How to

The following topics describe how to set up Qt VS Tools and to use them to create, build, debug, and localize Qt applications.

Set up Qt VS Tools

Install Qt VS Tools in Microsoft Visual Studio, and then tell it where to find the Qt versions that you want to develop with.

• Install Qt VS Tools
• Add Qt versions

Create

Use wizards to create several types of Qt and Qt Quick projects and files that you add to the projects, such as classes, form files, or custom QML types.

• Select Qt versions for a project
• Create UI form files
• Start Qt Designer
• Manage resources
• Start Qt Resource Editor
• Set tool theme
• Get help

Edit

With IntelliSense information and the QML Language Server support, you get code editing features for C++ and QML types.

• Turn on QML Language Server
• Update IntelliSense info

Build

Qt VS Tools integrate with MSBuild, and therefore, you build Qt applications as Visual Studio projects. Special build rules called Qt/MSBuild let you run Qt build tools and set build options for them.

• Load Qt projects
• Build solutions that have Qt/MSBuild format 2
• Convert solutions to latest Qt/MSBuild format
• Cross-compile
• Hide output
• Update IntelliSense info

Debug

With a debugger, you can see what happens inside an application while it runs or when it crashes. You can debug Qt Widgets and Qt Quick applications.

• Debug applications
• Visualize C++ types
• Enable QML debugging
• Debug on Linux

Test

Use QtTest, the Qt Testing Framework, to unit test Qt-based applications and libraries. Write tests, use Test Explorer, create test suites, and test graphical user interfaces.

• Configure Qt tests using a .runsettings file

Localize

Use Qt translation tools to adapt applications for a specific region or language by adding locale-specific components such as date, time, and number formats and translating text.

• Create Qt translation files
• Start Qt Linguist
• Update Qt translation files
• Set tool theme