How to return a QFile ?

Sry for the dumb question, but I'm not very experienced with C++ and I don't manage find the appropriate return type of the following function:

Code:

---

?? MyClass::selectFile(){
    const QString fileName = QFileDialog::getOpenFileName(this,
        tr("Select file"), qgetenv("HOMEPATH")+"\\Desktop", tr("File(*.hex)"));
 
    if(fileName==NULL)
        return NULL;
 
    QFile file(fileName);
 
    return ??;
 
}

---

Helo! You can't return QFile object, because it don't have public copy constructor. It is possoble to return reference or pointer to QFile object but in these case it must be a member of your class (object created in function will be destroyed at the end of function class member not).

Why not

Code:

---

QString MyClass::selectFile() {
    return QFileDialog::getOpenFileName(this, tr("Select file"), qgetenv("HOMEPATH")+"\\Desktop", tr("File(*.hex)"));
}

---

?

Didn't know that, thank you.

So to return a QFile pointer, how it should be?

Code:

---

class MyClass
{
public:
    MyClass();
 
 
    QFile *selectFile();
 
private:
    QFile *myFile;
};
 
MyClass::MyClass()
{
}
 
QFile *MyClass::selectFile()
{
    const QString fileName = "abc";
 
    if(fileName==NULL)
        return NULL;
 
    myFile = new QFile(fileName);
 
    return myFile;
}

---

Keep in mind that this solution may lead to memory leak:

Code:

---

QFile *MyClass::selectFile();
 
//...
 
QFile * file = selectFile();
if (file) {
    doSomethingWithFile(file);
    delete file;
}

---

If "dosomethingWithFile()" throws, control will never reach "delete file" and the resource will leak.
So I don't really understand why you won't use a QString object:

Code:

---

QStrign MyClass::selectFile();
 
//...
 
QString filePath = selectFile();
if (filePath.isEmpty() == false) {
    QFile file(filePath);
    ...
}

---

Or at least use QFile pointer wrapped in smart pointer class, for example QSharedPointer<QFile>.

// edit:
btw. nDorian's code will cause a memory leak if selectFile() is called two or more times in a row without deleting "myFile" pointer in between. I know that this is forum section for "newbies" but this is important, any C++ programmer have to pay attention to such details - I know you are "not very experienced", but the sooner the better :)

I wanted to use QFile object because I thought is more understandable and "natural". But yes, you're right, I'm going to use a QString better.

QFile is the class that does data I/O.
If you only need a reference to the file use either QString or QFileInfo.

If you need the file, e.g. when you function does more than just create the instance, then return a smart pointer

Code:

---

QSharedPointer<QFile> MyClass:getFile()
{
    // ....
 
    QSharedPointer<QFile> file(new QFile(filename);
    file->open(...); // or other tasks with file
 
    return file;
}

---

Cheers,
_