- Qbs Manual
- Installing Files
- Qbs 3.3.1

Running Applications ◦ Target Platforms

# Installing Files

To install your project, specify the necessary information in the project file:

     Application {
         Group {
             name: "Icons"
             files: "*.png"
             qbs.install: true
             qbs.installDir: "share/icons/myproject"
         }
         Group {
             name: "Docs"
             fileTagsFilter: "generated_docs"
             qbs.install: true
             qbs.installDir: "share/man/man7"
         }
     }

In this example, we want to install some `.png` files and documentation built by the project. The Application is installed automatically unless the install property is set to `false`.

When building, Qbs installs artifacts into the default root folder, namely `<build root>/install-root`. The qbs.installPrefix and qbs.installDir properties are appended to the root folder.

     qbs build qbs.installPrefix:/usr

In this example, the executable will be installed into the `<build root>/install-root/usr/bin` folder and the QML files will be installed into the `<build root>/install-root/usr/share/myproject` folder.

To skip installation during the build, use the `--no-install` option.

To override the default location, use the `--install-root` option of the `qbs install` command:

     qbs build --no-install qbs.installPrefix:/usr
     sudo qbs install --no-build --install-root /

In this example, artifacts will be installed directly into the `/usr` folder. Since the `qbs install` command implies `build`, we use the `--no-build` parameter to ensure that we do not accidentally rebuild the project, thereby changing the artifacts' owner to `root`.

Sometimes, it makes sense to install the application into a temporary root folder, keeping the same folder structure within that root folder as in the examples above; for instance, when building a Linux package such as `deb` or `rmp`. To install the application into the `/tmp/myProjectRoot` folder, use the following command:

     $ qbs install --install-root /tmp/myProjectRoot

In this example, the executable will be installed into the `/tmp/myProjectRoot/usr/bin` folder and QML files will be installed into the `/tmp/myProjectRoot/usr/share/myproject` folder.

To remove all files from the install root prior to installing, use the `--clean-install-root` parameter:

     qbs install --clean-install-root --install-root /tmp/myProjectRoot

For more information about how the installation path is constructed, see Installation Properties.

Running Applications ◦ Target Platforms