Must include not only h files but cpp files when load a DLL using QPluginLoader

Hi there, I got some problem when using QPluginLoader.
1) Firstly, I wrote the interface named “tcpPlunginInterface.h”. The content:

Code:

---

#ifndef TCPPLUGININTERFACE_H
#define TCPPLUGININTERFACE_H
 
#include "tcpclient_os.h"
 
class tcpPluginInterface
{
public:
 
virtual tcpClient_Os* getPluginInst( VhostInfo hostInfo, CtcpOpt *tcpOpt, 
QObject *parent = 0) = 0;
};
 
QT_BEGIN_NAMESPACE
Q_DECLARE_INTERFACE(tcpPluginInterface,"ltcpOSDLL/1.0.0")  
QT_END_NAMESPACE
 
#endif // TCPPLUGININTERFACE_H

---

2) Secondly, I wrote a class called “ltcpOS”. The instance of this class contained a function “getPluginInst”, which would return a point type.
“ltcpOS.h”:

Code:

---

#ifndef LTCPOS_H
#define LTCPOS_H
 
#include <QObject>
#include <QtPlugin>
#include "tcpPluginInterface.h"
 
class ltcpOS : public QObject,tcpPluginInterface
{
    Q_OBJECT
    Q_INTERFACES(tcpPluginInterface)
public:
    ltcpOS();
    ~ltcpOS();
 
    tcpClient_Os* getPluginInst( VhostInfo hostInfo, CtcpOpt *tcpOpt,
 QObject *parent = 0);
//the “tcpClient_Os” is a self-defined class.
 
public:
    tcpClient_Os *os;
 
signals:
 
public slots:
 
};
 
#endif // LTCPOS_H

---

“ltcpos.cpp”:

Code:

---

#include "ltcpos.h"
 
ltcpOS::ltcpOS()
{
}
 
ltcpOS::~ltcpOS()
{
    os->deleteLater();
}
 
Q_EXPORT_PLUGIN2(ltcpOS,ltcpOS)
 
tcpClient_Os *ltcpOS::getPluginInst(VhostInfo hostInfo, CtcpOpt *tcpOpt, QObject *parent)
{
    os = new tcpClient_Os(hostInfo, tcpOpt);
    return os;
}

---

Then I compiled these file in release mode, and generated a “ltcpOS1.dll” DLL file. So I could load it and use it in other project.

The problem I encountered is, when I use a QPluginLoader to load the DLL, QT doesn’t know what the return value is. This is my code which loads the DLL:

Code:

---

QPluginLoader dllLoader("E:/QTProject/tcpClient3/ltcpOS1.dll");
 
    QObject *tcpObj = dllLoader.instance();
 
    if(!tcpObj)
    {
        qDebug() << dllLoader.errorString();
        return;
    }
 
    tcpPluginInterface *os_inst = qobject_cast<tcpPluginInterface*>(tcpObj);
 
    client = os_inst->getPluginInst(hostInfo, &ProtIOBuf);
 
    client->run();

---

I have included the header file such like “tcpClient_os.h”, and add “QT += network” to the *.pro file, but I still get the compile errors:
error:undefined reference to `tcpClient_Os::run()'
error:undefined reference to `tcpClient_Os::slot_stop()'
…..etc


But When I add the all the cpp files (such like tcpClient_os.cpp), which contains the all implement part, to the *.pro. It’s OK. I don’t want to add those cpp files because that made my DLL useless. I’m going to be insane about that problem, it bother me more than a week…Please,help.

If you include tcpClient_os.h then you also need to provide bodies of those methods. With plugins you should only include tcpPlunginInterface.h. Moreover on Windows you need to use Q_DECL_EXPORT in your plugin classes.

Thanks,wysota.
I will give it a try to see how it works...

Sorry,bro.
I tried it in many ways,and seemingly it just doesn't work...

Code:

---

class ltcpOS : public QObject,tcpPluginInterface

---

I'm not sure I am remembering my C++ correctly, but I believe that this declaration is the same as:

Code:

---

class ltcpOS : public QObject, private tcpPluginInterface

---

which you definitely do not want. It should be declared as:

Code:

---

class ltcpOS : public QObject, public tcpPluginInterface

---

and you need to do the other things Wysota said.

Sorry bro, it doesn't work...
For now I am concerning about my understanding of DLL. It package the Methods not the Specific system source. In the project, I tried line by line to figure out where the problem occurred. Now I found the procedure of loading a DLL is correct. the problem shows up when I try to use pointer "client" to call its member function(i.e. client->run(); ).the DLL would only return a pointer and it didn't "know" what is tcpClient_OS, without CPP files, the compiler didn't "know" it too...I guess the reason made me failed probably like in that way..