Python-tk question

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December 18th, 2012, 09:23 PM

secmlt

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Python-tk question

I have been trying to write a simple GUI that creates a button that will change colors from default gray to red when clicked...

Code:

#!/usr/bin/python

from Tkinter import *

master = Tk()

def color_change(self):
	self.button1.configure(bg = "red")

frame1 = Frame(master, height = 300, width = 300)
frame1.pack_propagate(0)
frame1.pack()

button1 = Button(frame1, text = "Click Me", command = color_change)
button1.pack()

mainloop()

I'm getting an error that color_change() takes exactly one argument in my terminal when I try to run the script. I'm not sure what is causing the error.

Also, what does "self" do? I can't find an explaination of using "self", I have searched several sites and pieced together some things I found to get this, but I'm not sure how "self" effects the script.

December 19th, 2012, 03:23 AM

SuperOscar

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Quote:

Originally Posted by secmlt

I'm getting an error that color_change() takes exactly one argument in my terminal when I try to run the script. I'm not sure what is causing the error.

Well of course the functions expects an argument if you write it to expect an argument:

Code:

def color_change(self):
    self.button1.configure(bg = "red")

Change this to:

Code:

def color_change():
    button1.configure(bg = "red")

...and your code works as expected.

“self” is the name ordinarily used to refer to a class instance inside a class definition. You haven’t defined any classes in your code.

Comments on this post

Dietrich agrees: good explanation

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December 28th, 2012, 03:04 PM

secmlt

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Thanks for the response, but I've got another question... I have the following code:

Code:

#!/usr/bin/python

from Tkinter import *
import subprocess

master = Tk()
path = "/path/to/perl_script.pl"

def color_change():
	perl_result = subprocess.call([path])

	if (perl_result == 0):
		button1.configure(bg = "red")
	else:
		button1.configure(bg = "green")

frame1 = Frame(master, height = 300, width = 300)
frame1.pack_propagate(0)
frame1.pack()

button1 = Button(frame1, text = "Click Me", command = color_change)
button1.pack()

mainloop()

The program calls a perl script when the button is clicked that generates a random number (either 0 or 1) and the button that was clicked changes colors based on the result of the perl script. However, when I mouse over the button, the button always changes to gray. Is there anyway to make the button stay either green or red instead of turning gray when the mouse pointer is over the button?

December 28th, 2012, 03:58 PM

b49P23TIvg

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Try various settings of these puppies:

activebackground
activeforeground
background
bitmap
disabledforeground
foreground
highlightbackground
highlightcolor
highlightthickness
image

Your code will use less resources if you have python generate the random number.

random.choice((0,1))

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December 29th, 2012, 09:44 PM

secmlt

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Quote:

Originally Posted by b49P23TIvg

The "activebackground" combined with "background" gave me what I needed. Thanks for the help! Also, do you know of a website that explains the functions of python-tk?

I cannot use python to generate a random number unfortunately, because this is a project for work and my co-workers are obsessed with perl scripts... I'm the only one that uses python. My GUI has to be able to interface with perl scripts that spit out random numbers (it actually won't be random numbers but ping results that make the buttons change color).

December 29th, 2012, 09:54 PM

Dietrich

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Try:
http://www.tkdocs.com/tutorial/index.html

Note that tk is available for a number of computer languages including Perl.

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Last edited by Dietrich : December 29th, 2012 at 09:56 PM.

Python-tk question

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