# Chapter 6: Building Blocks Galore!

This example shows how to encapsulate two widgets into a new component and how easy it is to use many widgets. For the first time, we use a custom widget as a child widget.

    /****************************************************************
    **
    ** Qt tutorial 6
    **
    ****************************************************************/

    #include <qapplication.h>
    #include <qpushbutton.h>
    #include <qscrollbar.h>
    #include <qlcdnumber.h>
    #include <qfont.h>

    class LCDRange : public QWidget
    {
    public:
        LCDRange( QWidget *parent=0, const char *name=0 );
    protected:
        void resizeEvent( QResizeEvent * );
    private:
        QScrollBar  *sBar;
        QLCDNumber  *lcd;
    };

    LCDRange::LCDRange( QWidget *parent, const char *name )
            : QWidget( parent, name )
    {
        lcd  = new QLCDNumber( 2, this, "lcd"  );
        lcd->move( 0, 0 );
        sBar = new QScrollBar( 0, 99,                       // range
                               1, 10,                       // line/page steps
                               0,                           // inital value
                               QScrollBar::Horizontal,      // orientation
                               this, "scrollbar" );
        connect( sBar, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), lcd, SLOT(display(int)) );
    }

    void LCDRange::resizeEvent( QResizeEvent * )
    {
        sBar->setGeometry( 0, height() - 16, width(), 16 );
        lcd->resize( width(), sBar->y() - 5 );
    }

    class MyWidget : public QWidget
    {
    public:
        MyWidget( QWidget *parent=0, const char *name=0 );
    protected:
        void resizeEvent( QResizeEvent * );
    private:
        QPushButton *quit;
        LCDRange *value[16];
    };

    MyWidget::MyWidget( QWidget *parent, const char *name )
            : QWidget( parent, name )
    {
        setMinimumSize( 200, 300 );

        quit = new QPushButton( "Quit", this, "quit" );
        quit->setGeometry( 10, 10, 75, 30 );
        quit->setFont( QFont( "Times", 18, QFont::Bold ) );

        connect( quit, SIGNAL(clicked()), qApp, SLOT(quit()) );

        for( int i = 0 ; i < 16 ; i++ )
            value[i] = new LCDRange( this );
    }

    void MyWidget::resizeEvent( QResizeEvent * )
    {
        int startx      = 10;
        int starty      = quit->y() + quit->height() + 10;
        int valueWidth  = (width() - startx - 10 - 3*5)/4;
        int valueHeight = (height() - starty - 10 - 3*5)/4;
        for( int i = 0 ; i < 16 ; i++ )
            value[i]->setGeometry( startx + (i%4)*(5+valueWidth),
                                   starty + (i/4)*(5+valueHeight),
                                   valueWidth, valueHeight );
    }

    int main( int argc, char **argv )
    {
        QApplication a( argc, argv );

        MyWidget w;
        w.setGeometry( 100, 100, 400, 400 );
        a.setMainWidget( &w );
        w.show();
        return a.exec();
    }

## Line by Line Walk-Through

        class LCDRange : public QWidget
        {
        public:
            LCDRange( QWidget *parent=0, const char *name=0 );
        protected:
            void resizeEvent( QResizeEvent * );
        private:
            QScrollBar  *sBar;
            QLCDNumber  *lcd;
        };

The LCDRange widget is an encapsulation of a QScrollBar and a QLCDNumber, connected together.

        LCDRange::LCDRange( QWidget *parent, const char *name )
                : QWidget( parent, name )
        {
            lcd  = new QLCDNumber( 2, this, "lcd"  );
            lcd->move( 0, 0 );
            sBar = new QScrollBar( 0, 99,                       // range
                                   1, 10,                       // line/page steps
                                   0,                           // inital value
                                   QScrollBar::Horizontal,      // orientation
                                   this, "scrollbar" );
            connect( sBar, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), lcd, SLOT(display(int)) );
        }

This is essentially lifted straight from the MyWidget constructor in chapter five. The only difference is that `lcd` is now placed at coordinate 0,0 (the top left corner of the LCDRange widget) since we're making a new widget and don't want a border. If the widget's user wants a border, he/she can make a border around the LCDRange.

        void LCDRange::resizeEvent( QResizeEvent * )
        {
            sBar->setGeometry( 0, height() - 16, width(), 16 );
            lcd->resize( width(), sBar->y() - 5 );
        }

Since LCDRange doesn't have either a border or quit button, the resize event is simpler than the one in MyWidget.

        private:
            QPushButton *quit;
            LCDRange *value[16];
        };

MyWidget now contains the familiar quit button and an array of 16 LCDRange pointers.

            for( int i = 0 ; i < 16 ; i++ )
                value[i] = new LCDRange( this );

In MyWidget's constructor, we create 16 LCDRanges, all with `this` as parent. Remember that these will be deleted by Qt when MyWidget is destroyed.

        void MyWidget::resizeEvent( QResizeEvent * )
        {
            int startx      = 10;
            int starty      = quit->y() + quit->height() + 10;
            int valueWidth  = (width() - startx - 10 - 3*5)/4;
            int valueHeight = (height() - starty - 10 - 3*5)/4;
            for( int i = 0 ; i < 16 ; i++ )
                value[i]->setGeometry( startx + (i%4)*(5+valueWidth),
                                       starty + (i/4)*(5+valueHeight),
                                       valueWidth, valueHeight );
        }

In the resize event, we calculate and set the geometry of all 16 LCDRanges in a simple for loop.

First we calculate the top left position of the top left LCDRange. We give it a 10 pixel border to the left and a 10 pixel border up to the quit button (see The Coordinate System)

We then calculate the size of each LCDRange. We want a grid of 4x4 widgets with a 10 pixel border to the right and 5 pixels between each one (i.e. 3 borders of 5 pixels in each direction). Note that since we divide by the integer 4, we will get small roundoff errors.

Next, we set each individual geometry in a simple loop. We calculate the position using integer modulo and divide and remember to add 5 for the border between each one.

## Behavior

This program shows how easy it is to use many widgets at a time. Each single one behaves like the scroll bar and LCD number in the previous chapter. Again, the difference lies in the implementation.

## Excercises

Change MyWidget so each LCDRange is guaranteed to be square.

Initialize each scroll bar with a different/random value on startup.

You may now go on to chapter seven.

[Previous tutorial] [Next tutorial] [Main tutorial page]