Creating/using a DLL/LIB for Qt Symbian

[danhicksbyron]

Can someone give me a brief guide/sequence for creating and using a relatively simple static DLL? I've found the Symbian docs on this, but they're rather sketchy. I'm reasonably sure I can figure it out, but will have to waste several days on experiments unless I can find a little bit of a "cookbook" or some example.

[danhicksbyron]

OK, I've gotten this far:

Created TestDll project, with TEMPLATE = LIB and MMP_RULES += EXPORTUNFROZEN. Project builds OK.

Created TestTestDll project, with LIBS += -lTestDll.lib and INCLUDEPATH += c:/symbian/Carbide/workspace/TestDll/. MMP file shows STATICLIBRARY TestDll.lib.

Project compiles successfully but fails the link with the entry point in the TestDll not found: Undefined symbol: 'TestDll::TestDll(class QWidget *) (??0TestDll@@QAE@PAVQWidget@@@Z)' TestTestDll Unknown C/C++ Problem


(Both builds are emulator, targeting GCCE.)

I've verified that TestDll.lib exists, in the same path as qtmain.lib.

Any ideas as to why it won't link?

[danhicksbyron]

I should note that I'm following the Developer's Library instructions for building a static DLL. I think I'd really like to build a static library instead, but I can't see any way to manipulate the PRO file to make it say TARGETTYPE LIB instead of TARGETTYPE DLL.

[danhicksbyron]

Adding this mysterious incantation to the first project

CONFIG += staticlib \
debug_and_release \
precompile_header

causes the MMP to say TARGETTYPE LIB, but the second project still won't build.

[danhicksbyron]

Just to bring everything up to a consistent point, here's my first project's PRO:

TEMPLATE = lib
TARGET = TestDll
QT += core \
    gui
HEADERS += TestDll.loc \
    TestDll.h
SOURCES += TestDll.rss \
    TestDll_reg.rss \
    TestDll.cpp
FORMS += TestDll.ui
RESOURCES += 
symbian:TARGET.UID3 = 0xEE0F3EB9
MMP_RULES += EXPORTUNFROZEN
CONFIG += staticlib \
    debug_and_release \
    precompile_header

Here's the first project's MMP:

// ==============================================================================
// Generated by qmake (2.01a) (Qt 4.6.0) on: 2010-01-28T21:53:06
// This file is generated by qmake and should not be modified by the
// user.
//  Name        : TestDll.mmp
// ==============================================================================

TARGET		TestDll.lib
TARGETTYPE		LIB

UID		0x1000008d 0xEE0F3EB9
SECUREID		0xEE0F3EB9

EPOCSTACKSIZE		0x14000
EPOCHEAPSIZE		0x020000 0x800000


// Qt Macros
MACRO		UNICODE
MACRO		QT_KEYPAD_NAVIGATION
MACRO		QT_SOFTKEYS_ENABLED
MACRO		QT_GUI_LIB
MACRO		QT_CORE_LIB

SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include/QtCore
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include/QtCore/tmp
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include/QtGui
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include/QtGui/tmp
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include/tmp
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/mkspecs/common/symbian
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/mkspecs/common/symbian/tmp
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include
SYSTEMINCLUDE		.
SYSTEMINCLUDE		tmp
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include/stdapis
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include/stdapis/sys
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include/stdapis/stlport
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include/domain/middleware
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include/domain/middleware/loc

SOURCEPATH 	.
SOURCE		TestDll.cpp
SOURCE		moc_TestDll.cpp


CAPABILITY		None

OPTION CW -wchar_t on
OPTION ARMCC --visibility_inlines_hidden --fpu softvfp

VERSION 10.0

PAGED

Here's the second project's PRO:

TEMPLATE = app
TARGET = TestTestDll
QT += core \
    gui
HEADERS += TestTestDll.h
SOURCES += TestTestDll_reg.rss \
    main.cpp \
    TestTestDll.cpp
FORMS += TestTestDll.ui
RESOURCES += 
symbian:TARGET.UID3 = 0xE4387496
INCLUDEPATH += c:/symbian/Carbide/workspace/TestDll/
LIBS += -lTestDll.lib

Here's the second project's MMP:

// ==============================================================================
// Generated by qmake (2.01a) (Qt 4.6.0) on: 2010-01-28T21:53:15
// This file is generated by qmake and should not be modified by the
// user.
//  Name        : TestTestDll.mmp
// ==============================================================================

TARGET		TestTestDll.exe
TARGETTYPE		EXE

UID		0x100039CE 0xE4387496
SECUREID		0xE4387496

EPOCSTACKSIZE		0x14000
EPOCHEAPSIZE		0x020000 0x800000

SOURCEPATH			. 
LANG SC 
START RESOURCE		TestTestDll.rss
HEADER
TARGETPATH			/resource/apps
END

SOURCEPATH			.
START RESOURCE		TestTestDll_reg.rss
TARGETPATH		/private/10003a3f/import/apps
END


// Qt Macros
MACRO		UNICODE
MACRO		QT_KEYPAD_NAVIGATION
MACRO		QT_SOFTKEYS_ENABLED
MACRO		QT_GUI_LIB
MACRO		QT_CORE_LIB

SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include/QtCore
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include/QtCore/tmp
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include/QtGui
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include/QtGui/tmp
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/include/tmp
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/mkspecs/common/symbian
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../../../../QtSymbian/4.6.0/mkspecs/common/symbian/tmp
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include
SYSTEMINCLUDE		.
SYSTEMINCLUDE		tmp
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include/stdapis
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include/stdapis/sys
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../TestDll
SYSTEMINCLUDE		../TestDll/tmp
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include/stdapis/stlport
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include/domain/middleware
SYSTEMINCLUDE		/epoc32/include/domain/middleware/loc

SOURCEPATH 	.
SOURCE		main.cpp
SOURCE		TestTestDll.cpp
SOURCE		moc_TestTestDll.cpp


STATICLIBRARY	TestDll.lib
LIBRARY		libstdcpp.lib
LIBRARY		QtGui.lib
LIBRARY		QtCore.lib
LIBRARY		libc.lib
LIBRARY		libm.lib
LIBRARY		euser.lib
LIBRARY		libdl.lib
STATICLIBRARY	qtmain.lib

CAPABILITY		None

OPTION CW -wchar_t on
OPTION ARMCC --visibility_inlines_hidden --fpu softvfp

VERSION 10.0

PAGED

OPTION_REPLACE ARMCC --export_all_vtbl // don't use --export_all_vtbl

[divanov]

In my opinion this thread belongs to Qt for Symbian as you are trying to create library for Symbian. Frankly, I don't get what is a target auditory of Qt Tools and SDK's sub-forum. But apart from that I'm pretty sure it should be wiki article about library creation for Symbian as this is pretty basic knowledge.

[danhicksbyron]

I looked for a wiki article and only found stuff for Symbian C++. (And if this is "pretty basic" why can't anyone tell me anything?)

[divanov]

I looked for a wiki article and only found stuff for Symbian C++. (And if this is "pretty basic" why can't anyone tell me anything?)

I can tell you how to make a library for Linux, if you want

[danhicksbyron]

OK, got it working pretty well, at least for the simpler cases.

To summarize:

Make the PRO file of your static lib project look about like this:

TARGET = DataEntryWidget
TEMPLATE = lib
SOURCES += dataentrywidget.cpp
HEADERS += dataentrywidget.h
FORMS += 
RESOURCES = DataEntryWidget.qrc
QT += core \
    gui
MMP_RULES += EXPORTUNFROZEN
CONFIG += staticlib

(Not sure whether the EXPORTUNFROZEN is needed above.)

The resulting MMP file should specify your TARGET as a .lib file.

In the project that uses the static lib, add the following to your PRO file:

LIBS += -lDataEntryWidget.lib

(Note that ".lib" must be appended to the name, unlike the usual case for LIBS. This causes the static library to be listed as a STATICLIBRARY rather than a LIBRARY in the MMP file.)

INCLUDEPATH += c:/QtProjects/DataEntryWidget (Or wherever the .h files of the library project are)

If you have any QRC files in the static lib, you need to activate them by using the Q_INIT_RESOURCE macro:

Q_INIT_RESOURCE(DataEntryWidget);

Examples show this referenced early in the main method of the user of the library -- not clear that it couldn't be somewhere in the library itself, so long as it's guaranteed to be executed before the resources are needed.

[danhicksbyron]

Well, it works for the emulator, but when I try to build the using application the lib file isn't found. Looking back at the build console for the lib, I see this:

***Invoking abld command
perl.exe -S ABLD.PL \QtProjects\DataEntryWidget\ target gcce udeb  
  make -r  -f "\S60\devices\S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0\EPOC32\BUILD\QtProjects\DataEntryWidget\GCCE.make" TARGET CFG=UDEB VERBOSE=-s
make -j 4 -s  -C \QtProjects\DataEntryWidget -f "MAKEFILE_0XECD85E6C.MK" TO_ROOT=..\.. EPOCBLD=\S60\devices\S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0\EPOC32\BUILD\MAKEFILE_0XECD85E6C\GCCE TO_BLDINF=..\..\QtProjects\DataEntryWidget PLATFORM=GCCE CFG=UDEB BLD
make -j 4 -s  -r -f "\S60\devices\S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0\EPOC32\BUILD\QtProjects\DataEntryWidget\DATAENTRYWIDGET_0XECD85E6C\GCCE\DATAENTRYWIDGET_0XECD85E6C.GCCE" UDEB
qrc_dataentrywidget.cpp
Sorry, \epoc32\gcc\bin\ar.exe is not supported in this release. Please use a different
device. Use 'devices' to view the available devices.
make[1]: *** [\S60\devices\S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0\epoc32\release\armv5\udeb\DataEntryWidget.lib] Error 2
make: *** [TARGETDATAENTRYWIDGET_0XECD85E6C] Error 2

Does anyone have any words of wisdom (or even an amusing insult or two)?

[danhicksbyron]

I do find mention of changing a value from

AR=ar.exe

to

AR=arm-none-symbianelf-ar.exe

But can't find any place where this change might be accomplished.

There does not seem to be a mention of "ar.exe" anywhere on my system.

The "AR=arm-none-symbianelf-ar.exe" string is shown on the web as being in a configure.in file, but I can't find that anywhere.

[danhicksbyron]

OK, continuing saga:

ar.exe is found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Symbian\tools

Copy that and "ar.pl" to epoc32\gcc\bin and then I get this error:

Can't locate tlaunch.pm in @INC (@INC contains: C:/S60/devices/S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0/epoc32/gcc/bin C:/Perl/lib C:/Perl/site/lib .) at C:\S60\devices\S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0\epoc32\gcc\bin/ar.pl line 3.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at C:\S60\devices\S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0\epoc32\gcc\bin/ar.pl line 3.
make[1]: *** [\S60\devices\S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0\epoc32\release\armv5\urel\DataEntryWidget.lib] Error 2
make: *** [LIBRARYDATAENTRYWIDGET_0XECD85E6C] Error 2

Copy "tlaunch.pm" between the above two directories and then...

Can't locate CDevicesCLAccessor.pm in @INC (@INC contains: C:/S60/devices/S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0/epoc32/gcc/bin C:/Perl/lib C:/Perl/site/lib .) at C:/S60/devices/S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0/epoc32/gcc/bin/tlaunch.pm line 13.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at C:/S60/devices/S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0/epoc32/gcc/bin/tlaunch.pm line 13.
Compilation failed in require at C:\S60\devices\S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0\epoc32\gcc\bin/ar.pl line 3.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at C:\S60\devices\S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0\epoc32\gcc\bin/ar.pl line 3.
make[1]: *** [\S60\devices\S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0\epoc32\release\armv5\udeb\DataEntryWidget.lib] Error 2
make: *** [TARGETDATAENTRYWIDGET_0XECD85E6C] Error 2

Copy CDevicesCLAccessor.pm and then it can't find CDevices. So copy CDevices.pm and CDevicesFile.pm (after spending a few minutes looking fruitlessly for a way to append to the Perl search path).

Next it wants XML/DOM.pm from epoc32/gcc/bin\perllib. Create the perllib\XML directory and install dom.pm and regexp.pm from C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Symbian\tools\perllib\xml.

Now I get this message:

To use new Symbian OS tools specify a default device using devices -setdefault
(otherwise unset EPOCROOT and specify a device explicitly)
make[1]: *** [\S60\devices\S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0\epoc32\release\armv5\urel\DataEntryWidget.lib] Error 2
make: *** [LIBRARYDATAENTRYWIDGET_0XECD85E6C] Error 2

[danhicksbyron]

My existing devices setting:

C:\Users\danhicks>devices -default
Default device: S60_5th_Edition_SDK_v1.0:com.nokia.s60
C:\Users\danhicks>

[danhicksbyron]

The message is coming out of tlaunch.pm.

[danhicksbyron]

I reloaded my entire development suite and it started working, without the need to copy any of those Perl files.