QtPDF not availabel on mac?

[artwaw]

Good afternoon,
I took it with great joy that Qt 5.15 introduced QtPdf module as a part of it, since I always had do compile it myself, sign, etc.

But after the install when I open the project having my usual

QT += pdf

all I get is

Project ERROR: Unknown module(s) in QT: pdf

My whole module list for this project is:

QT       += core gui network printsupport sql xml serialport

greaterThan(QT_MAJOR_VERSION, 4): QT += widgets

macx: {
QT +=  pdf 
}

I reinstalled the Qt even, framework files are present in the folder. I'd rather not try to overwrite them with manually compiled ones since it should work...
What do I missed?

Kind Regards
Artur Wawrowski

[J.Hilk]

@artwaw correct me if I'm wrong here, but from what I understand you have to buy the modul for the annual fee of 50$

https://marketplace.qt.io/collections/newest/products/qtpdf

It's not automatically part of the framework download, but it's listed under gpl3 so you should still be able to compile it yourself.

PS: Personally I think its a horrible idea to introduce paywall!

[artwaw]

@J-Hilk I am stunned, really.
But - the extension in question is QML oriented (at least that's what I see in requirements). I use widgets.
It's bad enough that I can't compile it myself under Windows (I use mingw), if they really expect me to pay for mac usage... Well, I'd rather keep compiling it myself.

[artwaw]

@J-Hilk I checked that QtCharts are now also a pricey addon - but sample project revealed that the module can be freely used under Open Source licence I have, both macOS and Windows. I don't get it. At all.

[J.Hilk]

@artwaw yep, not a fan either, the only thing it will lead to is a reduced user base -> less people who buy the license -> increased prices -> and the vicious cycle is in full motion.

Those are not the only 2 modules, I know for a fact that the QML TreeView component will be pay only as well (for Qt5 at least) a view that is missing for 4 years now, I think, the quick controls 2 one at least

[artwaw]

@J-Hilk I wholeheartedly agree with the direction it leads to as you described it.

But I still don't know why the QtPDF doesn't work for me - is it because of the "add on" (but then again Charts work!) or because I missed something.
For now I will just test if I can continue with manual compile process... Or try to use poppler or something (again, manual compile, feels like I am running linux in '90s). It's inconvenient, for not to use stronger phrase.

[SimonSchroeder]

@artwaw said in QtPDF not availabel on mac?:

I checked that QtCharts are now also a pricey addon

As far as I remember QtCharts has always been an add-on (or GPL). You really have to be careful with licenses. For commercial software you can use the LGPL-part of Qt. If you are using GPL-modules all your software needs to be under the GPL (meaning everyone who gets your software has also a right to get your source code). So, as long as your software is not GPL you cannot use either QtCharts or QtPDF. (Unless you pay for the commercial license.)

[artwaw]

@SimonSchroeder Thank you, I am aware of that.
My point is - assuming I am GPL user, which I am indeed - why is QtPDF not visible on Mac while QtCharts is?

[artwaw]

So according to all the sources I could find QtPDF is commercial OR GPL. So it should work yet my installation can't find it. I am puzzled now.

[Bonnie]

I haven't found that module in Windows, either.
Maybe it is not released in the installer since it is still in technology preview?

[SimonSchroeder]

After a quick search I've found that indeed it might still be in Tech Preview. Most notably I have found that for now it seems to be part of QtWebEngine. As far as I remember QtWebEngine needs to be installed separately when using the online installer.

I have also found build instruction for QtPDF: https://wiki.qt.io/QtPDF_Build_Instructions
Maybe this helps if it is not yet included in any installers.

[artwaw]

@SimonSchroeder QtPDF is included in stable 5.15.0 as a part of the QtWebEngine. I have that installed and as I wrote the .framework files are present on the disk. That's the whole reason for this post, files are there, Qt doesn't seem to "see" them.

[zhenghan]

@artwaw Hi, sir. I have met the same problem. Did you solve it yet? I use qtcreator on windows, and I have a Qt5Pdf.dll in my bin directory. But when I use QT += pdf, I got the same error, Unknown modules in QT: pdf.

[JoeCFD]

Use free poppler for pdf( under GPLv2 or GPLv3) . It is not hard to add it.
Qt uses PDFium. https://wiki.qt.io/Handling_PDF
Poppler seems even better than PDFium
https://hub.alfresco.com/t5/alfresco-content-services-blog/pdf-rendering-engine-performance-and-fidelity-comparison/ba-p/287618

[JoeCFD]

Qt PDF is available under both GPLv3 and LGPLv3.
https://marketplace.qt.io/products/qtpdf

[JoeCFD]

can you run the example?
qt-examples/Qt-5.15.2/pdf/pdfviewer

no problem to run it on Ubuntu.

[zhenghan]

@JoeCFD Thanks for your reply. I can't run the example with error "Unknown modules in Qt: pdf". It is wired why Qt can't find the module, because the Qt5Pdf.dll is in msvc2019_64/bin directory, and Qt5Pdf.lib in msvc2019_64/lib directory. But in msvc2019_64/include directory there is no subfolder named Qt5Pdf.

[JoeCFD]

You have to install this component
https://wiki.qt.io/QtPDF_Build_Instructions

[zhenghan]

@JoeCFD said in QtPDF not availabel on mac?:

https://wiki.qt.io/QtPDF_Build_Instructions

Thanks for your reply. I have complied this component. And it works.

[zhenghan]

@JoeCFD I want develop a pdf application in which I want to edit the pdf file, adding a digit signature in the pdf. What pdf library do you think is proper for the purpose?
I have find PoDoFo, and poppler, QtPdf(seems can't modify pdf). Again thanks for your time.