// just define fileName as a member variable    
void getFileNameSlot()
{
       QString newFileName = QFileDialog::getOpenFileName(this, tr("Open  File"),            
                                                                                                              fileName, tr("XML files (*.xml)"));
       if ( newFileName.isEmpty() )
        return;
      else if ( analysisDescriptorFileName.isEmpty() )
        fileName= newFileName;
}