${PROJECT_NAME}_OTHER_FILES ALL WORKING_DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR} SOURCES ${EXTRA_FILES})
Good luck!