Bug in Qt Designer 4.4.3?

[wysota]

Actually, there are two questions at this point. The one about Designer is why doesn't it allow me to move the QDockWidget to a new docking area.

Because dock widgets are controlled by QMainWindow's layout. If you place a dock widget as a regular widget using the Designer, there is no layout to control it (even if you place it inside a QMainWindow).

Regarding the dock widget in the software I'm developing, as opposed to the Designer question, the dock widget is in the main window, not inside another widget. I actually am embedding an SoQtRenderArea inside the dock widget.

What is the exact question regarding this one?

[martinb0820]

Because dock widgets are controlled by QMainWindow's layout. If you place a dock widget as a regular widget using the Designer, there is no layout to control it (even if you place it inside a QMainWindow).

Dragging a dock widget from Designer's toolbox into one of the main window's docking areas turns the dock widget into a regular widget?

What is the exact question regarding this one?

I have a QDockWidget that was originally set for "allowedArea LeftDockWidgetArea" in Designer. I tried to reposition the dock widget to RightDockWidgetArea by checking Designer's check box for that docking area and unchecking the check box for the left dock area. However, Designer's "dockWidgetArea" (the properties field in Designer directly above the "docked" check box) remained set to LeftDockWidgetArea and the dock widget continues to dock in the left dock area.

This usually works, so my question is what about this particular .ui is preventing moving the dock widget to a new docking area. Is there something in the .ui file that Designer isn't showing me that needs to be edited (I looked and didn't see anything that appeared to be relevant), is there some combination of properties for the dock widget and/or main window that I have wrong or is this a bug in Designer?

[wysota]

Dragging a dock widget from Designer's toolbox into one of the main window's docking areas turns the dock widget into a regular widget?

Are you sure you are dragging it into a docking area? You are dropping the widget onto the main window's central widget, not the main window itself. Check the object hierarchy - the dock widget is child of the central widget, not the child of the main window itself, at least in my 4.4.3 Designer.

Only after you mark the "docked" property, the widget gets docked, but I'd say that the only thing that can be done with it.

This usually works, so my question is what about this particular .ui is preventing moving the dock widget to a new docking area. Is there something in the .ui file that Designer isn't showing me that needs to be edited (I looked and didn't see anything that appeared to be relevant), is there some combination of properties for the dock widget and/or main window that I have wrong or is this a bug in Designer?

There are many hacks in Designer. You might call their behaviour "bugs", I call them "lack of functionality". Try previewing - then you'll see the difference. You'll be able to dock the window into any of the selected dock areas without a problem. Actually my Designer allows to do what you ask for - drag to left dock, change "dockWidgetArea" to right and deselect left from allowed dock widget areas - the widgets stays at the right. If you make it float and dock it back again, it breaks by going back to the left but that's where you actually docked it, remember? Lack of functionality, I guess. But yeah, you may report it as a bug, just check if it wasn't fixed already in 4.5-beta1 or any of the recent snapshots.

I really would advise against placing dock widgets in Designer - don't clutter your view.

[martinb0820]

Are you sure you are dragging it into a docking area? You are dropping the widget onto the main window's central widget, not the main window itself. Check the object hierarchy - the dock widget is child of the central widget, not the child of the main window itself, at least in my 4.4.3 Designer.

Only after you mark the "docked" property, the widget gets docked, but I'd say that the only thing that can be done with it.

I didn't see your reply quoted above when I added mine about having found an answer. Having figured out how it works, I understand now what you mean about the dock widget being a child of the central widget. This does become clear looking at the object heirarchy in the Object Inspector.

Your earlier reply about child widgets got me thinking along the lines that led to a workable solution - thanks for your input!

Martin

[martinb0820]

I think I figured out the one about making the QDockWidget resize properly. I'll post the answer in another thread I started about resizing a QDockwidget. The Designer issue isn't holding me up, so I'm not going to pursue it at this point.