Qt - Error 2 at compile time

Question

I just downloaded Qt SDK 4.8.1 and, after installing it, I simply tried to compile a default C++ project, but I got this strange error.

16:50:24: Running build steps for project test...
16:50:24: Configuration unchanged, skipping qmake step.
16:50:24: Starting: "C:\QtSDK\QtCreator\bin\jom.exe"
cl -c -nologo -Zm200 -Zc:wchar_t- -Zi -MDd -GR -EHsc -W3 -w34100 -w34189 -DUNICODE -DWIN32 -DQT_LARGEFILE_SUPPORT -DQT_DLL -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_HAVE_MMX -DQT_HAVE_3DNOW -DQT_HAVE_SSE -DQT_HAVE_MMXEXT -DQT_HAVE_SSE2 -DQT_THREAD_SUPPORT -I"........\QtSDK\Desktop\Qt\4.8.1\msvc2008\include\QtCore" -I"........\QtSDK\Desktop\Qt\4.8.1\msvc2008\include\QtGui" -I"........\QtSDK\Desktop\Qt\4.8.1\msvc2008\include" -I"........\QtSDK\Desktop\Qt\4.8.1\msvc2008\include\ActiveQt" -I"debug" -I"." -I"..\test" -I"." -I"........\QtSDK\Desktop\Qt\4.8.1\msvc2008\mkspecs\win32-msvc2008" -Fodebug\ @C:\DOCUME~1\dfuser\IMPOST~1\Temp\main.obj.1464.0.jom
cl -c -nologo -Zm200 -Zc:wchar_t- -Zi -MDd -GR -EHsc -W3 -w34100 -w34189 -DUNICODE -DWIN32 -DQT_LARGEFILE_SUPPORT -DQT_DLL -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_HAVE_MMX -DQT_HAVE_3DNOW -DQT_HAVE_SSE -DQT_HAVE_MMXEXT -DQT_HAVE_SSE2 -DQT_THREAD_SUPPORT -I"........\QtSDK\Desktop\Qt\4.8.1\msvc2008\include\QtCore" -I"........\QtSDK\Desktop\Qt\4.8.1\msvc2008\include\QtGui" -I"........\QtSDK\Desktop\Qt\4.8.1\msvc2008\include" -I"........\QtSDK\Desktop\Qt\4.8.1\msvc2008\include\ActiveQt" -I"debug" -I"." -I"..\test" -I"." -I"........\QtSDK\Desktop\Qt\4.8.1\msvc2008\mkspecs\win32-msvc2008" -Fodebug\ @C:\DOCUME~1\dfuser\IMPOST~1\Temp\mainwindow.obj.1464.0.jom
C:\QtSDK\QtCreator\bin\jom.exe -f Makefile.Debug
jom: C:\Documents and Settings\dfuser\Desktop\test-build-desktop-Qt_4_8_1_for_Desktop_-MSVC2008_Qt_SDK__Debug\Makefile.Debug [debug\main.obj] Error 2

jom 1.0.8 - empower your cores

jom: C:\Documents and Settings\dfuser\Desktop\test-build-desktop-Qt_4_8_1_for_Desktop_-MSVC2008_Qt_SDK__Debug\Makefile [debug] Error 2
16:50:24: The process "C:\QtSDK\QtCreator\bin\jom.exe" exited with code 2.
Error while building project test (target: Desktop)
When executing build step 'Make'

Does anyone know what is the cause?

I don't know if it's relevant or not, but before getting this error I got the common error about cl nor found; I solved adding the path to cl in the project settings.

Solution 1

I've solved it : try to execute cl.exe directly (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\bin\cl) if you get a dll error, it's because your environment is not set correctly. So, you need to call vcvarsall.bat before lunch QtCreator. To do that each time, you can create a .bat file which contains the following:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat

{Path to QtCreator}\qtcreator

(Correct the paths if your configuration is not the same)

You will need to execute this script to get QtCreator with the right environment variables, otherwise, the dll error appears but is not reported, and you get this "Error : 2"

Solution 2

I had somewhat similar problem in Qt 5.3

21:22:03: Running steps for project Server...
21:22:03: Configuration unchanged, skipping qmake step.
21:22:03: Starting: "C:\Qt\Qt5.3.2\Tools\mingw482_32\bin\mingw32-make.exe" 
C:\make\bin; -f Makefile.Debug
Makefile:34: recipe for target 'debug' failed
process_begin: CreateProcess(NULL, C:\make\bin; -f Makefile.Debug, ...) failed.
make (e=2): The system cannot find the file specified.

mingw32-make: *** [debug] Error 2
21:22:05: The process "C:\Qt\Qt5.3.2\Tools\mingw482_32\bin\mingw32-make.exe" exited with code 2.
Error while building/deploying project Server (kit: Desktop Qt 5.3 MinGW 32bit)
When executing step "Make"

I did the following to get rid of the error.
From the left pane of the Qt,

Projects > Build > Build Environment:

Check the Clear System environment

Solution 3

In Linux terminal:

sudo apt-get install build-essential cmake libqt4-dev

I'm sorry I don't know why this code works but I had the same problem in Linux and I solved it this way.

Comments

[handle]

Current Qt Creator should run this automatically, check Projects/Kit/Compiler options. My problem was an QMAKE_EXTRA_TARGETS entry in the .pro file (running an executable, probably a path issue, I have not investigated further yet).

[handle]

The error does go away when switching back to nmake in the kit options. Also see bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTCREATORBUG-6546

[handle]

Not related to the bug: do make sure you try to run the target manually to see the cause of the error... Good luck