@Manuel's answer is ideal for me when I have toolkit-specific CMake variables without project-specific variables.
When you have project-specific CMake variables, the options I have seen/used with recent QtCreator versions (~4+) are:
From QtCreator
- Open the project
- go to Projects (on left) and select Build Settings
- Under CMake, use the "Add" button to add new settings
- "Apply Configuration Changes"
- "Build" menu, "Run CMake"
- Notes:
- if your project updates CMake variables (as most do), you may need to "Apply Configuration Changes" again.
- if you have enabled the feature to automatically run CMake, it may fire off in the background, further confusing things. This can create chicken and egg situations - boo!
Outside QtCreator
- Go to the build directory
- Run CMake with your commands as usual
- Open QtCreator
- Open the project
- Under Projects - Build Settings:
- Confirm that the "Build directory:" is as expected
- Confirm that your CMake variables appear in the list of variables
Sadly, I find both of these profoundly unsatisfying...