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Please review the following information to ensure ** the GNU Free Documentation License version 1.3 requirements ** will be met: http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html. ** $QT_END_LICENSE$ ** ****************************************************************************/ /*! \page qtwritingstyle-cpp.html \title C++ Documentation Style \brief Style guidelines for C++ documentation To generate the documentation, QDoc goes through the source code and generates documentation for C++ types such as classes. QDoc then associates member functions, properties, and other types to the appropriate class. Note that the documentation must be in the implementation files such as \c .cpp. \section1 Class Documentation Class documentation is generated using the \l{class-command}{\\class} command and the name of the class as the first argument. \snippet examples/cpp.qdoc.sample class \l{Context commands} add information about the class, such as its module or which version the class was added. Some common context commands are: \list \li \l{brief-command}{\\brief} - the class' brief description \b (mandatory) \li \l{since-command}{\\since} - the version to which the class was added \b (mandatory) \li \l{internal-command}{\\internal} - marks the class as internal. Internal classes do not appear in the public API documentation. \endlist \section2 The Brief and Detailed Description The \e{brief description} is marked with the \l{brief-command}{\\brief} command and it is for summarizing the purpose or functionality of the class. For C++ classes, QDoc will take the class and create annotated information for the class. The annotated information appears in lists and tables which display the class. The C++ brief should start with: \code "The class" \endcode The \e{detailed description} section starts after the brief description. It provides more information about the class. The detailed description may contain images, snippet code, or links to other relevant documents. There must be an empty line which separates the brief and detailed description. \section1 Member Functions Typically, function documentation immediately precedes the implementation of the function in the \c .cpp file. For function documentation that is not immediately above the implementation, the \l{fn-command}{\\fn} is needed. \snippet examples/cpp.qdoc.sample function The function documentation starts with a verb, indicating the operation the function performs. This also applies to constructors and destructors. Some common verbs for function documentation: \list \li "Constructs..." - for constructors \li "Destroys..." - for destructors \li "Returns..." - for accessor functions \endlist The function documentation must document: \list \li the return type \li the parameters \li the actions of the functions \endlist The \l{a-command}{\\a} command marks the parameter in the documentation. The return type documentation should link to the type documentation or be marked with the \l{c-command}{\\c} command in the case of boolean values. \snippet examples/cpp.qdoc.sample return \section1 Properties The property documentation resides immediately above the read function's implementation. The \l{writing-topic-commands}{topic command} for properties is \l{property-command}{\\property}. \snippet examples/cpp.qdoc.sample property Property documentation usually starts with "This property...", but these are alternate expressions: \list \li "This property holds..." \li "This property describes..." \li "This property represents..." \li "Returns \c true when... and \c false when..." - for properties that are read. \li "Sets the..." - for properties that configure a type. \endlist Property documentation must include: \list \li description and behavior of the property \li accepted values for the property \li the default value of the property \endlist Similar to \l{Member Functions}{functions}, the default type may be linked or marked with the \c{\c} command. An example of a value range style is: \quotation The values range from 0.0 (no blur) to maximumRadius (maximum blur). By default, the property is set to 0.0 (no blur). \endquotation \section1 Signals, Notifiers, and Slots The \l{writing-topic-commands}{topic command} for signals, notifiers, and slots is \l{fn-command}{\\fn}. Signal documentation state when they are triggered or emitted. \snippet examples/cpp.qdoc.sample signals Signal documentation typically begin with "This signal is triggered when...". Here are alternate styles: \list \li "This signal is triggered when..." \li "Triggered when..." \li "Emitted when..." \endlist For slots or notifiers, the condition when they are executed or triggered by a signal should be documented. \list \li "Executed when..." \li "This slot is executed when..." \endlist For properties that have overloaded signals, QDoc groups the overloaded notifiers together. To refer to a specifc version of a notifier or signal, simply refer to the property and mention that there are different versions of the notifier. \snippet examples/cpp.qdoc.sample overloaded notifier \section1 Enums, Namespaces, and other Types Enums, namespaces, and macros have a \l{writing-topic-commands}{topic command} for their documentation: \list \li \l{enum-command}{\\enum} \li \l{typedef-command}{\\typedef} \li \l{macro-command}{\\macro} \endlist The language style for these types mention that they are an enum or a macro and continues with the type description. For enumerations, the \l{value-command}{\\value} command is for listing the values. QDoc creates a table of values for the enum. \snippet examples/cpp.qdoc.sample enums */