Edit CMake configuration files

To open a CMakeLists.txt file for editing, right-click it in the Projects view and select Open With > CMake Editor.

You can also use the cmo filter in the locator to open the CMakeLists.txt file for the current run configuration in the editor. This is the same build target as when you go to Build and select Build for Run Configuration.

The following features are supported:

• Selecting F2 when the cursor is on a:
  • Filename - to open the file
  • CMake function, macro, option, target, CMake's Find or Include module, local variable created by set or list, or package - to go to that item
• Keyword completion
• Code completion for local functions and variables, cache variables, ENV, targets, packages, and variables that find_package adds
• Pre-defined code snippets for setting CMake print properties and variables, as well as creating Qt console and GUI applications and sample Find modules
• Path completion
• Auto-indentation
• Matching parentheses and quotes
• A quick fix for creating files that a command names but which do not exist yet, with on the lines that name one

Warnings and errors are displayed in Issues.

Create missing files

When you add a source file that does not exist to a command such as add_executable or target_sources, CMake stops the configure run with a Cannot find source file error.

Qt Creator marks the lines that name such a file with . Select it to create the file.

Or, place the cursor on the file name, or anywhere in the command that lists it, select Alt+Enter, and then select Create File.

Either way, Qt Creator creates the file and the directories that lead to it, opens it in the editor, and runs CMake again.

add_subdirectory works the same way: when the directory it names does not exist, or has no CMakeLists.txt, the quick fix creates an empty CMakeLists.txt there. The binary directory, which is the optional second argument, is left to CMake.

Install missing Qt packages

If you add a Qt module in find_package that you did not install, Qt Creator creates an entry in the Issues view with the option to install the missing component with Qt Online Installer.

Click the link to install the package with Qt Online Installer.

To turn off the messages, go to Preferences > CMake > General and clear Maintenance Tool dependency provider.