// Copyright (C) 2023 The Qt Company Ltd.
// SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR GFDL-1.3-no-invariants-only

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/*!
    \page creator-using-qt-designer.html
    \previouspage creator-how-tos.html

    \title Designing widget-based UIs

    \quotation
    \l {Design widget-based UIs}{How to: Design widget-based UIs}
    \endquotation

    \QC automatically opens all \c .ui files in the integrated \QD, in \uicontrol Design
    mode.

    \image {qtcreator-formedit.png} {Qt Widgets Designer open in the Design mode}

    Widgets and forms created with \QD are integrated seamlessly with
    programmed code by using the Qt signals and slots mechanism that
    allows you to easily assign behavior to graphical elements. All
    properties set in \QD can be changed dynamically within the code.
    Furthermore, features such as widget promotion and custom plugins
    allow you to use your own widgets with \QD.

    For more information about \QD, see the \l{\QD Manual}.

    Generally, the integrated \QD has the same functions as the standalone
    \QD. The following sections describe the differences.

    To learn how to use the integrated \QD to create a small Qt Widgets-based
    application, take the \l{Qt Academy: Getting Started with \QC} course.

    \section1 Code editor integration

    To switch between forms (\uicontrol Design mode) and code (\uicontrol Edit mode),
    select \key Shift+F4.

    You can use \QC to create stub implementations of slot functions. In the
    \uicontrol Design mode, right-click a widget to open a context menu, and then
    select \uicontrol {Go to Slot}. Select a signal in the list to go to an existing
    slot function or to create a new slot function.

    \section1 Manage image resources

    In standalone \QD, image resources are created using the built-in
    \uicontrol {Resource Editor}. In \QC, \c .ui files are usually part of a project,
    which may have several resource files (\c .qrc). They are created and
    maintained by using the \QC Resource Editor. The \QD \uicontrol {Resource Editor}
    is de-activated and the image resources are displayed in the \QD
    \uicontrol {Resource Browser}.

    To open resource files from the code editor, select
    \uicontrol {Follow Symbol Under Cursor} in the context menu
    or select \key F2 when the cursor is over a string literal.

    \section1 Set preferences for \QD

    You can drag and drop the views in \QD to new positions on the screen.

    To set preferences for \QD, go to \preferences > \uicontrol Designer:

    \list

        \li Specify embedded device profiles, that determine style, font, and
            screen resolution, for example, in \uicontrol{Embedded Design}.

        \li Specify settings for the grid and previewing forms in \uicontrol Forms.

        \li Specify an additional folder for saving templates in \uicontrol{Template
            Paths}.

    \endlist

    To preview the settings, select \uicontrol Tools > \uicontrol{Form Editor} >
    \uicontrol Preview, or select \key Alt+Shift+R.

    \section1 Preview forms using device profiles

    A \e {device profile} is a set of configuration files that describe a mobile
    device. It includes a border image that surrounds the form and depicts a
    mobile device with its buttons.

    To preview your form using device profiles, select \uicontrol Tools >
    \uicontrol {Form Editor} > \uicontrol {Preview In}, and then select a
    device profile.

    \section2 Add device profiles

    To add device profiles:

    \list 1

        \li Go to \preferences > \uicontrol Designer.
            \image {qtdesigner-embedded-design.png} {Qt Widgets Designer preferences}
        \li In \uicontrol {Embedded Design}, select \inlineimage {icons/plus.png}
            {Add a profile} (\uicontrol {Add a profile}) to open the
            \uicontrol {Add Profile} dialog.
            \image {qtdesigner-add-profile.png} {Add Profile dialog}
        \li In \uicontrol Name, enter a name for the device. The name is
            displayed as an option in \uicontrol {Preview In}.
        \li In \uicontrol Family, select the font to use.
        \li In \uicontrol {Point Size}, select the font size.
        \li In \uicontrol Style, select one of the predefined styles.
        \li In \uicontrol {Device DPI}, select one of the predefined DPI
            values or \uicontrol {User defined} to specify a custom value.
        \li Select \uicontrol OK to add the device profile to the list.
    \endlist

    To import device profiles from \c .qdp files, select \uicontrol Open. To save
    them as \c .qdp files, select \uicontrol Save.

    \sa {Tutorial: Qt Widgets application}, {Add \QD plugins}
*/
