Note: You need Qt 4.8 or later to debug Qt Quick projects.

For an example of how to debug Qt Quick Projects, see Debugging a Qt Quick Example Application.

Setting Up QML Debugging

The process of setting up debugging for Qt Quick projects depends on the type of the project: Qt Quick UI or Qt Quick Application, and the Qt version used.

To debug Qt Quick UI projects, select the Enable QML check box in the Debugger Settings in Projects mode Run Settings.

To debug Qt Quick Applications:

1. Debugging is enabled by default for Qt 4.8, or later. For Qt 4.7, select Projects, and then select the Enable QML debugging check box in the qmake section in Build Steps.

   You might have to compile the library first, by selecting the Compile link.

   

   Note: Debugging requires opening a socket at a well-known port, which presents a security risk. Anyone on the Internet could connect to the application that you are debugging and execute any JavaScript functions. Therefore, you must make sure that the port is properly protected by a firewall.

2. In the Run Settings, Debugger Settings section, select the Enable QML check box to enable QML debugging.
3. Select Build > Rebuild Project to clean and rebuild the project.
4. To debug applications on devices, check that Qt 4.7.4, or later, libraries are installed on the device and select the corresponding kit for the device before you start debugging.

Mixed C++/QML Debugging

To debug both the C++ and QML parts of your application at the same time, select the Enable C++ and Enable QML checkboxes for both languages in the Debugger Settings section in the project Run Settings.

Starting QML Debugging

To start the application, choose Debug > Start Debugging > Start Debugging or press F5. Once the application starts running, it behaves and performs as usual. You can then perform the following tasks:

• Debug JavaScript functions
• Execute JavaScript expressions to get information about the state of the application
• Change QML code and immediately see the changes at runtime
• Inspect QML code and change it temporarily at runtime

To debug already running applications:

1. Build the application by using the appropriate configuration parameters (if you build the application with Qt Creator, it automatically uses the correct configuration):
   • Qt Quick 1: CONFIG+=declarative_debug
   • Qt Quick 2: CONFIG+=qml_debug
2. Start the application with the following arguments:

   qmljsdebugger=port:<port>[,host:<ip address>][,block]

   Where port (mandatory) specifies the debugging port, ip address (optional) specifies the IP address of the host where the application is running, and block (optional) prevents the application from running until the debug client connects to the server. This enables debugging from the start.

3. Select Debug > Start Debugging > Attach to QML Port.

   Choose the kit configured for the device where the application to be debugged is running. The port number to use is displayed in the standard output when the application starts.

Debugging JavaScript Functions

You can use the Qt Creator Debug mode to inspect the state of your application while debugging. You can interact with the debugger by:

• Setting breakpoints
• Viewing call stack trace
• Viewing locals and expressions

Executing JavaScript Expressions

When the application is interrupted by a breakpoint, you can use the QML/JS Console to execute JavaScript expressions in the current context. To open it, choose Window > Output Panes > QML/JS Console.

For more information about using the console, see QML/JS Console.

Applying QML Changes at Runtime

When you change property values in the QML/JS Console or in the Locals and Expressions view, they are immediately updated in the running application, but not in the source code.

Inspecting Items

While the application is running, you can use the Locals and Expressions view to explore the QML item structure.

To keep the application visible while you interact with the debugger, click (Show Application on Top).

You can view a QML item in Locals and Expressions in the following ways:

• Expand the item in the object tree.
• Select the item in the code editor.
• Click (Select) to activate selection mode and then click an item in the running application.

To change property values temporarily, without editing the source, double-click them and enter the new values. You can view the results in the running application.

Inspecting User Interfaces

When you debug complex applications, you can jump to the position in code where an item is defined or you can zoom into the user interface.

When the Select tool is enabled, you can click items in the running application to jump to their definitions in the code. The properties of the selected item are displayed in the Locals and Expressions view.

You can also view the item hierarchy in the running application:

• When debugging Qt Quick 1 applications, right-click an item in the running application to view the item hierarchy as a context menu.

  

• When debugging Qt Quick 2 applications, double-click an item in the running application to cycle through the item stack at the cursor position.

To switch to the zoom mode, click the Zoom button. Click in the running application to zoom in. Right-click to open a context menu that contains zoom controls.

To switch out of the selection or zoom mode, deselect the Select or Zoom button.

To move the application running in Qt QML Viewer to the front, select the Show Application on Top button.