How do I specify input the QMake INSTALLS variable?

Question

In my Qt project I'm trying to copy libraries as part of the build process. The goal is to have a ready made distribution after the build with all necessary dynamic libraries.

This seems acheivable with the INSTALLS variable, but I find the documentation a bit thin: qmake Variable Reference: INSTALLS

In the example given:

• Is target already defined, or is defined by writing target.path =?
• Where is the documentation for possible members? .path and ...?

Answer 1

Yeah, the docs have much to be desired here.

target is already defined, but that is a special case. You can define your own additional deployment sets. Here is how we specify the image format plugins:

imageformats.path = /opt/some/path/bin/imageformats imageformats.files += $$[QT_INSTALL_DATA]/plugins/imageformats/*.so INSTALLS += imageformats 

Here is the minimal documentation about the three commands: http://doc.qt.io/qt-4.8/qmake-environment-reference.html#installs

yourset.path = /path/in/which/to/install/files yourset.files = /files/to/install yourset.extra = custom commands to run, eg. `touch somefile.txt` INSTALLS += yourset 

Answer 2

target is whatever string you want to use. It is your own identifier.

target.files defines what you want to install.

target.path is the location (directory) you want to put the target.files in.

For example, let's say I have a file called "config.xml" that I want to copy to the directory "xyzzy". I would use the following in my qmake .pro file to specify that.

my_file.files = config.xml my_file.path = xyzzy  INSTALLS += my_file 

BTW, to actually make the file copy, you will have to execute make install.

You may also find the answer helpful in understanding: Copy a file to build directory.