# How to start Qt designer in Slicer environment from Ubuntu 20.04?

**URL:** <https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-start-qt-designer-in-slicer-environment-from-ubuntu-20-04/13549>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [September 18, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-start-qt-designer-in-slicer-environment-from-ubuntu-20-04/13549 "2020-09-18T15:50:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fabiola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Fabiola](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/Fabiola)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-start-qt-designer-in-slicer-environment-from-ubuntu-20-04/13549/1 "2020-09-18T15:50:29Z")

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Operating system: Ubuntu 20.04  
Slicer version: 4.11.0-2020  
Expected behavior: ./Slicer-build/Slicer --designer shouldn’t start the Qt Designer?  
Actual behavior: it starts the Slicer application.

Hello Slicer community, a beginner here.  
Installed Qt 5.15; Qt designer 5.12.8. Built successfully the Slicer debug/release version. But unable to access the Slicer and CTK widgets because I can’t start Qt designer in Slicer environment. ☹  
Can anyone help me please?  
Thanks.

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**Author:** ![lassoan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/lassoan/32/13_2.png) [@lassoan](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/lassoan)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-start-qt-designer-in-slicer-environment-from-ubuntu-20-04/13549/2 "2020-09-18T16:12:06Z")

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For some reason, the convenience `--designer` application shortcut is not specified for linux. You can run designer in your install tree like this (assuming you used system Qt for building Slicer):

```
 ./Slicer --launch /usr/bin/designer
```

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**Author:** ![cpinter](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/cpinter/32/7995_2.png) [@cpinter](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/cpinter)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-start-qt-designer-in-slicer-environment-from-ubuntu-20-04/13549/3 "2020-09-18T16:14:18Z")

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Is this somewhere in the documentation? If not and you tell me where, I can add it.

Interestingly, on Ubuntu 18.04, the --designer switch works for me.

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**Author:** ![lassoan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/lassoan/32/13_2.png) [@lassoan](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/lassoan)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-start-qt-designer-in-slicer-environment-from-ubuntu-20-04/13549/4 "2020-09-18T16:23:48Z")

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Until the shortcut gets fixed, a note could be added to the Linux build instructions page on readthedocs.

Maybe the shortcut is only created if Slicer can find Qt designer, and that may depend on how and where Qt is installed.

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**Author:** ![cpinter](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/cpinter/32/7995_2.png) [@cpinter](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/cpinter)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-start-qt-designer-in-slicer-environment-from-ubuntu-20-04/13549/5 "2020-09-18T16:31:21Z")

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I see, thanks! Well if this is something that we intend to fix, then I guess this forum topic is just as good as an entry in the documentation. Thanks Andras!

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**Author:** ![Fabiola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Fabiola](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/Fabiola)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-start-qt-designer-in-slicer-environment-from-ubuntu-20-04/13549/6 "2020-09-18T17:28:17Z")

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Thank you Andras, Csaba for the prompt solution!