Read text lines using QDataStream or QTextStream or neither from tcpsocket?

Question

I am creating a simple TCP server, and have a slot/function built which reads incoming text from a client (telnet connection) on a TCP socket. I've used the Fortune code examples to help me, but had to remove QDataStream since it didn't work as expected.

I want my readCommand function to collect incoming characters from a telnet client connection, and once it finds a newline or return to remove the typed command from the input buffer, remove /n and /r, add it to my string list (commandList), and then echo the commands (seperate function). Here's what I've got so far:

void MyServer::readCommand()
{
    inBuffer += tcpSocketPtr->readAll();

    // While newline is present, extract the command
    int nextNewlinePos;
    while ((nextNewlinePos = inBuffer.indexOf('\n')) > -1) {
        commandList << inBuffer.left(nextNewlinePos);
        inBuffer.remove(0,nextNewlinePos);
        // Get rid of /n /r if present somehow
    }
    if (commandList.size() > 0)
    {
        echoCommand();
    }
}

Before I start stripping /n and /r etc. manually, my gut is telling me there is a better way to do this. Is QTextStream the way to go? Can someone provide a simple(r) alternative to what I am trying to achieve?

Answer 1

You could simply use the readLine(...) variants:

• qint64 QIODevice::readLine(char * data, qint64 maxSize)

• QByteArray QIODevice::readLine(qint64 maxSize = 0)

Note, read line functionality would be invoked on your QTcpSocket instance, and not the QDataStream. See the documentation for the precise details here inline:

A terminating '\0' byte is always appended to data, so maxSize must be larger than 1. Data is read until either of the following conditions are met: The first '\n' character is read. maxSize - 1 bytes are read. The end of the device data is detected.

This way, you would need to work such an issue around, and the code could become a lot simpler.

One further note that may be helpful:

bool QIODevice::canReadLine() const [virtual]

Basically, this method would guarantee you do not try to run a line before that is available. This can come to handy in certain scenarios.