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Please review the following information to ensure ** the GNU Free Documentation License version 1.3 requirements ** will be met: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl-1.3.html. ** $QT_END_LICENSE$ ** ****************************************************************************/ /*! \page qtquickcontrols2-differences.html \title Differences between Qt Quick Controls Qt Quick Controls were originally developed to support desktop platforms, with mobile and embedded support coming shortly afterwards. They have a very broad scope, in that they provide a styling system flexible enough to allow the development of applications that have either a platform-dependent or platform-independent style. On embedded systems, where the hardware has limited resources, this approach can be inefficient. Qt Quick Controls 2 were designed to solve this problem, using \l {https://blog.qt.io/blog/2015/03/31/qt-quick-controls-for-embedded/}{benchmarks} to guide the development. \section2 C++ and QML In many cases, the internal state of a control can be more efficiently processed in C++. For example, handling input events in C++ makes a difference for controls that would otherwise need to create internal MouseAreas and attached Keys objects. \section2 Styles Not only does handling events and logic in C++ increase performance, but it allows the visual QML layer to be a simple, declarative layer on top. This is reflected in the structure of the controls project: all visual implementations sit in the \e imports folder, so that users who want to create their own complete style can copy the folder and start tweaking. Read more about implementing a style plugin \l {Creating a Custom Style}{here}. In Qt Quick Controls 2, styles no longer provide components that are dynamically instantiated by controls, but controls themselves consist of item delegates that can be replaced. In effect, this means that delegates are Qt Quick items that are instantiated on the spot, as properties of the control, and are simply parented to the control. \section2 Modularity and Simplicity When it comes to more complex controls, it is sometimes better to split them up into separate building blocks. As an example, the complex ScrollView control: \qml ScrollView { horizontalScrollBarPolicy: Qt.ScrollBarAlwaysOff Flickable { // ... } } \endqml Is replaced with simple ScrollBar/ScrollIndicator controls that can be attached to any Flickable: \qml Flickable { // ... ScrollBar.vertical: ScrollBar { } } \endqml The API of Qt Quick Controls 2 aims to be clean and simple. Common operations are easy, and more advanced ones are liberally documented with snippets that can be copied into your code. \section2 Feature Comparison Table \table \header \li \li Qt Quick Controls \li Qt Quick Controls 2 \row \li Stylable delegates \li Yes \li Yes \row \li Pre-built native styles \li Yes \li No \row \li Runtime style/theme changes \li Yes \sup 1 \li Yes \sup 2 \row \li Can be used on Desktop \li Yes \li Yes \row \li Can be used on Mobile \li Yes \sup 3 \li Yes \row \li Can be used on Embedded \li Yes \sup 3 \li Yes \row \li Internal event handling \li QML \li C++ \endtable \list 1 \li Not officially supported, but technically possible via private APIs \li Only themes for specific styles can be changed at runtime, styles are fixed \li Performance may not be optimal \endlist \section2 Porting Qt Quick Controls Code The API of Qt Quick Controls 2 is very similar to Qt Quick Controls, but it does come with some changes necessary to facilitate the improvements. The majority of changes are to do with styling; all of a control's delegates are now accessible in the control itself, instead of in a separate style object. For example, to style a button in Qt Quick Controls: \badcode Button { style: ButtonStyle { label: Label { // ... } } } \endcode To style a button in Qt Quick Controls 2: \qml Button { contentItem: Label { // ... } } \endqml \section3 Preparing for Migration With this in mind, a good way to prepare for a migration to Qt Quick Controls 2 is to place each control that you have a custom style for in its own QML file. For example, the Qt Quick Controls button above could be moved to a file named \c Button.qml in a directory named \c controls, and used in the following manner: \badcode import "controls" as Controls Controls.Button { ... } \endcode This works with both modules, and will reduce the amount of work needed when the migration begins. \section2 Type Comparison Table The first column lists all types available in \l {Qt Quick Controls} {Qt Quick Controls 1}, \l {Qt Quick Dialogs}, and \l {Qt Quick Extras}. The second column documents the respective type in Qt Quick Controls 2. When a direct alternative is not available, the third column contains an alternative that provides related functionality. The last column contains some remarks about the differences between the types in the different modules. \table \header \li Qt Quick Controls 1 \li Qt Quick Controls 2 \li Alternatives \li Remarks \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {Action} \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuick] {Shortcut} \br\sup {(Qt Quick)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 1}: \c Action is an abstract user interface action that is bound to buttons and menu items, and can provide shortcuts. \li \b {Qt Quick}: \c Shortcut provides the shortcut functionality that was previously only provided by \c Action. \endlist \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {ApplicationWindow} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ApplicationWindow} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {BusyIndicator} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {BusyIndicator} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {Button} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Button} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {Calendar} \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtLabsCalendar] {MonthGrid},\br \l [QML QtLabsCalendar] {DayOfWeekRow},\br \l [QML QtLabsCalendar] {WeekNumberColumn} \br\sup {(Qt Labs Calendar)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Labs Calendar}: \c MonthGrid, \c DayOfWeek, and \c WeekNumberColumn are \e experimental unstyled building blocks for calendar views. \endlist \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {CheckBox} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {CheckBox} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {ComboBox} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ComboBox} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {ExclusiveGroup} \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ButtonGroup} \br\sup {(Qt Quick Controls 2)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 2}: \c ButtonGroup offers similar functionality. \endlist \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {GroupBox} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {GroupBox} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {Label} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Label} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {Menu} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Menu} \li \l [QML QtLabsPlatform] {Menu} \br\sup {(Qt Labs Platform)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 1}: \c Menu is native on platforms where an implementation is available in the Qt Platform Abstraction Layer. Other platforms use a QML-based top-level menu popup window. \c Menu supports traditional desktop style cascading submenus, but does not work on Embedded Linux because \l EGLFS does not support multiple top-level windows. \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 2}: \c Menu is a non-native \c Item-based popup that is stacked above the application content. Due to this, menu popups are restricted within window boundaries. \c Menu is fully customizable using QML and Qt Quick, and allows adding any \c Items. Traditional desktop oriented features, such as cascading submenus and visualizing keyboard shortcuts are missing. \li \b {Qt Labs Platform}: \c Menu is an \e experimental native menu that uses Qt Widgets as a fallback on platforms where a native implementation is not available in the Qt Platform Abstraction Layer. \endlist \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {MenuBar} \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtLabsPlatform] {MenuBar} \br\sup {(Qt Labs Platform)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 1}: \c MenuBar is native on platforms where an implementation is available in the Qt Platform Abstraction Layer. Other platforms use a QML-based menubar item stacked at the top of the window. \li \b {Qt Labs Platform}: \c MenuBar is an \e experimental native menubar. It is only available on platforms where a native implementation is available in the Qt Platform Abstraction Layer. \endlist \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {MenuItem},\br \l [QML QtQuickControls] {MenuSeparator} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {MenuItem},\br \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {MenuSeparator} \li \l [QML QtLabsPlatform] {MenuItem},\br \l [QML QtLabsPlatform] {MenuSeparator} \br\sup {(Qt Labs Platform)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 1}: \c MenuItem and \c MenuSeparator are native on platforms where an implementation is available in the Qt Platform Abstraction Layer. Other platforms use QML-based menu items and separators. \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 2}: \c MenuItem and \c MenuSeparator are a non-native QML-based menu items and separators that can be fully customized using QML and Qt Quick. \li \b {Qt Labs Platform}: \c MenuItem and \c MenuSeparator are \e experimental native menu items and separators. \endlist \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {ProgressBar} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ProgressBar} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {RadioButton} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {RadioButton} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {ScrollView} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ScrollView} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {Slider} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Slider} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {SpinBox} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {SpinBox} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {SplitView} \li \mdash \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {StackView},\br \l [QML QtQuickControls] {StackViewDelegate},\br \l [QML QtQuickControls] {Stack} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {StackView} \li \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 2}: \c StackView provides customizable transitions and attached properties via a single \c StackView type. \endlist \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {StatusBar} \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ToolBar} \br\sup {(Qt Quick Controls 2)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 2}: \c ApplicationWindow allows assigning any item or control, such as \c ToolBar, as a header or footer. \endlist \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {Switch} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Switch} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {TabView},\br \l [QML QtQuickControls] {Tab} \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {TabBar},\br \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {TabButton} \br\sup {(Qt Quick Controls 2)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 2}: \c TabBar and \c TabButton offer similar functionality, and can be used to build tabbed views. \endlist \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {TableView} \li \mdash \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {TextArea} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {TextArea} \li \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 1}: \c TextArea inherits \c ScrollView and is therefore always a scrollable editor. \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 2}: \c TextArea is a simpler multi-line editor that can be optionally attached to a \c Flickable to provide scrolling functionality. This allows using \c TextArea in a scrollable page without having two nested scrollable areas, which can be problematic and cause usability issues. \endlist \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {TextField} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {TextField} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {ToolBar} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ToolBar} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {ToolButton} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ToolButton} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {TreeView} \li \mdash \li \li \header \li Qt Quick Dialogs \li Qt Quick Controls 2 \li Alternatives \li Remarks \row \li \l [QML QtQuickDialogs] {Dialog} \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Dialog} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Dialogs}: \c Dialog is either a top-level window or an \c Item-based popup depending on whether the underlying platform supports multiple top-level windows. \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 2}: \c Dialog is not a top-level window, but an \c Item-based popup that is stacked above the application content. Due to this, dialogs are restricted within window boundaries. \endlist \row \li \l [QML QtQuickDialogs] {ColorDialog},\br \l [QML QtQuickDialogs] {FileDialog},\br \l [QML QtQuickDialogs] {FontDialog},\br \l [QML QtQuickDialogs] {MessageDialog} \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtLabsPlatform] {ColorDialog},\br \l [QML QtLabsPlatform] {FileDialog},\br \l [QML QtLabsPlatform] {FolderDialog},\br \l [QML QtLabsPlatform] {FontDialog},\br \l [QML QtLabsPlatform] {MessageDialog} \br\sup {(Qt Labs Platform)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Dialogs}: Dialogs are native on platforms where an implementation is available in the Qt Platform Abstraction Layer. Other platforms use either Qt Widgets or QML-based dialogs depending on whether the underlying platform supports multiple top-level windows. \li \b {Qt Labs Platform}: \e Experimental native dialogs that use Qt Widgets as a fallback on platforms where a native implementation is not available in the Qt Platform Abstraction Layer. \endlist \header \li Qt Quick Extras \li Qt Quick Controls 2 \li Alternatives \li Remarks \row \li \l [QML QtQuickExtras] {CircularGauge} \li \mdash \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickExtras] {DelayButton} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {DelayButton} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickExtras] {Dial} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Dial} \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickExtras] {Gauge} \li \mdash \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickExtras] {Picture} \li \mdash \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickExtras] {PieMenu} \li \mdash \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickExtras] {StatusIndicator} \li \mdash \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickExtras] {ToggleButton} \li \mdash \li \li \row \li \l [QML QtQuickExtras] {Tumbler},\br \l [QML QtQuickExtras] {TumblerColumn} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Tumbler} \li \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Extras}: \c Tumbler can consist of multiple columns. \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 2}: \c Tumbler presents a single spinnable wheel. Multiple columns can be created by placing multiple \c Tumblers next to each other. \endlist \header \li No Predecessor \li Qt Quick Controls 2 \li Alternatives \li Remarks \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {AbstractButton} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ButtonGroup} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {ExclusiveGroup} \br\sup {(Qt Quick Controls 1)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 1}: \c ExclusiveGroup offers similar functionality. \endlist \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {CheckDelegate} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Container} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Control} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Drawer} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Frame} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ItemDelegate} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Page} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {PageIndicator} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Pane} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {Popup} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {RadioDelegate} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {RangeSlider} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {RoundButton} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ScrollBar},\br \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ScrollIndicator} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {ScrollView} \br\sup {(Qt Quick Controls 1)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 1}: \c ScrollView offers similar functionality. It combines horizontal and vertical scrollbars, and the background and frame around the scrollable view. \endlist \row \li \mdash \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtLabsPlatform] {StandardPaths} \br\sup {(Qt Labs Platform)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Dialogs}: \c FileDialog offers a shortcut property that can be used to access the most common standard paths. \li \b {Qt Labs Platform}: \c StandardPaths offers a separate type to give full access to the standard paths. \endlist \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {SwipeDelegate} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {SwipeView} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {SwitchDelegate} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtLabsPlatform] {SystemTrayIcon} \br\sup {(Qt Labs Platform)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Labs Platform}: \c SystemTrayIcon is an \e experimental native system tray icon that uses Qt Widgets as a fallback on platforms where a native implementation is not available in the Qt Platform Abstraction Layer. \endlist \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {TabBar},\br \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {TabButton} \li \l [QML QtQuickControls] {TabView} \br\sup {(Qt Quick Controls 1)} \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 1}: \c TabView offers similar functionality. It combines the tab bar, background and frame around the tabs. \endlist \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ToolSeparator} \li \li \row \li \mdash \li \l [QML QtQuickControls2] {ToolTip} \li \li \list \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 1}: \c Button and \c Action have built-in Qt Widgets-based tooltips. \li \b {Qt Quick Controls 2}: \c ToolTip can be attached to any \c Item. \endlist \endtable \section1 Related Information \list \li \l{Qt Quick} \li \l{Qt Quick Controls 2 QML Types} \li \l{Qt Quick Controls QML Types} \li \l{Qt Quick Extras QML Types} \li \l{Qt Labs Calendar QML Types} \li \l{Qt Labs Platform QML Types} \endlist */