QtCreator 4 and CMake parameters

@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...

"Tools" > "Options" > "Build & Run" > "Your kit" > "CMake configuration"

Add a line and rebuild. You can go the short way Ctrl+5 (Projects mode) > "Manage Kits...", too.