How-to: Build libxlsxwriter inside Qt-Creator for Windows

[petricf]

This guide is dated January 21st, 2020.

Assumptions:

• Qt is/will be installed to C:\Qt
• Project directory (location of unpacked zlib and libxlsxwriter) is C:\Projects
• Install destination of compiled zlib will be C:\Qt\Tools\zlib(32/64)
• Install destination of compiled libxlsxwriter will be C:\Qt\Tools\xlsxwriter(32/64)

Prerequisites:

• Installed Qt + Qt-Creator, selected packages:
• Downloaded source of zlib (currently zlib1211.zip)
• Downloaded source of libxlsxwriter

Procedure:

• Unpack the sources (zlib and libxlsxwriter) to C:\Projects.

• Start Qt-Creator

• Create a session for zlib (Menu: File -> Sessions -> Manage ...) and open it

• Open C:\Projects\zlib-1-2-11\CMakeLists.txt (Menu: File -> Open File or Project). This dialog will appear:

• Select both compilers (MinGW 32-bit and 64-bit) and press "Configure Project"

• At the left navigation bar select "Projects"

• Change "Edit build configuration to "Release" and adjust the install paths of the 32-bit settings to C:\Qt\Tools\zlib32... : Don't forget to press "Apply Configuration Changes".

• Configure Run settings and add deployment step for 32-bit:

• This will be added:

• Enable AMD64 switch and adjust install paths of the 64-bit settings to C:\Qt\Tools\zlib64... : Verify that the variabled INSTALL_xxx are also adjusted. Select "Apply Configuration Changes" when done.

• Add the deployment step to the run configuration:

• At the left navigation bar select "the run configuration for 64-bit (should be already selected):

• Run the project (green arrow/triangle at the left navigation bar). This should deploy the 64-bit zlib to C:\Qt\Tools\zlib64.

• At the left navigation bar select "the run configuration for 32-bit:

• Run the project (green arrow/triangle at the left navigation bar). This should deploy the 64-bit zlib to C:\Qt\Tools\zlib64.

• zlib build and deployment is finished now.

• Create a session for libxlsxwriter (Menu: File -> Sessions -> Manage ...) and open it

• Open C:\Projects\libxlsxwriter-RELEASE_0.9.3\CMakeLists.txt (Menu: File -> Open File or Project): Select both compilers (MinGW 32-bit and 64-bit) and press "Configure Project"

• At the left navigation bar select "Projects" and select "Desktop Qt ... MinGW 32-bit -> Build"

• Change "Edit build configuration to "Release". Add Directory to zlib root (32-bit version): Select "Apply Configuration Changes"

• Adjust options and deployment destination for the 32-bit version of the library:
  
  Select "Apply Configuration Changes"

• If the path referred in Issue Add option USE_DOUBLE_FUNCTION to CMakeLists #269 is applied the option USE_DOUBLE_FUNCTION is also listed. If you are on a none US locale this should be enabled also.

• Configure Run settings and add deployment step for 32-bit like done for zlib above

• At the left navigation bar select "Projects" and select "Desktop Qt ... MinGW 64-bit -> Build"

• Change "Edit build configuration to "Release". Add Directory to zlib root (64-bit version): Select "Apply Configuration Changes"

• Adjust options and deployment destination for the 64-bit version of the library: Select "Apply Configuration Changes"

• If the path referred in Issue Add option USE_DOUBLE_FUNCTION to CMakeLists #269 is applied the option USE_DOUBLE_FUNCTION is also listed. If you are on a none US locale this should be enabled also.

• Configure Run settings and add deployment step for 64-bit like done for zlib above

• select the 32-bit run configuration like done for zlib above.

• Run the project (green arrow/triangle at the left navigation bar). This should deploy the 32-bit libxlsxwriter to C:\Qt\Tools\xlsxwriter32. A dialog pops up asking for run parameters. cancel it.

• select the 64-bit run configuration like done for zlib above.

• Run the project (green arrow/triangle at the left navigation bar). This should deploy the 64-bit libxlsxwriter to C:\Qt\Tools\xlsxwriter64. A dialog pops up asking for run parameters. cancel it.

libxlsxwriter build and deployment is finished now.

zlib is now deployed to C:\Qt\Tools\zlib32 and C:\Qt\Tools\zlib64
libxlsxwriter is now deployed to C:\Qt\Tools\xlsxwriter32 and C:\Qt\Tools\xlsxwriter64

Use ...32 for 32-bit applications and ...64 for 64-bit applications.

[jmcnamara]

I've added a link to your QT guide from the libxlsxwriter docs: https://libxlsxwriter.github.io/getting_started.html#gsg_qt