TKINTER (Python) Introduction

 

This blog is intended to be useful for anyone who are interested in getting started the learning of tkinter. and using python to create GUI applications. Tkinter is an open source, portable graphical user interface (GUI) library designed for use in Python scripts.

Let begins with checking what actuially graphical user interface is,

What is Graphical user interface(GUI)?

Graphical user interface is nothing but a desktop application which is used to interact with computers. they are used to perform different tasks in laptops/computers. some of the graphical user interface applications are (text editors , games, browsers).

It is kind of user interface where user can interface with the computers using icons and visual indictors.

Python in developing GUI’s:

Python has lots of libraries to create  a graphical user interface, the top most used are (kivi, pythonqt, wxpython, Tkinter).

Among these Tkinter is more popular and its is preferred my most of the developers and the learners because of its simplicity and way of use.

Basic python knowledge will help to work with tkinter.

What is Tkinter:

Tkinter is a built in python module which is used to create simple gui tools.

It is the most commonly used module for creating a GUI application using python. python combined with Tkinter provides fast and easy way to develop GUI

It is the standard GUI library in python GUI programming.

 

Fundamentals of tkinter:

Creating GUI using TKinter is very easy, all you need is perform the following steps.

1.  Importing Tkinter
2. Creating the GUI application main window
3. Adding the widgets
4. Enter the event loop

 

Tkinter Widgets:

A widget is an element ogf graphical user interface that provides information or a specific way to interact with the applications. Tkinter provides various controls, such as buttons, labels and text boxes used in a GUI application. These controls are commonly called widgets.

Tkinter supports below mentioned widgets,

Label-It is used to display text or image on the screen.

Button-It is used to add buttons to your application.

Canvas-It is used to draw pictures and others layouts like texts, graphics etc.

ComboBox-It contains a down arrow to select from list of available options.

CheckButton-It displays a number of options to the user as toggle buttons from which user can select any number of options.

Radio Button-It is used to implement one-of-many selection as it allows only one option to be selected.

Entry-It is used to input single line text entry from user.

Frame-It is used as container to hold and organize the widgets.

Message-It works same as that of label and refers to multi-line and non-editable text.

Scale-It is used to provide a graphical slider which allows to select any value from that scale.

Scrollbar-It is used to scroll down the contents. It provides a slide controller.

SpinBox-It is allows user to select from given set of values.

Text-It allows user to edit multiline text and format the way it has to be displayed.

Menu-It is used to create all kinds of menu used by an application.

 

Geometry Management:

Tkinter also offers access to the geometric configuration of the widgets which can organize the widgets in the parent windows. There are mainly three geometry manager classes class.

pack() :It organizes the widgets in blocks before placing in the parent widget.

grid() :It organizes the widgets in grid (table-like structure) before placing in the parent widget.

place() :It organizes the widgets by placing them on specific positions directed by the programmer.

 

Creating widgets in python Tkinter:

Creating a basic GUI:

Tkinter is a builtin library in python so you don’t need to install it.you can create a basic gui by following the fundamentals mentioned above.

 

 

By running this file you can create a basic gui as below, the GUI will contain minimizing and maximizing window option and close option , while you press the close button it will end the loop that’s how the program stops.

 

 Positioning with grid system:

.pack() packs the widgets in the centre of the window ,even you resize the window it will automatically pack the widgets in the centre.

Grid system used to pack the widgets in rows and columns, you can define the widgets with different grids. even after the resizing the window the widgets will be in the assigned grid only.

  

Creating Buttons:

You can create a button by following similar method for label, you can also set the theme by passing activebackground, bg, fg, height , width.

You can also set a command for while activating the button.

 

Creating Entry Field:

It is used to input the single line text entry from the user. For multi-line text input, Text widget is used. you can create  entry widget by following below.

             w = Entry(master winsow, option=value)

first yo need to to write the syntax and define the entry field width then you can define font type, color,background.

 

Creating Check button:

To select any number of options by displaying a number of options to a user as toggle buttons. The general syntax is:

 

             w = CheckButton(master window, option=value)

 

to create a check button first you need to define the variables.and pass the the values inside the syntax.and set off value and on values for the check buttons,you can also change the themes like background,height, width.

 Creating Radio Button:

It is used to offer multi-choice option to the user. It offers several options to the user and the user has to choose one option.
The general syntax is:

w = RadioButton(master, option=value)

you can create radiobutton similarly like check button but you will define only one variable for multiple buttons.

Creating Combobox:

Combobox is a combination of Listbox and an entry field. It is one of the Tkinter widgets where it contains a down arrow to select from a list of options. It helps the users to select according to the list of options displayed.

Syntax:

            combobox = ttk.Combobox(master, option=value, ...)

 

first you need to define the variable, then the values in the syntax.

 

Creating Frame:

A frame is a rectangular region on the screen. A frame can also be used as a foundation class to implement complex widgets. It is used to organize a group of widgets.

Syntax:
The syntax to use the frame widget is given below.

w = frame( master, options).

first you need to define the frame ,then pack the frame inside the window, then create the widgets you need and pack them inside the frame.

 

 

Creating Menu:

Menus are the important part of any GUI. A common use of menus is to provide convenient access to various operations such as saving or opening a file, quitting a program, or manipulating data. Toplevel menus are displayed just under the title bar of the root or any other toplevel windows. 

          menu = Menu(master, **options)

first you need to define the menu bar and menu bar items. then define the items actions.

 

Creating Scrollbar:

The scrollbar widget is used to scroll down the content. We can also create the horizontal scrollbars to the Entry widget.

Syntax:
The syntax to use the Scrollbar widget is given below.

 

w = Scrollbar(master, options)

 

Advantages of using Tkinter:

• Tkinter is easy and fast to implement as compared to any other GUI toolkit.
• Tkinter is more flexible and stable.
• Tkinter is included in Python, so nothing extra need to download.
• Tkinter provides a simple syntax.
• Tkinter is really easy to understand and master.
• Tkinter provides three geometry managers: place, pack, and grid. That is much more powerful and easy to use.