Qt4: connect slot and signal from other forms - c++

Question

I have a small problem. I want run function in MainWindow from AnotherWindow. I can't set connect() for it.
Main class: MainWindow
Other form: AnotherWindow
Function in main class: setVariable(QString)
Function in other form: btnClicked()
I have now connected button signal clicked():
// In AnotherWindow.cpp
connect(ui->btnOK, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(btnOkClicked()));
// Function in same file
void interfaceWindow::btnOkClicked() {
/* Some actions - emit signal? */
this->close();
}
btnOkClicked() are declared as private slot.
// In MainWindow.cpp
void MainWindow::setVariable(QString _var) {
this->var = _var;
}
setVariable(QString) are declared as public slot.
How I can send variable from AnotherForm (from btnOkClicked() function) to MainWindow (setVariable(QString) function) ? How and where I must send signal and make connection?
I readed about signals and slots, but my code don't work - I don't paste it here because it's terrible :)
Any help for Qt newbie?

Answer 1

You need to have an reference of AnotherWindow in MainWindow OR vice versa. Then you need the following things:
// AnotherWindow.h
signals:
void buttonOkClickedSignal(QString var);
// AnotherWindow.cpp
void interfaceWindow::btnOkClicked() {
emit buttonOkClickedSignal("The button got clicked!");
this->close();
}
Next step varies based on whether MainWindow has reference to AnotherWindow or vice versa. You can either:
// AnotherWindow.cpp
connect(this, SIGNAL(buttonOkClickedSignal(QString), &mainWindow, SLOT(setVariable(QString)));
or:
// MainWindow.cpp
connect(&anotherWindow, SIGNAL(buttonOkClickedSignal(QString), this, (SLOT(setVariable(QString)));
If you are invoking the slot through signal it shouldn't matter whether it's private or public (see Qt Documentation).
Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I'm not entirely sure I understand your question, but let me try.
You want to be able to fire a slot in another class. There are a few ways you can do that.
Declare one as a friend class to the other. Then they can see the protected and private variables/memebers
It is possible to make slots static so you can call them without a class object.
For example,
class MainWindow {
private slot:
void setVariable(QString);
}
class AnotherWindow {
friend class MainWindow;
MainWindow *window;
public:
AnotherWindow() {
connect(this, SIGNAL(fire(QString)), window, SLOT(setVariable(QString)));
}
signals:
void fire(QString);
public slots:
void onButtonClicked() {
emit fire(QString);
}
}
The previous is pseudocode so don't expect it to compile. I think this is what you want. Basically since your slot is private on MainWindow you need to make it a friend. To connect, it needs to be a member. Then when the onButtonClicked slot is evoked, then it fire()s the setVarialbe() slot.

Answer 3

Here is a simple code for your another window:
class MyWidget : public QWidget
{
Q_OBJECT
public:
MyWidget(QWidget * parent = 0)
{
okBtn = new QPushButton ("I am Ok!");
MyData = "";
connect(okBtn ,SIGNAL(clicked()),this,SLOT(OnOk()));
}
~MyWidget();
private:
QString MyData;
QPushButton * okBtn;
//something that modify string MyData
signals:
void MyDataSignal(QString);
//Internal slot that emits signal with proper data
private slots:
void OnOk()
{
if(MyData!="")
{
emit MyDataSignal(MyData);
}
}
};
Now in MainWindow create an object of MyWidget (suppose myWid)and connect it to slot
connect(myWid, SIGNAL(MyDataSignal(QString)),this,SLOT(OnMyWidOkClicked(QString)));
the signal will pass string to slot.
While making signals and slots keep in mind following points:
To connect a signal to a slot (or to another signal), they must have the same parameter
Parameters should be in the same order in both signal and slot.
if a signal has more parameters than the slot it is connected to, the additional parameters are simply ignored but opposite is not possible.
If you will connect a signal that have unmatched parameters to slot then no compile time error will occur but at run time command window will show a warning that signal/slot/connection does not exist.