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Reference: Menu Options
Introduction
Qt Designer provides menu options that invoke the actions
necessary to create applications. Many menu options lead to dialog boxes
that provide additional options and functionality. The most commonly used
menu options also have corresponding toolbar buttons. This chapter
explains each menu option and its use. For menu options that invoke a
dialog box or which have a corresponding toolbar button, there is a
cross-reference to the detailed explanation that appears in the relevant
chapter.
The File Menu
The File Menu
This menu is invoked with Alt+F, and provides the following
options:
-
File|New Click this menu option (or press Ctrl+N) to
create a new project, form or file. This option invokes the New
File Dialog.
-
File|Open Click this menu option (or press Ctrl+O)
to open existing projects, forms or files. The File
Open Dialog is invoked through which a file name can be
selected.
-
File|Close Click this menu option to close the currently
open project. If the project has unsaved changes, the Save
Form Dialog appears.
-
File|Save Click this menu option (or press Ctrl+S)
to save the project along with its forms and files. For a project that
has forms or files, click 'Save' to save the project before exiting. For
new forms, click 'Save' and the Save
Form As Dialog appears. For forms that have been saved previously
click 'Save'. For new files or for files that have been changed, click
'Save'.
-
File|Save As Click this menu option to save and name the
current form or file. This option invokes the Save
Form As Dialog.
-
File|Save All Click this menu option to save every open
file and form in every open project.
-
File|Create Template Click this menu option to create a
form template. This option invokes the Create
Template Dialog dialog.
-
File|Recently Opened Files Click this menu option to list
the most recently opened files. Click one of the files listed to open
it. Note that we recommend that you open projects rather than files. You
can open a file by clicking the file's name in the project's File
Overview Window.
-
File|Recently Opened Projects Click this menu option to
list the most recently opened projects. Click one of the projects listed
to open it.
-
File|Exit Click this menu option to exit Qt
Designer. If any open files have unsaved changes, the Save Form
Dialog message box will appear for each of them, before Qt
Designer exits. Note that for a form that has not been saved
previously but has had changes made to it or that has been saved but has
had changes made to it, the Save Form Dialog is invoked. Click
Yes to invoke the Save Form As dialog.
See also The
File Toolbar Buttons.
The Edit Menu
The Edit Menu
This menu is invoked with Alt+E, and provides the following
options:
-
Edit|Undo Click this menu option (or press Ctrl+Z)
to undo an action. The name of the last action that was performed
appears after the word 'Undo'.
-
Edit|Redo Click this menu option (or press Ctrl+Y)
to redo an action. The name of the last action that was performed
appears after the word 'Redo'.
-
Edit|Cut Click this menu option (or press Ctrl+X) to
delete the selected item from the current form or file and copy it to
the clipboard.
-
Edit|Copy Click this menu option (or press Ctrl+C)
to copy the selected item from the current form or file to the
clipboard.
-
Edit|Paste Click this menu option (or press Ctrl+V)
to paste the clipboard item (if any) into the current form or file.
-
Edit|Delete Click this menu option (or press Del) to
delete the selected item from the current form or file.
-
Edit|Select All Click this menu option (or press
Ctrl+A) to highlight all the widgets on the current form or all
the text in the current file.
-
Edit|Check Accelerators Click this menu option (or press
Alt+R) to verify that all the accelerators are used only once. If
an accelerator is used more than once, a message box appears with the
statement 'The accelerator 'x' is used 'y' times'. Click Select
to highlight the widgets with the same accelerator, or click
Cancel to exit the message box without taking any action.
-
Edit|Slots Click this menu option to edit and create slots
and functions. This option invokes the Edit
Functions Dialog.
-
Edit|Connections Click this menu option to invoke the View
and Edit Connections Dialog.
-
Edit|Form Settings Click this menu option to invoke the Form
Settings Dialog.
-
Edit|Preferences Click this menu option to invoke the Preferences
Dialog.
See also The
Edit Toolbar Buttons.
The Project Menu
The Project Menu
This menu is invoked with Alt+O, and provides the following
options:
-
Project|Active Project Click this menu option to toggle
between projects if there is more than one project open. You can also
toggle between projects using the Active Project drop-down combobox in
the The
File Toolbar Buttons.
-
Project|Add File Click this menu option to invoke the Add
Dialog
-
Project|Project Settings Click this menu option to invoke
the Project
Settings Dialog.
-
Project|Image Collection Click this menu option to invoke
the Image Collection Dialog.
-
Project|Database Connections Click this menu option to
invoke the Edit
Database Connections Dialog.
See also The
File Toolbar Buttons.
The Search Menu
The Search Menu
This menu is invoked with Alt+S, and provides the following
options:
-
Search|Find Click this menu option (or press Ctrl+F)
to invoke the Find
Text Dialog.
-
Search|Find Incremental Click this menu option (or press
Alt+I) to place the cursor in the text box located next to the
Find toolbar button. Type characters into the text box; as you
type, Qt Designer will highlight the first occurrence of the
text that it finds in the file. Press the Enter key to go to the
next occurrence of the text. Press the Esc key once you have
found the word you are looking for to place the cursor in the
editor.
-
Search|Replace Click this menu option (or press
Ctrl+R) to invoke the Replace
Text Dialog to replace specific words or characters.
-
Search|Goto line Click this menu option (or press
Alt+G) to invoke the Goto
Line Dialog to go to a specific line in the file.
See also The
Search Toolbar Buttons.
The Tools Menu
The Tools Menu
This menu is invoked with Alt+T, and provides the following
options:
-
Tools|Pointer Click this menu option (or press F2)
to de-select any selected widget toolbar button. The pointer is also
used to stop inserting new widgets on the form if you double clicked a
widget toolbar button. Press the Esc key to return to the pointer
at any time.
-
Tools|Connect Signals and Slots Click this menu option (or
press F3) to connect signals and slots. Click on a widget and
drag the connection line to the widget (or form) that you want to
connect to. Release the mouse button and the View
and Edit Connections Dialog will appear.
-
Tools|Tab Order Click this menu option (or press F4)
to set the tab order for all the widgets on the form that can accept
keyboard focus. Choose this option and blue circles with numbers on them
appear next to the widgets. Click the widget that you want to be first
in the tab order, then click the widget that should be next in the tab
order, and continue until all the widgets have the tab order numbers you
want. If you make a mistake, double click the first widget and start
again. Press Esc to leave tab order mode. If you want to revert
your changes, leave tab order mode, then undo.
-
Tools|Set Buddy Click this toolbar button (or press
F5) to set a buddy to a label. Then click on a label and drag the
line to the widget that you want to be the buddy. Release the mouse
button and the buddy is set.
-
Tools|Buttons|PushButton Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a PushButton on the form.
-
Tools|Buttons|ToolButton Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a ToolButton on the form.
-
Tools|Buttons|RadioButton Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a RadioButton on the form. It is recommended
that you place RadioButtons inside ButtonGroups so that Qt will
automatically ensure that only one RadioButton in the group is active at
any one time.
-
Tools|Buttons|CheckBox Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a CheckBox on the form.
-
Tools|Containers|GroupBox Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a GroupBox on the form.
-
Tools|Containers|ButtonGroup Click this menu option and
then click the form to place a ButtonGroup on the form.
-
Tools|Containers|Frame Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a Frame on the form.
-
Tools|Containers|TabWidget Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a TabWidget on the form. To add or remove tabs,
right click the tab widget and choose 'Add Page' or 'Remove Page'.
-
Tools|Views|ListBox Click this menu option and then click
the form to place a ListBox on the form.
-
Tools|Views|ListView Click this menu option and then click
the form to place a ListView on the form.
-
Tools|Views|Icon View Click this menu option and then click
the form to place an IconView on the form.
-
Tools|Views|Table Click this menu option and then click the
form to place a Table on the form.
-
Tools|Database|DataTable Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a DataTable on the form.
-
Tools|Database|DataBrowser Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a DataBrowser on the form.
-
Tools|Database|DataView Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a DataView on the form.
-
Tools|Input|LineEdit Click this menu option and then click
the form to place a LineEdit on the form.
-
Tools|Input|SpinBox Click this menu option and then click
the form to place a SpinBox on the form.
-
Tools|Input|DateEdit Click this menu option and then click
the form to place a DateEdit on the form.
-
Tools|Input|TimeEdit Click this menu option and then click
the form to place a TimeEdit on the form.
-
Tools|Input|DateTimeEdit Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a DateTimeEdit on the form.
-
Tools|Input|TextEdit Click this menu option and then click
the form to place a TextEdit on the form.
-
Tools|Input|ComboBox Click this menu option and then click
the form to place a ComboBox on the form.
-
Tools|Input|Slider Click this menu option and then click
the form to place a Slider on the form.
-
Tools|Input|ScrollBar Click this menu option and then click
the form to place a Scrollbar on the form.
-
Tools|Input|Dial Click this menu option and then click the
form to place a Dial on the form.
-
Tools|Display|TextLabel Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a TextLabel on the form.
-
Tools|Display|PixmapLabel Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a PixmapLabel on the form.
-
Tools|Display|LCDNumber Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a LCDNumber on the form.
-
Tools|Display|Line Click this menu option and then click
the form to place a Line on the form.
-
Tools|Display|ProgressBar Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a ProgressBar on the form.
-
Tools|Display|TextBrowser Click this menu option and then
click the form to place a TextBrowser on the form.
-
Tools|Custom|Edit Custom Widgets Click this menu option to
invoke the Edit
Custom Widgets Dialog.
-
Tools|Custom| Click this menu option and
then click the form to place the Custom Widget on the form. Note that
this menu option only appears if you have created a widget using
Tools|Custom|Edit Custom Widgets.
-
Tools|Configure Toolbox Click this menu option to invoke
the Configure Toolbox Dialog.
See also The
Tools Toolbar Buttons.
The Layout Menu
The Layout Menu
This menu is invoked with Alt+L, and provides the following
options:
-
Layout|Adjust Size Click this menu option (or press
Ctrl+J) to adjust the size of the widget to it's recommended
size.
-
Layout|Lay Out Horizontally Click this menu option (or
press Ctrl+H) to lay out the selected widgets or layouts side by
side. Use Shift+Click to select each widget or layout, and then
choose this menu option to group them horizontally. Note that for
complex widgets it is sometimes easiest to select widgets and layouts by
clicking them in the Widgets tab of the Object
Explorer Window. If only one widget is selected, its child widgets
will be laid out horizontally.
-
Layout|Lay Out Vertically Click this menu option (or press
Ctrl+L) to lay out the selected widgets one above the other. Use
Shift+Click to select each widget or layout, and then choose this
menu option to group them vertically. Note that for complex widgets it
is sometimes easiest to select widgets and layouts by clicking them in
the Widgets tab of the Object
Explorer Window. If only one widget is selected, its child widgets
will be laid out vertically.
-
Layout|Lay Out in a Grid Click this menu option (or press
Ctrl+G) to lay out the selected widgets in a grid. If only one
widget is selected, its child widgets will be laid out in a grid.
-
Layout|Lay Out Horizontally (in Splitter) Click this menu
option to lay out the selected widgets or layouts side by side with a
splitter between each. Use Shift+Click to select each widget or
layout, and then choose this menu option to group them horizontally.
Note that for complex widgets it is sometimes easiest to select widgets
and layouts by clicking them in the Widgets tab of the Object
Explorer Window.
-
Layout|Lay Out Vertically (in Splitter) Click this menu
option to lay out the selected widgets or layouts one above the other
with a splitter between each. Use Shift+Click to select each
widget or layout, and then choose this menu option to group them
vertically. Note that for complex widgets it is sometimes easiest to
select widgets and layouts by clicking them in the Widgets tab of the Object
Explorer Window.
-
Layout|Break Layout Click this menu option (or press
Ctrl+B) to break a layout. Click on the layout, then select this
option; the layout is deleted.
-
Layout|Add Spacer Click this menu option to add a vertical
or horizontal spacer to widgets that take up too much space on the form.
The spacer consumes extra space in the layout.
See also The
Layout Toolbar Buttons.
The Preview Menu
The Preview Menu
This menu is invoked with Alt+P, and provides the following
options:
-
Preview|Preview Form Click this menu option (or press
Ctrl+T) to preview the form within Qt Designer.
-
Preview|...in Windows Style Click this menu option to
preview the form in the Windows style.
-
Preview|...in Motif Style Click this menu option to preview
the form in the Motif style.
-
Preview|...in CDE Style Click this menu option to preview
the form in the CDE style.
-
Preview|...in MotifPlus Style Click this menu option to
preview the form in the MotifPlus style.
-
Preview|...in Platinum Style Click this menu option to
preview the form in the Platinum style.
-
Preview|...in SGI Style Click this menu option to preview
the form in the SGI style.
The Window Menu
The Window Menu
This menu is invoked with Alt+W, and provides the following
options:
-
Window|Close Click this menu option (or press
Ctrl+F4) to close the window that is currently active.
-
Window|Close All Click this menu option to close all the
windows that are currently open.
-
Window|Next Click this menu option (or press
Ctrl+F6) to make the next window active. The order is the order
in which the windows were opened.
-
Window|Previous Click this menu option (or press
Ctrl+Shift+F6) to make the previous window active. The order is
the order in which the windows were opened.
-
Window|Tile Click this menu option to arrange all the open
files and forms side by side so that each window is visible.
-
Window|Cascade Click this menu option to stack all the open
file and forms, one on top of the other, but with an overlap so that
each window's title bar is visible.
-
Window|Views|File Overview Click this menu option to make
the File Overview Window visible, or to hide it if it is already
visible. If the window is currently visible, a check mark will appear
next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Views|Property Editor/Signal Handlers Click this
menu option to make the Property
Editor/Signal Handlers Window visible, or to hide it if it is
already visible. If the window is currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Views|Object Explorer Click this menu option to make
the Object
Explorer Window visible, or to hide it if it is already visible. If
the window is currently visible, a check mark will appear next to the
name in the menu.
-
Window|Views|Line Up Click this menu option to eliminate
any extra space between toolbars and line them up next to each other all
at once, rather than moving each individual toolbar into place.
-
Window|Toolbars|File Click this menu option to make the
File toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Edit Click this menu option to make the
Edit toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Search Click this menu option to make the
Search toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. if the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Layout Click this menu option to make the
Layout toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Tools Click this menu option to make the
Tools toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Buttons Click this menu option to make the
Buttons toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Containers Click this menu option to make
the Containers toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are
already visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check
mark will appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Views Click this menu option to make the
Views toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Database Click this menu option to make the
Database toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Input Click this menu option to make the
Input toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Display Click this menu option to make the
Display toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Custom Click this menu option to make the
Custom toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Help Click this menu option to make the
Help toolbar buttons visible, or to hide them if they are already
visible. If the toolbar buttons are currently visible, a check mark will
appear next to the name in the menu.
-
Window|Toolbars|Line Up Click this menu option to eliminate
extra space between toolbars and line them up next to each other all at
once, rather than moving each individual toolbar into place.
-
Window|n Click one of the numbered menu options that list
the currently open files and forms to switch to the named file or
form.
The Help Menu
The Help Menu
This menu is invoked with Alt+H, and provides the following
options:
-
Help|Contents Click this menu option (or press F1)
to invoke the Qt
Assistant application which provides on-line help. The on-line help
is context sensitive, so you can type the item you want more information
about in the line edit and Qt Assistant will automatically find it if it
is available.
-
Help|Manual Click this menu option (or press Ctrl+M)
to invoke the Qt
Assistant application which opens showing this manual.
-
Help|About Click this menu option to invoke the About
Qt Designer dialog which gives the version number and some
licensing information.
-
Help|About Qt Click this menu option to invoke a dialog
which provides information about Qt.
-
Help|What's This? Click this menu option to invoke a small
question mark that is attached to the mouse pointer. Click on a feature
which you would like more information about. A popup box appears with
information about the feature.
See also The
Help Toolbar Button.
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