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Forum Update on Monday, May 27th 2025

Why QDoc don't work, it's really confusing.

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  • S Stephen INF
    24 Apr 2019, 02:04

    Hi,I want to generate documentation with qdoc,and I tried as the qdoc guide told,I can get documentation,but it's not full,I don't know why,can anyone help?thanks.

    I tried both on:
    qt 5.11.3
    llvm 6.0.1
    windows 10

    and:
    qt 5.12.3
    llvm 6.0.1
    ubuntu 16.04

    but it's all the same.

    here is the code:

    project.qconconf

    headerdirs  = .
    sourcedirs  = .
    exampledirs = .
    imagedirs   = ./images
    
    sources.fileextensions = "*.cpp *.qdoc *.mm *.qml"
    headers.fileextensions = "*.h *.ch *.h++ *.hh *.hpp *.hxx"
    examples.fileextensions = "*.cpp *.h *.js *.xq *.svg *.xml *.ui *.qhp *.qhcp *.qml"
    examples.imageextensions = "*.png *.jpeg *.jpg *.gif *.mng"
    
    outputdir   = html
    outputformats = HTML
    

    mainwindow.cpp

    /*!
     * \class MainWindow
     * \brief mainwindow for ui .
     */
    
    /*!
      constructor
     */
    MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent) :
        QMainWindow(parent),
        ui(new Ui::MainWindow)
    {
        ui->setupUi(this);
    }
    
    /*!
      destructor
     */
    MainWindow::~MainWindow()
    {
        delete ui;
    }
    
    /*!
      function test
     */
    bool MainWindow::test() const
    {
        return test_;
    }
    
    /*!
      function setTest
     */
    void MainWindow::setTest(bool test)
    {
        test_ = test;
    }
    

    After I execute command "qdoc proect.qdocconf",warning as follows:
    .../mainwindow.cpp:4: (qdoc) warning: Class MainWindow has no \inmodule command; using project name by default:
    .../mainwindow.cpp:9: (qdoc) warning: Cannot tie this documentation to anything
    [I found a /*! ... */ comment, but there was no topic command (e.g., '\fn', '\page') in the comment and no function definition following the comment.]

    what I got:
    two file: ".index" and "mainwindow.html"

    "mainwindow.html":
    MainWindow
    Contents
    Detailed Description
    MainWindow Class
    mainwindow for ui interface. More...

    Detailed Description
    mainwindow for ui interface.

    Seems like it can't get any other info except "\class".

    Any suggestion would be appreciated.

    R Offline
    R Offline
    raven-worx
    Moderators
    wrote on 24 Apr 2019, 18:14 last edited by raven-worx
    #2

    @Stephen-INF said in Why QDoc don't work ,It's really confusing.:

    I can get documentation,but it's not full

    you do not document any proeprties, methods, signals, etc.

    /*!
      function test
     */
    

    This is not a valid qdoc command. You should use \fn for example here.
    https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/13-qdoc-commands-topics.html

    --- SUPPORT REQUESTS VIA CHAT WILL BE IGNORED ---
    If you have a question please use the forum so others can benefit from the solution in the future

    S 2 Replies Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 02:31
    3
    • R raven-worx
      24 Apr 2019, 18:14

      @Stephen-INF said in Why QDoc don't work ,It's really confusing.:

      I can get documentation,but it's not full

      you do not document any proeprties, methods, signals, etc.

      /*!
        function test
       */
      

      This is not a valid qdoc command. You should use \fn for example here.
      https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/13-qdoc-commands-topics.html

      S Offline
      S Offline
      Stephen INF
      wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 02:31 last edited by
      #3

      @raven-worx
      Thank you,but I have tried this and received warning:

      warning: clang found diagnostics parsing \fn MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent)
          error: use of undeclared identifier 'MainWindow'
          error: unknown type name 'QWidget'
      

      Besides,in here https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qtwritingstyle-cpp.html,I saw
      "Typically, function documentation immediately precedes the implementation of the function in the .cpp file. For function documentation that is not immediately above the implementation, the \fn is needed."
      And I also referenced the comment format of Qt source code,there is no "\fn" topic command,if the comment is above the function implementation.
      Still don't know how to do this,is there any details I miss?

      J 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 04:46
      0
      • S Stephen INF
        25 Apr 2019, 02:31

        @raven-worx
        Thank you,but I have tried this and received warning:

        warning: clang found diagnostics parsing \fn MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent)
            error: use of undeclared identifier 'MainWindow'
            error: unknown type name 'QWidget'
        

        Besides,in here https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qtwritingstyle-cpp.html,I saw
        "Typically, function documentation immediately precedes the implementation of the function in the .cpp file. For function documentation that is not immediately above the implementation, the \fn is needed."
        And I also referenced the comment format of Qt source code,there is no "\fn" topic command,if the comment is above the function implementation.
        Still don't know how to do this,is there any details I miss?

        J Offline
        J Offline
        jsulm
        Lifetime Qt Champion
        wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 04:46 last edited by
        #4

        @Stephen-INF said in Why QDoc don't work, it's really confusing.:

        warning: clang found diagnostics parsing \fn MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent)
        error: use of undeclared identifier 'MainWindow'
        error: unknown type name 'QWidget'

        Can you show how you use \fn? It should be part of the doc comment.

        https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct

        S 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 09:37
        0
        • J jsulm
          25 Apr 2019, 04:46

          @Stephen-INF said in Why QDoc don't work, it's really confusing.:

          warning: clang found diagnostics parsing \fn MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent)
          error: use of undeclared identifier 'MainWindow'
          error: unknown type name 'QWidget'

          Can you show how you use \fn? It should be part of the doc comment.

          S Offline
          S Offline
          Stephen INF
          wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 09:37 last edited by
          #5

          @jsulm
          Thank you for you help,here is my test code

          /*!
            \fn MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent)
          
           Constructor Mainwindow
           */
          MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent) :
              QMainWindow(parent),
              ui(new Ui::MainWindow)
          {
              ui->setupUi(this);
          }
          

          But I think the issue might be related to "error: use of undeclared identifier 'MainWindow' ".

          J 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 10:39
          0
          • S Stephen INF
            25 Apr 2019, 09:37

            @jsulm
            Thank you for you help,here is my test code

            /*!
              \fn MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent)
            
             Constructor Mainwindow
             */
            MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent) :
                QMainWindow(parent),
                ui(new Ui::MainWindow)
            {
                ui->setupUi(this);
            }
            

            But I think the issue might be related to "error: use of undeclared identifier 'MainWindow' ".

            J Offline
            J Offline
            jsulm
            Lifetime Qt Champion
            wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 10:39 last edited by
            #6

            @Stephen-INF This error comes from CLang code model. I guess it does not understand this QDoc syntax.

            https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct

            S 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 11:49
            0
            • J jsulm
              25 Apr 2019, 10:39

              @Stephen-INF This error comes from CLang code model. I guess it does not understand this QDoc syntax.

              S Offline
              S Offline
              Stephen INF
              wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 11:49 last edited by
              #7

              @jsulm
              But isn't QDoc a usable tool?Comparing the comments in Qt source code and official document,it seems QDoc is used.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • R raven-worx
                24 Apr 2019, 18:14

                @Stephen-INF said in Why QDoc don't work ,It's really confusing.:

                I can get documentation,but it's not full

                you do not document any proeprties, methods, signals, etc.

                /*!
                  function test
                 */
                

                This is not a valid qdoc command. You should use \fn for example here.
                https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/13-qdoc-commands-topics.html

                S Offline
                S Offline
                Stephen INF
                wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 12:00 last edited by
                #8

                @raven-worx
                Hi,I really want to try Qdoc,and I have spent many hours,still don't know where I am doing wrong.If QDoc is usable for you,can you give me an example,thanks a lot.

                R 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 12:02
                0
                • S Stephen INF
                  25 Apr 2019, 12:00

                  @raven-worx
                  Hi,I really want to try Qdoc,and I have spent many hours,still don't know where I am doing wrong.If QDoc is usable for you,can you give me an example,thanks a lot.

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  raven-worx
                  Moderators
                  wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 12:02 last edited by
                  #9

                  @Stephen-INF
                  in the end we are talking about a CLANG warning. This shouldn't influence QDoc though.
                  QDoc should output something meaningful in the meantime or?

                  --- SUPPORT REQUESTS VIA CHAT WILL BE IGNORED ---
                  If you have a question please use the forum so others can benefit from the solution in the future

                  S 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 12:18
                  2
                  • mrjjM Offline
                    mrjjM Offline
                    mrjj
                    Lifetime Qt Champion
                    wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 12:07 last edited by
                    #10

                    Hi
                    Maybe try a simple sample and see ?
                    https://retifrav.github.io/blog/2017/05/24/documenting-qt-project-with-qdoc/

                    S 2 Replies Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 12:28
                    1
                    • R raven-worx
                      25 Apr 2019, 12:02

                      @Stephen-INF
                      in the end we are talking about a CLANG warning. This shouldn't influence QDoc though.
                      QDoc should output something meaningful in the meantime or?

                      S Offline
                      S Offline
                      Stephen INF
                      wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 12:18 last edited by
                      #11

                      @raven-worx
                      But all output is above.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • mrjjM mrjj
                        25 Apr 2019, 12:07

                        Hi
                        Maybe try a simple sample and see ?
                        https://retifrav.github.io/blog/2017/05/24/documenting-qt-project-with-qdoc/

                        S Offline
                        S Offline
                        Stephen INF
                        wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 12:28 last edited by
                        #12

                        @mrjj
                        Thanks a lot,I will try it now.(Sorry for reply late...)

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • mrjjM mrjj
                          25 Apr 2019, 12:07

                          Hi
                          Maybe try a simple sample and see ?
                          https://retifrav.github.io/blog/2017/05/24/documenting-qt-project-with-qdoc/

                          S Offline
                          S Offline
                          Stephen INF
                          wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 13:21 last edited by
                          #13

                          @mrjj
                          I tried,QDoc works well with qml ,but C++ Class still do not works.
                          I found generate documentation for qml only need one "source" file,but C++ class need both "source" and "header" file.
                          I guess there might be something wrong with header file ?So QDoc can't analyse source file as normal.

                          New C++ class "WidgetTest" added in project privided in the link.

                          header file:

                          #include <QWidget>
                          
                          class WidgetTest : public QWidget
                          {
                              Q_OBJECT
                          public:
                              explicit WidgetTest(QWidget *parent = nullptr);
                          };
                          

                          source file without "\fn":

                          /*!
                            \class WidgetTest
                            \brief WidgetTest for ui interface.
                            \inmodule module0
                          */
                          
                          /*!
                            WidgetTest::WidgetTest(QWidget *parent)
                          
                            constructor WidgetTest
                          */
                          WidgetTest::WidgetTest(QWidget *parent) : QWidget(parent)
                          {
                          
                          }
                          

                          output:

                          warning: Cannot tie this documentation to anything
                              [qdoc found a /*! ... */ comment, but there was no topic command (e.g., '\fn', '\page') in the comment and no function definition following the comment.]
                          

                          source file with "\fn":

                          /*!
                            \class WidgetTest
                            \brief WidgetTest for ui interface.
                            \inmodule module0
                          */
                          
                          /*!
                            \fn WidgetTest::WidgetTest(QWidget *parent)
                          
                            constructor WidgetTest
                          */
                          WidgetTest::WidgetTest(QWidget *parent) : QWidget(parent)
                          {
                          
                          }
                          

                          output:

                          warning: clang found diagnostics parsing \fn WidgetTest::WidgetTest(QWidget *parent)
                              error: use of undeclared identifier 'WidgetTest'
                              error: unknown type name 'QWidget'
                          

                          widgettest.html is same:
                          0_1556198443281_widgettest.png

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • mrjjM Offline
                            mrjjM Offline
                            mrjj
                            Lifetime Qt Champion
                            wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 13:38 last edited by mrjj
                            #14

                            Hi
                            Did you change config file to match ?
                            sample uses

                            headers.fileextensions = "*.hpp"
                            but often its actually just "*.h"
                            
                            S 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 13:49
                            0
                            • mrjjM mrjj
                              25 Apr 2019, 13:38

                              Hi
                              Did you change config file to match ?
                              sample uses

                              headers.fileextensions = "*.hpp"
                              but often its actually just "*.h"
                              
                              S Offline
                              S Offline
                              Stephen INF
                              wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 13:49 last edited by
                              #15

                              @mrjj
                              Yes,I changed that.

                              mrjjM 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 13:56
                              0
                              • S Stephen INF
                                25 Apr 2019, 13:49

                                @mrjj
                                Yes,I changed that.

                                mrjjM Offline
                                mrjjM Offline
                                mrjj
                                Lifetime Qt Champion
                                wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 13:56 last edited by
                                #16

                                @Stephen-INF
                                hmm odd. then
                                it seems clang have issue parsing the header
                                ( QDoc uses clang from Qt 5.11)

                                You did follow step to install it ?
                                https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qdoc-guide-clang.html

                                S 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 14:01
                                1
                                • mrjjM mrjj
                                  25 Apr 2019, 13:56

                                  @Stephen-INF
                                  hmm odd. then
                                  it seems clang have issue parsing the header
                                  ( QDoc uses clang from Qt 5.11)

                                  You did follow step to install it ?
                                  https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qdoc-guide-clang.html

                                  S Offline
                                  S Offline
                                  Stephen INF
                                  wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 14:01 last edited by
                                  #17

                                  @mrjj
                                  Yes,I did it
                                  installed LLVM6.0.1 and specify Clang location by "set LLVM_INSTALL_DIR=C:\Program Files\LLVM"

                                  mrjjM 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 14:21
                                  0
                                  • S Stephen INF
                                    25 Apr 2019, 14:01

                                    @mrjj
                                    Yes,I did it
                                    installed LLVM6.0.1 and specify Clang location by "set LLVM_INSTALL_DIR=C:\Program Files\LLVM"

                                    mrjjM Offline
                                    mrjjM Offline
                                    mrjj
                                    Lifetime Qt Champion
                                    wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 14:21 last edited by
                                    #18

                                    @Stephen-INF
                                    That seems pretty ok.
                                    However, since the other part of generation seems to work, then
                                    it must be something with clang and /fn
                                    But I cant guess what not right.

                                    S 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 14:51
                                    0
                                    • mrjjM mrjj
                                      25 Apr 2019, 14:21

                                      @Stephen-INF
                                      That seems pretty ok.
                                      However, since the other part of generation seems to work, then
                                      it must be something with clang and /fn
                                      But I cant guess what not right.

                                      S Offline
                                      S Offline
                                      Stephen INF
                                      wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 14:51 last edited by
                                      #19

                                      @mrjj
                                      Well,can you try to generate C++ documentation with QDoc if you are free?

                                      mrjjM 1 Reply Last reply 25 Apr 2019, 15:02
                                      0
                                      • S Stephen INF
                                        25 Apr 2019, 14:51

                                        @mrjj
                                        Well,can you try to generate C++ documentation with QDoc if you are free?

                                        mrjjM Offline
                                        mrjjM Offline
                                        mrjj
                                        Lifetime Qt Champion
                                        wrote on 25 Apr 2019, 15:02 last edited by
                                        #20

                                        @Stephen-INF
                                        I might :)

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • F Offline
                                          F Offline
                                          FrancoF
                                          wrote on 28 May 2019, 12:46 last edited by
                                          #21

                                          @mrjj
                                          Hi, I have a very simila problem.

                                          mrjjM 1 Reply Last reply 29 May 2019, 06:11
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