How any widget/frame/button to be displayed/look like outside boundary of main window

Hi

Please see the attached screenshots of software clean my Mac(Dummy-min.jpg)
I have to create same screen for my application.
This window contains two specific widget - one vertical frame containing a lot of options - showing outside the boundary of main window.
second Scan button is showing outside the boundary of main window.

Please help me or guide me that how we can create like this type of windows.
I am using Qt 5.14 for MacOS.

Please reply.

I think you could create these as top-level, frameless widgets (or non-modal dialogs) and use the Qt::FramelessWindowHint and Qt::WindowStaysOnTopHint window flags. (i.e. created with no parent) The widget containing the button might need a transparent background. If these windows have to stay in the same position relative to the main window, then you'll have to implement QEvent-handling code in the main window code for move, resize, hide, show, close, and maybe some other events to move / hide / close these other windows along with the main window.

Since they have no parent, you will have to explicitly call deleteLater() when the main window is destroyed, I think. This should probably be done in a main window slot connected to the QObject::destroyed() signal for the main window. If you do it in the main window destructor instead, I think that will be too late and could cause a crash.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by d_stranz

I think you could create these as top-level, frameless widgets (or non-modal dialogs) and use the Qt::FramelessWindowHint and Qt::WindowStaysOnTopHint window flags. (i.e. created with no parent) The widget containing the button might need a transparent background. If these windows have to stay in the same position relative to the main window, then you'll have to implement QEvent-handling code in the main window code for move, resize, hide, show, close, and maybe some other events to move / hide / close these other windows along with the main window.

Since they have no parent, you will have to explicitly call deleteLater() when the main window is destroyed, I think. This should probably be done in a main window slot connected to the QObject::destroyed() signal for the main window. If you do it in the main window destructor instead, I think that will be too late and could cause a crash.

---

Thanks for reply.
I am trying to implement as per your guidance. I will get back soon if I face some issue.

Thanks

---

Added after 1 17 minutes:

Dear Sir

I have attached sample code on which I am working. I have attached created screen also.
I have created two widget. One is the Main window which contains Minimize, Maximize and close button and Title bar should be pressed and movable.
Second screen is the Frame Option and Button and have done the transparent background of second widget. Both Window look like one windows that is excellant but First windows is not clickable and second screen is coming front on first windows.
Please tell me how first windows should be clickable, title bar should be movable when second windows is showing in front and taking control.

Please reply What is incorrect method that I am following. please provide the solution.

Thanks
Santosh

I am not going to write your code for you. When I have time later today, I will look at what you have written already and see if there is anything that seems like a problem and tell you about it.

Please explain which windows you mean when you say "first window", "second window", and so forth. Is the "first window" the one with the vertical row of buttons and "second window" the one with the round button?

Edit:

- You need to create separate windows for your column of buttons and the round button instead of putting them into a combined "CustomSplash" dialog.

- If you inherit them from QDialog, then they need to be non-modal. Your CustomSplash widget is application modal, so that prevents the main window from getting focus.

- When you create the window for the column of buttons and the round button, you should set the windows flags WindowStaysOnTopHint and FramelessWindowHint. This will prevent them from moving behind the main window when it has focus.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by d_stranz

I am not going to write your code for you. When I have time later today, I will look at what you have written already and see if there is anything that seems like a problem and tell you about it.

Please explain which windows you mean when you say "first window", "second window", and so forth. Is the "first window" the one with the vertical row of buttons and "second window" the one with the round button?

Edit:

- You need to create separate windows for your column of buttons and the round button instead of putting them into a combined "CustomSplash" dialog.

- If you inherit them from QDialog, then they need to be non-modal. Your CustomSplash widget is application modal, so that prevents the main window from getting focus.

- When you create the window for the column of buttons and the round button, you should set the windows flags WindowStaysOnTopHint and FramelessWindowHint. This will prevent them from moving behind the main window when it has focus.

---

Dear Sir
Thanks for reply. Sir, I am working as per your guidance and as per Edit and I will be back soon if face any issue.

Thanks
Santosh

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by santosh.kumar

Dear Sir
Thanks for reply. Sir, I am working as per your guidance and as per Edit and I will be back soon if face any issue.

Thanks
Santosh

---

I am facing issue. I have created separate windows for column of buttons and the round button.
How to make modeless Qt window on top of our main window, but not on top of other applications.

Please reply.

Can you post the code that shows how you are creating your windows? It would be best if you eliminated any extra code and just gave an example that builds and runs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by d_stranz

Can you post the code that shows how you are creating your windows? It would be best if you eliminated any extra code and just gave an example that builds and runs.

---

Dear Sir

I have attached compiled & cleaned sample code - FancyWidget.zip(51.6 KB)
Please help me.

Thanks
Santosh

OK, try this. I have modified your code in place, so be sure you copy this exactly. There are some changes (like removing WindowStaysOnTopHint) that are not obvious. You will need to do the same for your button widget.

MainWindow.h:

Code:

---

#ifndef _MAINWINDOW_H
#define _MAINWINDOW_H
 
#include <QMainWindow>
#include <QPushButton>
#include <QMouseEvent>
#include <QHBoxLayout>
#include <QVBoxLayout>
#include <QLabel>
#include <QDialog>
#include <QPainter>
#include <QBitmap>
 
#include "ui_MainWindow.h"
 
class CustomRoundButtonWidget;
class CustomFrameWidget;
 
class MainWindow:public QMainWindow, public Ui::MainDialog
{
	Q_OBJECT
public:
	MainWindow(QWidget *parent = 0);
    void MoveCustomFrameWidget();
 
protected:
	void mouseReleaseEvent(QMouseEvent *event);
	void mouseMoveEvent(QMouseEvent *event);
	void mousePressEvent(QMouseEvent *event);
 
	void closeEvent( QCloseEvent * pEvent );
	void showEvent( QShowEvent * pEvent );
	void hideEvent( QHideEvent * pEvent );
 
	bool event( QEvent * pEvent ) override;
 
private slots:
    void OnMinimized();
 
private:
	bool IsPointInCaption(const QPoint& point);
private:
	QPoint m_dragPosition;
public:
    CustomFrameWidget* m_pCustomFrameWidget;
};

---

MainWindow.cpp:

Code:

---

#include <QBitmap>
#include <QPainter>
#include	<QEvent>
#include	<QDebug>
 
#include "MainWindow.h"
 
bool dragged = false;
 
MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent):QMainWindow(parent)
{
	setupUi(this);
 
	setWindowFlags(Qt::Window | Qt::FramelessWindowHint);
	setWindowTitle(tr("Fancy Widget"));
 
	setMouseTracking(true);
	setStyleSheet(
		"* {color: qlineargradient(spread:pad, x1:0 y1:0, x2:1 y2:0, stop:0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 255), stop:1 rgba(255, 255, 255, 255));"
		 "background: qlineargradient(x1:0 y1:0, x2:0 y2:1, stop:0 cyan, stop:1 blue);}");
 
	QString strMinimize = "QPushButton{border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMinimize.png)}"
						  "QPushButton:hover { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMinimizeHover.png)}"
						  "QPushButton:pressed { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMinimizePressed.png);}";
	MinButton->setStyleSheet(strMinimize);
 
	QString strMaximize = "QPushButton{border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMaximize.png)}"
						  "QPushButton:hover { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMaximizeHover.png)}"
						  "QPushButton:pressed { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMaximizePressed.png);}";
	MaxButton->setStyleSheet(strMaximize);
 
	QString strClose = "QPushButton{border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleClose.png)}"
					   "QPushButton:hover { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleCloseHover.png)}"
					  "QPushButton:pressed { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleClosePressed.png);}";
	CloseButton->setStyleSheet(strClose);
 
	m_pCustomFrameWidget = new CustomFrameWidget();
 
	connect( MinButton, SIGNAL( clicked() ), this, SLOT( OnMinimized() ) );
	connect( CloseButton, SIGNAL( clicked() ), this, SLOT( close() ) );
 
}
void MainWindow::MoveCustomFrameWidget()
{
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->move(this->pos().x() - 40, this->pos().y() + 40);
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->show();
}
 
void MainWindow::OnMinimized()
{
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->showMinimized();
	this->showMinimized();
 
}
void MainWindow::mouseMoveEvent(QMouseEvent *event)
{
	QMainWindow::mouseMoveEvent(event);
	if(dragged && event->buttons() & Qt::LeftButton)
	{
		move(event->globalPos()-m_dragPosition);
		m_pCustomFrameWidget->move((event->globalPos() - m_dragPosition).x() - 40, (event->globalPos() - m_dragPosition).y() + 40);
		event->accept();
	}
}
void MainWindow::mouseReleaseEvent(QMouseEvent *event)
{
	QMainWindow::mouseReleaseEvent(event);
	if(!dragged && event->button() == Qt::LeftButton)
	{
		if(IsPointInCaption(event->pos()))
		{
			m_dragPosition = event->pos();
		}
	}
	dragged = false;
}
bool MainWindow::IsPointInCaption(const QPoint & point)
{
	QRect captionRect(0,0,800,30);
	return (captionRect.contains(point));
}
void MainWindow::mousePressEvent(QMouseEvent *event)
{
    if(event->button() == Qt::LeftButton) 
	{
		dragged = false;
		QPoint pos = event->globalPos();
		if(IsPointInCaption(event->pos()))
		{
			dragged = true;
			m_dragPosition = pos - frameGeometry().topLeft();
		}
    }
	QMainWindow::mousePressEvent(event);
}
 
void  MainWindow::closeEvent( QCloseEvent * pEvent )
{
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->close();
}
 
void  MainWindow::showEvent( QShowEvent * pEvent )
{
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->showNormal();
}
 
void  MainWindow::hideEvent( QHideEvent * pEvent )
{
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->hide();
}
 
bool  MainWindow::event( QEvent * pEvent )
{
	bool bResult = QMainWindow::event( pEvent );
	if ( QEvent::WindowActivate == pEvent->type() )
		m_pCustomFrameWidget->raise();
	return bResult;
}
 
CustomFrameWidget::CustomFrameWidget(QWidget* parent) :QDialog(parent)
{
	setupUi(this);
	setWindowFlags(Qt::Window | Qt::FramelessWindowHint );
 
	frame->setStyleSheet(
		"* {color: qlineargradient(spread:pad, x1:0 y1:0, x2:1 y2:0, stop:0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 255), stop:1 rgba(255, 255, 255, 255));"
		"background: qlineargradient( x1:0 y1:0, x2:1 y2:0, stop:0 green, stop:1 darkMagenta);}");
 
	this->setAttribute(Qt::WA_TranslucentBackground, true);
}

---

The important thing is that all of the widgets must be top-level widgets (or at least have the same parent, in this case the desktop widget since they are created with no parent).

To make this easier to add more widgets (such as your button), I would create a struct like this:

Code:

---

struct AttachedWidget
{
   QWidget * mpWidget = nullptr;
   QPos mRelativePos = QPos( 0, 0 );
}

---

Then I would add a new method and a member variable to MainWindow:

Code:

---

public:
    void attachWidget( QWidget * pWidget, const QPos & relativePos );
 
private:
    QList< AttachedWidget > mAttachedWidgets;

---

And modify MainWindow.cpp:

Code:

---

void MainWindow::attachWidget( QWidget * pWidget, const QPos & relativePos )
{
   AttachedWidget  attached;
 
   attached.mpWidget = pWidget;
   attached.mRelativePos = relativePos;
 
   mAttachedWidgets.push_back( attached );
}
 
// and change the methods:
 
void MainWindow::closeEvent( QCloseEvent * pEvent )
{
   for ( attachedWidget : mAttachedWidgets )
    attachedWidget.mpWidget->close();
}
 
// and so forth for the other events

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by d_stranz

OK, try this. I have modified your code in place, so be sure you copy this exactly. There are some changes (like removing WindowStaysOnTopHint) that are not obvious. You will need to do the same for your button widget.

MainWindow.h:

Code:

---

#ifndef _MAINWINDOW_H
#define _MAINWINDOW_H
 
#include <QMainWindow>
#include <QPushButton>
#include <QMouseEvent>
#include <QHBoxLayout>
#include <QVBoxLayout>
#include <QLabel>
#include <QDialog>
#include <QPainter>
#include <QBitmap>
 
#include "ui_MainWindow.h"
 
class CustomRoundButtonWidget;
class CustomFrameWidget;
 
class MainWindow:public QMainWindow, public Ui::MainDialog
{
	Q_OBJECT
public:
	MainWindow(QWidget *parent = 0);
    void MoveCustomFrameWidget();
 
protected:
	void mouseReleaseEvent(QMouseEvent *event);
	void mouseMoveEvent(QMouseEvent *event);
	void mousePressEvent(QMouseEvent *event);
 
	void closeEvent( QCloseEvent * pEvent );
	void showEvent( QShowEvent * pEvent );
	void hideEvent( QHideEvent * pEvent );
 
	bool event( QEvent * pEvent ) override;
 
private slots:
    void OnMinimized();
 
private:
	bool IsPointInCaption(const QPoint& point);
private:
	QPoint m_dragPosition;
public:
    CustomFrameWidget* m_pCustomFrameWidget;
};

---

MainWindow.cpp:

Code:

---

#include <QBitmap>
#include <QPainter>
#include	<QEvent>
#include	<QDebug>
 
#include "MainWindow.h"
 
bool dragged = false;
 
MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent):QMainWindow(parent)
{
	setupUi(this);
 
	setWindowFlags(Qt::Window | Qt::FramelessWindowHint);
	setWindowTitle(tr("Fancy Widget"));
 
	setMouseTracking(true);
	setStyleSheet(
		"* {color: qlineargradient(spread:pad, x1:0 y1:0, x2:1 y2:0, stop:0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 255), stop:1 rgba(255, 255, 255, 255));"
		 "background: qlineargradient(x1:0 y1:0, x2:0 y2:1, stop:0 cyan, stop:1 blue);}");
 
	QString strMinimize = "QPushButton{border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMinimize.png)}"
						  "QPushButton:hover { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMinimizeHover.png)}"
						  "QPushButton:pressed { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMinimizePressed.png);}";
	MinButton->setStyleSheet(strMinimize);
 
	QString strMaximize = "QPushButton{border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMaximize.png)}"
						  "QPushButton:hover { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMaximizeHover.png)}"
						  "QPushButton:pressed { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleMaximizePressed.png);}";
	MaxButton->setStyleSheet(strMaximize);
 
	QString strClose = "QPushButton{border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleClose.png)}"
					   "QPushButton:hover { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleCloseHover.png)}"
					  "QPushButton:pressed { border-image: url(:/images/img_TitleClosePressed.png);}";
	CloseButton->setStyleSheet(strClose);
 
	m_pCustomFrameWidget = new CustomFrameWidget();
 
	connect( MinButton, SIGNAL( clicked() ), this, SLOT( OnMinimized() ) );
	connect( CloseButton, SIGNAL( clicked() ), this, SLOT( close() ) );
 
}
void MainWindow::MoveCustomFrameWidget()
{
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->move(this->pos().x() - 40, this->pos().y() + 40);
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->show();
}
 
void MainWindow::OnMinimized()
{
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->showMinimized();
	this->showMinimized();
 
}
void MainWindow::mouseMoveEvent(QMouseEvent *event)
{
	QMainWindow::mouseMoveEvent(event);
	if(dragged && event->buttons() & Qt::LeftButton)
	{
		move(event->globalPos()-m_dragPosition);
		m_pCustomFrameWidget->move((event->globalPos() - m_dragPosition).x() - 40, (event->globalPos() - m_dragPosition).y() + 40);
		event->accept();
	}
}
void MainWindow::mouseReleaseEvent(QMouseEvent *event)
{
	QMainWindow::mouseReleaseEvent(event);
	if(!dragged && event->button() == Qt::LeftButton)
	{
		if(IsPointInCaption(event->pos()))
		{
			m_dragPosition = event->pos();
		}
	}
	dragged = false;
}
bool MainWindow::IsPointInCaption(const QPoint & point)
{
	QRect captionRect(0,0,800,30);
	return (captionRect.contains(point));
}
void MainWindow::mousePressEvent(QMouseEvent *event)
{
    if(event->button() == Qt::LeftButton) 
	{
		dragged = false;
		QPoint pos = event->globalPos();
		if(IsPointInCaption(event->pos()))
		{
			dragged = true;
			m_dragPosition = pos - frameGeometry().topLeft();
		}
    }
	QMainWindow::mousePressEvent(event);
}
 
void  MainWindow::closeEvent( QCloseEvent * pEvent )
{
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->close();
}
 
void  MainWindow::showEvent( QShowEvent * pEvent )
{
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->showNormal();
}
 
void  MainWindow::hideEvent( QHideEvent * pEvent )
{
	m_pCustomFrameWidget->hide();
}
 
bool  MainWindow::event( QEvent * pEvent )
{
	bool bResult = QMainWindow::event( pEvent );
	if ( QEvent::WindowActivate == pEvent->type() )
		m_pCustomFrameWidget->raise();
	return bResult;
}
 
CustomFrameWidget::CustomFrameWidget(QWidget* parent) :QDialog(parent)
{
	setupUi(this);
	setWindowFlags(Qt::Window | Qt::FramelessWindowHint );
 
	frame->setStyleSheet(
		"* {color: qlineargradient(spread:pad, x1:0 y1:0, x2:1 y2:0, stop:0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 255), stop:1 rgba(255, 255, 255, 255));"
		"background: qlineargradient( x1:0 y1:0, x2:1 y2:0, stop:0 green, stop:1 darkMagenta);}");
 
	this->setAttribute(Qt::WA_TranslucentBackground, true);
}

---

The important thing is that all of the widgets must be top-level widgets (or at least have the same parent, in this case the desktop widget since they are created with no parent).

To make this easier to add more widgets (such as your button), I would create a struct like this:

Code:

---

struct AttachedWidget
{
   QWidget * mpWidget = nullptr;
   QPos mRelativePos = QPos( 0, 0 );
}

---

Then I would add a new method and a member variable to MainWindow:

Code:

---

public:
    void attachWidget( QWidget * pWidget, const QPos & relativePos );
 
private:
    QList< AttachedWidget > mAttachedWidgets;

---

And modify MainWindow.cpp:

Code:

---

void MainWindow::attachWidget( QWidget * pWidget, const QPos & relativePos )
{
   AttachedWidget  attached;
 
   attached.mpWidget = pWidget;
   attached.mRelativePos = relativePos;
 
   mAttachedWidgets.push_back( attached );
}
 
// and change the methods:
 
void MainWindow::closeEvent( QCloseEvent * pEvent )
{
   for ( attachedWidget : mAttachedWidgets )
    attachedWidget.mpWidget->close();
}
 
// and so forth for the other events

---

---

Thanks for provided hint for me. You are really great sir. One issue facing by me...
Why every time flickering occurs due to raise() function of moving, pressing windows, clicking on other than attached windows. Because attached windows try to raise() so that flickering occurs. Is there any way to raise() silently or smoothly ?
Plz reply.

Below is the sample code in which every time pressing AddButton, ResetButton /*(Newly added in Main Window)*/ attached widget go the back of Main window. And then try to raise() all attached windows using below code...
void MyClass:: OnRaiseWidget()
{
foreach(AttachedWidget attchedWidget,pApp.mAttachedWidget)
{
if(attchedWidget.pWidget->isVisible())
attchedWidget.pWidget->raise();
}
}

bool MyClass::eventFilter(QObject* object, QEvent* event)
{
if((object == AddButton
|| object == GroupComboBox
|| object == ResetButton) && event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress)
{
QMouseEvent *k = static_cast<QMouseEvent *> (event);
if( k->button() == Qt::LeftButton )
{
OnRaiseWidget();
}
else if ( k->button() == Qt::RightButton )
{
OnRaiseWidget();
}
}
return false;
}

On every time pressing, attchedWidget.pWidget->raise(); working ok... but flickering occurs due to attached windows trying to come to front. Is there any way to raise() silently or smoothly or any Qt functions to fix it ?
Plz reply.

Instead of using a MouseButtonPress event to raise the window, try using WindowActivate. I did not see any flickering in that case, but I was also only using one attached widget. I did not try it with more than one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by d_stranz

Instead of using a MouseButtonPress event to raise the window, try using WindowActivate. I did not see any flickering in that case, but I was also only using one attached widget. I did not try it with more than one.

---

Dear Sir

As I tried using WindowsActivate also but Left panel flicker during pressing of button (Add, Remove, Reset). if you click on Main Window then click on button or vice versa, You can see the effect of left panel flickering due to raise() function. Some time not but almost every times, pressing on button (just after clicking Main Window), flicker occurs. I have created dummy example with added button (Add, remove, Reset) and uploaded the code. I am not getting why this happens when Left panel try to come on front using raise(). if we don't use raise(), it just go behind the main window.
I have tried on another widgets also and just pressing on that widgets, for few moments left panel flickers which look like very awkward.
Please tell me the solution. I have attached code 'FancyWidget-15-dec'.

Thanks
Santosh

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by santosh.kumar

Dear Sir

As I tried using WindowsActivate also but Left panel flicker during pressing of button (Add, Remove, Reset). if you click on Main Window then click on button or vice versa, You can see the effect of left panel flickering due to raise() function. Some time not but almost every times, pressing on button (just after clicking Main Window), flicker occurs. I have created dummy example with added button (Add, remove, Reset) and uploaded the code. I am not getting why this happens when Left panel try to come on front using raise(). if we don't use raise(), it just go behind the main window.
I have tried on another widgets also and just pressing on that widgets, for few moments left panel flickers which look like very awkward.
Please tell me the solution. I have attached code 'FancyWidget-15-dec'.

Thanks
Santosh

---

Please reply.

Quote:

---

Please reply.

---

Sorry, I have been busy with my own work and have not had time to look at this. Maybe someone else can pick it up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by d_stranz

Sorry, I have been busy with my own work and have not had time to look at this. Maybe someone else can pick it up.

---

Dear Sir

Plz reply once you will be free from your works. I can wait, no issue.

Thanks
Santosh Kumar Singh

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by santosh.kumar

Dear Sir

Plz reply once you will be free from your works. I can wait, no issue.

Thanks
Santosh Kumar Singh

---

Any solution for flickering query ?

Sorry again, but I am under a deadline for my own work and have no free time. I think you will have to solve this yourself or find a different UI design if you can't solve it. I don't recommend waiting for me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by d_stranz

Sorry again, but I am under a deadline for my own work and have no free time. I think you will have to solve this yourself or find a different UI design if you can't solve it. I don't recommend waiting for me.

---

From your initial guidance, my application is almost ready.
But i have used finally setWindowFlags of Qt::Tool | Qt::FramelessWindowHint for Left FRame Panel.
Its working without raise().

But our problem is that Qt::Tool windows hides in inactive mode.
for this I have used setAttribute(Qt::WA_MacAlwaysShowToolWindow, true);
In both active/inactive mode of application, it always show.

I m working in Mac, If Application is in active mode, if click on dock icon and click on Show All Windows - Only Main window show and left panel not show due to Qt::Tool, Its OK

But if Application is in inactive mode, if click on dock icon and click on Show All Windows - Both Left Panel and main windows show but both show separately. I don't want this .
I want that inactive mode also, it should Only Main window show and left panel not show due to Qt::Tool. or else Left Panel should not loose their parent and should not show as a separate window.
Sir, Please tell me the solution.

It seems like you want the left panel (Qt::Tool window) to stay associated with the main window even when the application is in inactive mode. To achieve this, you can try using the Qt::WindowStaysOnTopHint flag in combination with Qt::Tool. This way, the left panel will stay on top of the main window and won't disappear when the application is inactive.

Here's an example of how you can set the window flags for the left panel:

cpp
Copy code

Code:

---

leftPanelWidget->setWindowFlags(Qt::Tool | Qt::WindowStaysOnTopHint | Qt::FramelessWindowHint);

---

This will keep the left panel as a tool window that stays on top, even in inactive mode. Make sure to adjust the code according to your application's structure.

Give it a try, and see if it resolves the issue you're facing.