Debugger helper

Okay, I give up. What kind of magic do you have to do to even compile Debugger helper, let alone use it? Every time I try to compile the thing I get messages like: "undefined reference to '_imp_ZSqlFreePv', etc, etc, etc.
I'm using Qt 4.5.1 and when I'm debugging in Creator, the debugger will stop at my break points, but it won't tell me the value of my variables. I can get every other bit of info on the variables, just not the value. I'm assuming that this infamous "Debugging Helper" will help me see these values.

I don't think the helper uses any SQL calls. Are you sure they are not within your application? Does it use SQL?

Here's what I did, I opened Tools->Options->Qt4 and saw that I have a red "X" where my debugging helper should be listed. So I made sure that the MinGw Directory was pointed in the right place and I clicked "Rebuild". When it finished I clicked "Show Log". Here is some of what I found in the Log file...

Building debugging helper library in C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper/

Running C:/DevTools/MinGW/bin/mingw32-make.exe clean...
C:/DevTools/MinGW/bin/mingw32-make -f Makefile.Debug clean
mingw32-make[1]: Entering directory `C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper'
rm tmp/obj/debug_static/gdbmacros.o
mingw32-make[1]: [clean] Error -1073741515 (ignored)
rm debug/libgdbmacros.a
mingw32-make[1]: [clean] Error -1073741515 (ignored)
mingw32-make[1]: Leaving directory `C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper'
C:/DevTools/MinGW/bin/mingw32-make -f Makefile.Release clean
mingw32-make[1]: Entering directory `C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper'
rm tmp/obj/release_static/gdbmacros.o
mingw32-make[1]: [clean] Error -1073741515 (ignored)
rm release/libgdbmacros.a
mingw32-make[1]: [clean] Error -1073741515 (ignored)
mingw32-make[1]: Leaving directory `C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper'
rm libgdbmacros.a
mingw32-make: [clean] Error -1073741515 (ignored)

Runinng C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/bin/qmake.exe ...

Running C:/DevTools/MinGW/bin/mingw32-make.exe ...
C:/DevTools/MinGW/bin/mingw32-make -f Makefile.Debug all
mingw32-make[1]: Entering directory `C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper'
g++ -enable-stdcall-fixup -Wl,-enable-auto-import -Wl,-enable-runtime-pseudo-reloc -shared -Wl,--out-implib,debug/libgdbmacros.a -o debug/gdbmacros.dll tmp/obj/debug_static/gdbmacros.o -L'c:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/lib' -L'c:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/lib' -lQtGuid -lgdi32 -lcomdlg32 -loleaut32 -limm32 -lwinmm -lwinspool -lmsimg32 -lQtCored -lkernel32 -luser32 -lshell32 -luuid -lole32 -ladvapi32 -lws2_32
tmp/obj/debug_static/gdbmacros.o: In function `ZN22_GLOBAL__N_qtGhVersion13isPointerTypeERK10QBy teArray':
C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper/gdbmacros.cpp:216: undefined reference to `_imp___ZNK10QByteArray8endsWithEPKc'
C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper/gdbmacros.cpp:216: undefined reference to `_imp___ZNK10QByteArray8endsWithEPKc'
tmp/obj/debug_static/gdbmacros.o: In function `ZN22_GLOBAL__N_qtGhVersion16stripPointerTypeE10QB yteArray':
C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper/gdbmacros.cpp:221: undefined reference to `_imp___ZNK10QByteArray8endsWithEPKc'
C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper/gdbmacros.cpp:222: undefined reference to `_imp___ZN10QByteArray4chopEi'
C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper/gdbmacros.cpp:223: undefined reference to `_imp___ZNK10QByteArray8endsWithEPKc'


C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper/../include/QtCore/../../src/corelib/tools/qlist.h: (.text$_ZNK5QListI7QStringE5firstEv[QList<QString>::first() const]+0x2d ): undefined reference to `_imp___Z9qt_assertPKcS0_i'
C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper/../include/QtCore/../../src/corelib/tools/qlist.h: (.text$_ZNK5QListI7QStringE4lastEv[QList<QString>::last() const]+0x2d): undefined reference to `_imp___Z9qt_assertPKcS0_i'
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
mingw32-make[1]: *** [debug/gdbmacros.dll] Error 1
mingw32-make[1]: Leaving directory `C:/DevTools/Qt4.5.1/qtc-debugging-helper'
mingw32-make: *** [debug-all] Error 2

Thanks for your help!

Actually, I may not even need the Debugging Helper if I can figure out how to display the values of my variables while debugging. I'm getting their memory address, what type they are, etc, but I'm not getting the one thing I REALLY need which is the value. If I have a QString cheese and I set it to "Whine", when I look at the db window, I see that its name is cheese, it's a QString, it has a memory address of blah, blah, but NO WHERE does it tell me that the value is Whine. I see a column called "value" but there is nothing listed in it for the variable. How do I display the value of the variable during debug?

Thanks

That's what the helper is for. You can also google for some helper scripts for gdb which do the same. Nevertheless the code should compile.

I am trying to run creator on Windows. Would that make a difference? I'm open to any reason you might think of that I could be getting the errors I'm getting. The output log I posted earlier was just a SMALL part of the 30KB file that was produced when I tried to compile it.

Is anyone else having this problem?

Thanks

Okay, it seems to be a Windows thing. I was able to compile Debugger Helper under CentOS Linux just fine. So, since I'm developing under windows, what do I need to do to have Debugger Helper compile under Windows?

Thanks

Does this happen for every application?

No, I'm working on several applications using Qt Creator and all of them compile fine under Windows. One of the applications uses XML, SQL, threads, GUI and it has no problem what so ever. The only app that I've had this trouble with is Debugger Helper.

Ok, but debugger helper should be compiled for every application you run within Creator. Isnt't that the case for you?

Okay, I think I'm missing something here. Let me explain what I'm doing and then you might be able to see what I'm doing wrong. If you could, could you walk me through what I'm supposed to do to Compile Debugger helper after you read this?
Let's say I have a program that I'm writing called "Hello World". I open Qt Creator and start a new project. I tell the wizard that I don't want a GUI, it's a Qt4 Console App. After I write my code I go to Tools -> Options-> Qt4-> Qt Versions and I have an entry in the table called Auto-detected with a valid path to my Qt build and a red "X" under the Debugger Helper column. So, I browse until I find my MinGw Directory and then I click the "Rebuild" button. When it finishes, I still have a red "X" in the Debugger Helper column and I click the "Show Log" button and there are hundreds and hundreds of "undefined reference" errors.

I have done this same process for each of the applications I'm building and the result is always the same.

Thanks

Unfortunately for me it just works... I'm currently running under Linux with Qt 4.5.0 installed.

Did you compile Qt yourself?

As I said in an earlier post, I was able to compile it fine under Linux. However, I am trying to compile it under Windows XP, service pack 3, using Qt 4.5.1. I'm wondering if it cannot be compiled under Windows XP, (or any windows for that matter). Has anyone been able to compile Debugger Helper under Microsoft Windows at all and, if so, how did you do it?

Thanks

But how did you install Qt on Windows?

I built it using the MinGW compiler version 3.4.5. Static build with debugging.

Then probably the static nature of your Qt bundle is causing the trouble. It seems the compilation can't access your Qt libs using -lQtCored and -lQtGuid. You might try compiling the helper manually substituting the faulty compiler call with a hand-crafted proper one.

First off, let me say something that I should have said earlier...thank you for your help with all this. I do appreciate the time your taking to help me fix this. I also think you're probably right about the static install. I have to confess, however, that I'm a little confused on how to create a proper compiler call. Could you give me an example of something like what you're talking about?

Thanks again

I'm not sure if it is possible at all but if I were to try, I would take the line the linker complained against and I'd substitute the -lQtXXX entries with proper static equivalents (libQtCored.a or something like that).

By the way, developping in a static environment compiled in debug mode is... weird :) Consider developping using dynamic libraries and only do the final link against static-release build of Qt when you give the application to the client.

Have you tried removing all references to any Visual Studio directories in your system LIB and INCLUDE environment variables?

I had the same problem, and I solved it by actually deleting those two system variables from Control Panel-->System-->Advanced-->Environment Variables.

Reference:
http://www.qtforum.org/post/82495/co...html#post82495

Hi all, I didn't want to start a new thread so I will reply on this one

I am able to build the debugger helper, I have the green check in the Qt version I am using, the IDE does not complaint about not finding the debugger helper but the debugger cannot see the contents of any Qt type.

I have removed the CONFIG line in the .pro file, it was += debug though...

I am running QtCreator in Windows Vista, and I am not sure if that is a problem.

do you have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Hello, I am using Qt 4.5.2 and QtCreator 1.2 on Windows XP.

There is a problem with Debugger helper:
http://pic.ipicture.ru/uploads/090705/HxRx8kAN6j.png

Here are my Qt4 options:
http://pic.ipicture.ru/uploads/090705/T1GEYVg3h6.png

And this checkbox is always resetted (even if check it and press OK):
http://pic.ipicture.ru/uploads/090705/A4iCE0zn5F.png

Can anyone explain how to enable debugger helper?
Thanks in advance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kamre

Hello, I am using Qt 4.5.2 and QtCreator 1.2 on Windows XP.

There is a problem with Debugger helper:
http://pic.ipicture.ru/uploads/090705/HxRx8kAN6j.png

Here are my Qt4 options:
http://pic.ipicture.ru/uploads/090705/T1GEYVg3h6.png

And this checkbox is always resetted (even if check it and press OK):
http://pic.ipicture.ru/uploads/090705/A4iCE0zn5F.png

Can anyone explain how to enable debugger helper?
Thanks in advance.

---

Same configuration, same problems.

So far I couldn't find any solution...

How nice, I made the debugger helper working under windows (latest QT release 4.5.2, QTCreator 1.2.0).

- Tools->Options->Debugger->Cdb (click under the link "Debugging Tools for Windows") and Install the debugger tools

- Tools->Options->Debugger->Cdb->autodetect
- Tools->Options->Debugger->Debugger helper-> Debug Debugger helper

and now it works!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chal61

How nice, I made the debugger helper working under windows (latest QT release 4.5.2, QTCreator 1.2.0).

- Tools->Options->Debugger->Cdb (click under the link "Debugging Tools for Windows") and Install the debugger tools

- Tools->Options->Debugger->Cdb->autodetect
- Tools->Options->Debugger->Debugger helper-> Debug Debugger helper

and now it works!

---

Hi,

Thanks for the tip: only partial success here.

I run Qt Creator 1.2.0 based on Qt 4.5.2 (32 bit) (pre-compiled binaries) on XP SP3. Installed the MS Dbg tools for Win (in a custom folder, so I could not use "Autodetect" but entered the CDB path directly).

Result: I get reasonably complete data about Qt objects the first time I debug an app in a Qt session (note: reasonably complete, not totally).

But when the app finishes and I try to re-run it, I get the old, un-populated obejct data again. I have to stop Qt Creator, re-start it and debug again: not really convenient...

Something is definitely missing...

Miwarre

P.S.: I am surprised that so few people complain about this very important fact: does (almost) nobody debug his/her apps?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by miwarre

Hi,

Thanks for the tip: only partial success here.

I run Qt Creator 1.2.0 based on Qt 4.5.2 (32 bit) (pre-compiled binaries) on XP SP3. Installed the MS Dbg tools for Win (in a custom folder, so I could not use "Autodetect" but entered the CDB path directly).

Result: I get reasonably complete data about Qt objects the first time I debug an app in a Qt session (note: reasonably complete, not totally).

But when the app finishes and I try to re-run it, I get the old, un-populated obejct data again. I have to stop Qt Creator, re-start it and debug again: not really convenient...

Something is definitely missing...

Miwarre

P.S.: I am surprised that so few people complain about this very important fact: does (almost) nobody debug his/her apps?

---

Use 1.2.1. Several bugs related to debugging have been fixed there, among them the "vanishing checkmark" and the "faulty second run"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chal61

How nice, I made the debugger helper working under windows (latest QT release 4.5.2, QTCreator 1.2.0).

- Tools->Options->Debugger->Cdb (click under the link "Debugging Tools for Windows") and Install the debugger tools

- Tools->Options->Debugger->Cdb->autodetect
- Tools->Options->Debugger->Debugger helper-> Debug Debugger helper

and now it works!

---

That's probably pure accident. The comments in the code regarding "Debug Debugging helpers" suggest that this was intended for internal use only and
not meant to be present in a "release" build.

Try to use version 1.2.1. That has several critical fixes in that area.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ktk

Try to use version 1.2.1. That has several critical fixes in that area.

---

Oooops, I failed to notice Creator 1.2.1! Installed and things are much better.

Thanks,

M.

I also have this problem on openSUSE 11.1, KDE 4.2.2 (110), Qt 4.1.1, QtCreator 1.2.1 - i.e. I can't see contents of QStrings, etc. (forced to use qDebug() << ....).

Does anyone have the magic bullet for linux/openSUSE/KDE?

The message "Debugging helpers not found" (along with the inability to use helpers) persists even though "Rebuild" seems to be a success and the libraries (and links) seem to be in the right place; log output is :

Building debugging helper library in /home/jdcook/qtcreator-1.2.1/bin/../qtc-debugging-helper/224418/

Running /usr/bin/make clean...
rm -f gdbmacros.o
rm -f *~ core *.core

Running /usr/bin/qmake ...

Running /usr/bin/make ...
g++ -c -pipe -g -Wall -W -D_REENTRANT -fPIC -DUSE_QT_GUI=0 -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_SHARED -I/usr/share/qt4/mkspecs/linux-g++ -I. -I/usr/include/QtCore -I/usr/include -I. -I. -o gdbmacros.o gdbmacros.cpp
rm -f libgdbmacros.so.1.0.0 libgdbmacros.so libgdbmacros.so.1 libgdbmacros.so.1.0
g++ -shared -Wl,-soname,libgdbmacros.so.1 -o libgdbmacros.so.1.0.0 gdbmacros.o -L/usr/lib -lQtCore -L/usr/lib -lz -lm -pthread -lgthread-2.0 -lrt -lglib-2.0 -ldl -lpthread
ln -s libgdbmacros.so.1.0.0 libgdbmacros.so
ln -s libgdbmacros.so.1.0.0 libgdbmacros.so.1
ln -s libgdbmacros.so.1.0.0 libgdbmacros.so.1.0

I think this was have something to do with administrator privilages on the computer.
I am having the same problem (debugger helper does not work despite green checkmark).
I tried rebuilding it as well, and my log file shows the same thing

This exact problem from the original post seems to still exist in latest version of QT Creator (1.3.1). Unable to rebuild the debugging helper, and get what look to be the same errors.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chal61

How nice, I made the debugger helper working under windows (latest QT release 4.5.2, QTCreator 1.2.0).

- Tools->Options->Debugger->Cdb (click under the link "Debugging Tools for Windows") and Install the debugger tools

- Tools->Options->Debugger->Cdb->autodetect
- Tools->Options->Debugger->Debugger helper-> Debug Debugger helper

and now it works!

---

Followed these steps up until the last one, which no longer seems to be present in QTCreator, and it still complains about no debugger helper being present and will not show me the values of variables. Really terribly frustrating that it isn't even straight forward to do basic things like debug a QT application...

Thinking that something can't be done because I'm unable to do it is a very egocentric approach. Please don't do that.

You are using MSVC as your compiler, right?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by manekineko

This exact problem from the original post seems to still exist in latest version of QT Creator (1.3.1). Unable to rebuild the debugging helper, and get what look to be the same errors.



Followed these steps up until the last one, which no longer seems to be present in QTCreator, and it still complains about no debugger helper being present and will not show me the values of variables. Really terribly frustrating that it isn't even straight forward to do basic things like debug a QT application...

---

First of all, debugging works independently of the existence of the Debugging Helpers. They "only" provide a means to get a more direct display of types like QString, QHash, std::map etc. Without them you still have access to all your data.

Second, http://qt.gitorious.org/qt-creator/p...AskedQuestions does contain an answer to the question "The debugger does not work. What kind of information is helpful? "

Hi everyone!

I read this topic and many other, but still can't understand how fix this trouble "debugging helpers not found".
I have latest version of SDK Qt(4.6.2) and Qt Creator(2.0 beta -newer than SDK) to date:
Attachment 4740

Firstly I see to this, seems that's all right:
Attachment 4744
Secondly:
Attachment 4743

Elseone rebuilt qtc-debugger-helper:

Quote:

---

Building debugging helper library in d:/Qt/2010.02.1/qt/qtc-debugging-helper/


Running d:/qt/2010.02.1/qt/bin/qmake.exe ...

Running D:/Qt/2010.02.1/mingw/bin/mingw32-make.exe ...
D:/Qt/2010.02.1/mingw/bin/mingw32-make -f Makefile.Debug all
mingw32-make[1]: Entering directory `d:/Qt/2010.02.1/qt/qtc-debugging-helper'
g++ -c -g -frtti -fexceptions -mthreads -Wall -DUNICODE -DQT_LARGEFILE_SUPPORT -DUSE_QT_GUI=1 -DHAS_QOBJECT_P_H -DQT_DLL -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_THREAD_SUPPORT -I'../include/QtCore' -I'../include/QtGui' -I'../include' -I'../include/ActiveQt' -I'tmp/moc/debug_shared' -I'../mkspecs/win32-g++' -o tmp/obj/debug_shared/gdbmacros.o gdbmacros.cpp
gdbmacros.cpp: In member function '<unnamed>::QDumper&<unnamed>::QDumper::put(long long unsigned int)':
gdbmacros.cpp:580: warning: unknown conversion type character 'l' in format
gdbmacros.cpp:580: warning: too many arguments for format
gdbmacros.cpp: In member function '<unnamed>::QDumper&<unnamed>::QDumper::put(long long int)':
gdbmacros.cpp:587: warning: unknown conversion type character 'l' in format
gdbmacros.cpp:587: warning: too many arguments for format
gdbmacros.cpp: At global scope:
gdbmacros.cpp:276: warning: 'bool<unnamed>::couldBePointer(const void*)' defined but not used
g++ -enable-stdcall-fixup -Wl,-enable-auto-import -Wl,-enable-runtime-pseudo-reloc -shared -mthreads -Wl -Wl,--out-implib,debug/libgdbmacros.a -o debug/gdbmacros.dll tmp/obj/debug_shared/gdbmacros.o -L'd:/Qt/2010.02.1/qt/lib' -L'd:/Qt/2010.02.1/qt/lib' -lQtGuid4 -lQtCored4
Creating library file: debug/libgdbmacros.a
mingw32-make[1]: Leaving directory `d:/Qt/2010.02.1/qt/qtc-debugging-helper'
D:/Qt/2010.02.1/mingw/bin/mingw32-make -f Makefile.Release all
mingw32-make[1]: Entering directory `d:/Qt/2010.02.1/qt/qtc-debugging-helper'
g++ -c -O2 -frtti -fexceptions -mthreads -Wall -DUNICODE -DQT_LARGEFILE_SUPPORT -DUSE_QT_GUI=1 -DHAS_QOBJECT_P_H -DQT_DLL -DQT_NO_DEBUG -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_THREAD_SUPPORT -I'../include/QtCore' -I'../include/QtGui' -I'../include' -I'../include/ActiveQt' -I'tmp/moc/release_shared' -I'../mkspecs/win32-g++' -o tmp/obj/release_shared/gdbmacros.o gdbmacros.cpp
gdbmacros.cpp: In member function '<unnamed>::QDumper&<unnamed>::QDumper::put(long long unsigned int)':
gdbmacros.cpp:580: warning: unknown conversion type character 'l' in format
gdbmacros.cpp:580: warning: too many arguments for format
gdbmacros.cpp: In member function '<unnamed>::QDumper&<unnamed>::QDumper::put(long long int)':
gdbmacros.cpp:587: warning: unknown conversion type character 'l' in format
gdbmacros.cpp:587: warning: too many arguments for format
gdbmacros.cpp: At global scope:
gdbmacros.cpp:276: warning: 'bool<unnamed>::couldBePointer(const void*)' defined but not used
g++ -enable-stdcall-fixup -Wl,-enable-auto-import -Wl,-enable-runtime-pseudo-reloc -Wl,-s -shared -mthreads -Wl -Wl,--out-implib,release/libgdbmacros.a -o release/gdbmacros.dll tmp/obj/release_shared/gdbmacros.o -L'd:/Qt/2010.02.1/qt/lib' -L'd:/Qt/2010.02.1/qt/lib' -lQtGui4 -lQtCore4
Creating library file: release/libgdbmacros.a
mingw32-make[1]: Leaving directory `d:/Qt/2010.02.1/qt/qtc-debugging-helper'

---

But still have same message, and still can't see Qt types values in watch:
Attachment 4742

Hi there,
I'm also having difficulty with the debug helper for Qt creator version 1.3.1, installed using Qt2010.02 windows installer (installed onto Windows XP SP2). I have removed all previous versions of Qt from the computer, there is no MSVC installed.
The debug helper compiles, giving the little green tick, but when running in debug mode, it says the helper is not available. I have reinstalled again from scratch, but with no effect. I have no problems with my Mandriva 2010 Linux installation, and had no problems debugging with the previous version creator 1.0 (Qt2009.01).