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Python Tkinter widgets added to root window instead of Toplevel window [duplicate]

This question already has an answer here:
Python - Tkinter - Widgets created inside a class inherited from Toplevel() appear in a different frame OUTSIDE the class, Toplevel() class is empty
(1 answer)
Closed 5 years ago.
Using Python 2.7 here. I am trying to add a basic settings window, but when I open a Toplevel window and try to add widgets to it, the widgets get added to the main window instead. Here is an example:
import Tkinter as tk
class MainWindow (tk.Frame):
def __init__ (self, root):
tk.Frame.__init__(self, root)
self.root = root
self.root.geometry("300x200")
button = tk.Button(self, text="Settings", command=self.open_settings).pack()
def open_settings (self):
settings_win = tk.Toplevel(self.root, height=300, width=400)
settings_win.focus_set()
top_frame = tk.Frame(settings_win, bg="red").pack(side="top", fill="both", expand=True)
bottom_frame = tk.Frame(settings_win, bg="blue").pack(side="bottom", fill="both", expand=True)
top_label = tk.Label(top_frame, text="Top Label").pack()
bottom_label = tk.Label(bottom_frame, text="Bottom Label").pack()
if __name__ == '__main__':
root = tk.Tk()
MainWindow(root).pack(fill="both", expand=True)
root.mainloop()
Here is what I see when I click on the Settings button below. The second window opens but the labels show up on the main window.

its because your packing on the same line, check out the answer to this question, he explains it in detail: Python - Tkinter - Widgets created inside a class inherited from Toplevel() appear in a different frame OUTSIDE the class, Toplevel() class is empty
this should fix it:
top_frame = tk.Frame(settings_win, bg="red")
top_frame.pack(side="top", fill="both", expand=True)
bottom_frame = tk.Frame(settings_win, bg="blue")
bottom_frame.pack(side="bottom", fill="both", expand=True)
top_label = tk.Label(top_frame, text="Top Label")
top_label.pack()
bottom_label = tk.Label(bottom_frame, text="Bottom Label")
bottom_label.pack()
here is a screenshot:

Tkinter bind callback to activating a window

I'm writing a Tkinter application in Python 3 and I've created a custom Title Bar (the bar at the top of every Windows application with the application name, close button etc.). The way I achieved this was to create an invisible window (we'll call this window test) that controls the main application window's behavior (which we'll call Main App). Below is a piece of test code that illustrates this:
from tkinter import Tk, Toplevel
from tkinter.ttk import Button, Label, Frame, Style
class NewRoot(Tk):
def __init__(self):
Tk.__init__(self)
self.attributes('-alpha', 1.0) # This is normally set to 0.0
class MyMain(Toplevel):
def __init__(self, master):
Toplevel.__init__(self, master)
self.overrideredirect(1)
self.geometry('750x650+400+600')
self.style = Style()
self.style.configure('TTitleBar.Label',
width=8,
relief='flat',
foreground='red',
background='red',
anchor='center',
borderwidth=-1)
self.style.configure('TMainWindow.Label',
width=8,
relief='flat',
background='blue',
anchor='center',
borderwidth=-1)
self.tk_setPalette(background='green')
self.x_win = None
self.y_win = None
self.start_x = None
self.start_y = None
# make a frame for the title bar
title_bar = Frame(self, style='TTitleBar.Label')
title_bar.grid(row=0, column=0, sticky='wn')
label = Label(title_bar, text='Main App', style='TMainWindow.Label')
label.grid(row=0, column=0, padx=(4, 2), pady=(4, 0), sticky='nw')
minimize_button = Button(title_bar, text='MIN', command=self.minimize_window,
style='TMainWindow.Label', takefocus=False)
minimize_button.grid(row=0, column=2, padx=(563.5, 0), sticky='nw')
maximise_button = Button(title_bar, text='MAX', command=self.maximize_window,
style='TMainWindow.Label', takefocus=False)
maximise_button.grid(row=0, column=3, pady=(1.4, 0), sticky='nw')
close_button = Button(title_bar, text='CLOSE', command=self.close_window,
style='TMainWindow.Label', takefocus=False)
close_button.grid(row=0, column=4, sticky='nw')
window = Frame(self)
window.grid(row=1, column=0, sticky='ne')
# bind title bar motion to the move window function
title_bar.bind('<B1-Motion>', self.move_window)
title_bar.bind('<Button-1>', self.get_pos)
self.master.bind("<Map>", self.on_root_deiconify)
self.master.bind("<Unmap>", self.on_root_iconify)
self.mainloop()
def minimize_window(self):
self.master.iconify()
def maximize_window(self):
pass
def close_window(self):
self.master.destroy()
def on_root_iconify(self, event):
# print('unmap')
self.withdraw()
def on_root_deiconify(self, event):
# print('map')
self.deiconify()
def get_pos(self, event):
self.x_win = self.winfo_x()
self.y_win = self.winfo_y()
self.start_x = event.x_root
self.start_y = event.y_root
self.y_win = self.y_win - self.start_y
self.x_win = self.x_win - self.start_x
def move_window(self, event):
# print('+{0}+{1}'.format(event.x_root, event.y_root))
self.geometry('+{0}+{1}'.format(event.x_root + self.x_win, event.y_root + self.y_win))
self.start_x = event.x_root
self.start_y = event.y_root
if __name__ == '__main__':
root = NewRoot()
root.title('test')
app = MyMain(root)
In the code above, whenever the test window is minimized, the Main App window is also minimized, which works as intended.
The problem is that whenever the test window is made active, the Main App window doesn't become active also. For example, if another app covers Main App but test is not minimized, I need to click on the test icon in the Windows Task Bar three times for it to appear.
I was wondering if there is a way to fix this using something like:
self.master.bind(<some_command>, self.some_other_command)
However, I can't find a comprehensive list of bind commands anywhere.
Is this a good way of going about this, or is there something else I should be doing?
Also, I noticed that using self.overrideredirect(1) causes the shadows made by the windows to disappear, which causes overlapping windows in my application to 'merge together', since the background colors are the same. Is there a way to add the shadows back?
Thank you in advance.

I found a solution to this for anyone else with a similar problem. You can create a 'dummy' button in the invisible window that will become active when the window is in focus. You then have that call a function that places the main application window in focus.
class NewRoot(Tk):
def __init__(self):
Tk.__init__(self)
self.attributes('-alpha', 0.0)
entry = Button()
entry.pack()
entry.focus_set()
entry.pack_forget()
Then add this to __init__ in the MyMain class:
self.master.bind('<FocusIn>', self.on_root_deiconify)

Tkinter Grid Dynamic Layout

I am wanting to create a grid layout, with a grid that fills the first row until it runs out of space in the window, and will dynamically move items to the row below (like text line-wrapping). As the window width is adjusted, the grid adjusts to fit. The boxes resizing is not desired. I intend to maintain each small box's size, but change where the layout puts each box.
I imagine this functionality is possible by measuring the width of the frame, and if the (number of boxes)*(width of each box) exceeds the width, move to the next row. I was just wondering if there was a better way built in that I'm not understanding.
If the above is the only option, what is the best way to update that? Do I have to set an event on window resize or something? It seems like I shouldn't have to rework a layout manager, which is what that feels like. I just want to check if similar functionality is already built in. Grid seems like a powerful layout manager, but I have not been able to find that option.
The below pics describes the behavior I want using the same set of 6 boxes on a single frame using grid layout.
Window is wide enough to hold all 6 boxes, so they all fit on row 1. They then adjust as window size changes.

If you plan on forcing each box to be a uniform size, the simplest solution is to use the text widget as the container since it has the built-in ability to wrap.
Here is a working example. Click on the "add" button to add additional boxes. Resize the window to see that they automatically wrap as the window grows and shrinks.
import Tkinter as tk
import random
class DynamicGrid(tk.Frame):
def __init__(self, parent, *args, **kwargs):
tk.Frame.__init__(self, parent, *args, **kwargs)
self.text = tk.Text(self, wrap="char", borderwidth=0, highlightthickness=0,
state="disabled")
self.text.pack(fill="both", expand=True)
self.boxes = []
def add_box(self, color=None):
bg = color if color else random.choice(("red", "orange", "green", "blue", "violet"))
box = tk.Frame(self.text, bd=1, relief="sunken", background=bg,
width=100, height=100)
self.boxes.append(box)
self.text.configure(state="normal")
self.text.window_create("end", window=box)
self.text.configure(state="disabled")
class Example(object):
def __init__(self):
self.root = tk.Tk()
self.dg = DynamicGrid(self.root, width=500, height=200)
add_button = tk.Button(self.root, text="Add", command=self.dg.add_box)
add_button.pack()
self.dg.pack(side="top", fill="both", expand=True)
# add a few boxes to start
for i in range(10):
self.dg.add_box()
def start(self):
self.root.mainloop()
Example().start()

Here's a working example:
import Tkinter as tk
class AutoGrid(tk.Frame):
def __init__(self, master=None, **kwargs):
tk.Frame.__init__(self, master, **kwargs)
self.columns = None
self.bind('<Configure>', self.regrid)
def regrid(self, event=None):
width = self.winfo_width()
slaves = self.grid_slaves()
max_width = max(slave.winfo_width() for slave in slaves)
cols = width // max_width
if cols == self.columns: # if the column number has not changed, abort
return
for i, slave in enumerate(slaves):
slave.grid_forget()
slave.grid(row=i//cols, column=i%cols)
self.columns = cols
class TestFrame(tk.Frame):
def __init__(self, master=None, **kwargs):
tk.Frame.__init__(self, master, bd=5, relief=tk.RAISED, **kwargs)
tk.Label(self, text="name").pack(pady=10)
tk.Label(self, text=" info ........ info ").pack(pady=10)
tk.Label(self, text="data\n"*5).pack(pady=10)
def main():
root = tk.Tk()
frame = AutoGrid(root)
frame.pack(fill=tk.BOTH, expand=True)
TestFrame(frame).grid() # use normal grid parameters to set up initial layout
TestFrame(frame).grid(column=1)
TestFrame(frame).grid(column=2)
TestFrame(frame).grid()
TestFrame(frame).grid()
TestFrame(frame).grid()
root.mainloop()
if __name__ == '__main__':
main()
Note this will ruin the rowspan and columnspan features of the grid manager.

Here's a streamlined version of Bryan's answer without classes and a few extra comments for anyone who is confused and is trying to implement this quickly into their own project.
from tkinter import *
import tkinter as tk
#Create main window
root = tk.Tk()
#Create WidgetWrapper
widgetWrapper = tk.Text(root, wrap="char", borderwidth=0,highlightthickness=0,state="disabled", cursor="arrow")
#state = "disabled" is to disable text from being input by user
#cursor = "arrow" is to ensure when user hovers, the "I" beam cursor (text cursor) is not displayed
widgetWrapper.pack(fill="both", expand=True)
def additem():
item = Label(bd = 5, relief="solid", text="O", bg="red") #Create the actual widgets
widgetWrapper.window_create("end", window=item) #Put it inside the widget wrapper (the text)
# add a few boxes to start
for i in range(10):
additem()
#Not needed to implement in other code, just an add button
add_button = tk.Button(root, text="Add", command=additem)
add_button.pack()

tkinter: scrollbar autohide without window resize

Using the folowing sample code I wrote I am having issues with some behavior.
I want to add/remove the scrollbar as needed. But when I do it shifts all other elements in the window as the window resizes. This is just a sample to demonstrate the issue, you will see the window resize when the scrollbar is added and removed. In the real application there are more widgets on the window.
Am I trying to do this the right way or if not how can I resolve the issue? I also plan to have a second widget with scrollbars as well in another separate frame.
from tkinter import *
from tkinter import ttk
class TopFrame(ttk.Frame):
def __init__(self, parent, col=0, row=0):
ttk.Frame.__init__(self, parent)
self.innerframe = ttk.Frame(parent)
self.list_scroll = ttk.Scrollbar(self.innerframe)
self.list_scroll.grid(column=1, row=0, sticky=NS)
self.list_scroll.grid_remove()
self.list = Listbox(self.innerframe, width=64, height=8,
yscrollcommand=self.list_scroll.set)
self.list_scroll.config(command=self.list.yview)
self.list.grid(column=0, row=0, sticky=NSEW)
self.innerframe.grid(column=col, row=row)
self.addbtn = ttk.Button(parent, text='add item',
command=self.additem)
self.addbtn.grid(column=col, row=row+1, padx=10, pady=2)
self.delbtn = ttk.Button(parent, text='del item',
command=self.delitem)
self.delbtn.grid(column=col, row=row+2, padx=10, pady=2)
self.grid_rowconfigure(0, weight=1)
self.grid_columnconfigure(0, weight=1)
def additem(self):
count = str(len(self.list.get(0, END)))
self.list.insert(END, 'demo' + count)
if len(self.list.get(0, END)) > 8:
self.list_scroll.grid()
def delitem(self):
self.list.delete(END)
if len(self.list.get(0, END)) <= 8:
self.list_scroll.grid_remove()
class MasterFrame(Tk):
def __init__(self):
Tk.__init__(self)
topframe = TopFrame(self)
if __name__ == '__main__':
MasterFrame().mainloop()

Once the window has been displayed for the first time you can get the window size, and then use that to call the geometry method on the root window. When you set the size of the window with the geometry command it will stop resizing based on changes to its internal widgets.
The simplest thing is to write a function to do that, and schedule it to run with after_idle, which should fire after the window is first displayed.

Force set tkinter window to always have focus

Is there a way to tell Tkinter that I want some widget to always remain focused? I've created a minimal example that can be run to show my issue , here's an example window with small toplevel windows also overlayed:
Now if I click the upper title tk, the main window comes into focus and suddenly the small windows are behind the main window
I want to treat these smaller windows as if they are always in focus until the user specifically closes them. Of course this is a minimal example that is an idea behind a small subsection of my large application , is there any easy setting I can use for the toplevel that guarantees it will always remain in focus regardless of other windows? Here's the actual code that can be run to replicate this:
from Tkinter import *
class PropertyDialog(Toplevel):
def __init__(self, root, string):
Toplevel.__init__(self)
self.wm_overrideredirect(1)
self.root = root
self.\
geometry('+%d+%d' %
(root.winfo_pointerx(),
root.winfo_pointery()))
try:
self.tk.call('::Tk::unsupported::MacWindowStyle',
'style', self._w,
'help', 'noActivates')
except TclError:
pass
window_frame = Frame(self)
window_frame.pack(side=TOP, fill=BOTH, expand=True)
exit_frame = Frame(window_frame, background='#ffffe0')
exit_frame.pack(side=TOP, fill=X, expand=True)
button = Button(exit_frame, text='x', width=3, command=self.free,
background='#ffffe0', highlightthickness=0, relief=FLAT)
button.pack(side=RIGHT)
text_frame = Frame(window_frame)
text_frame.pack(side=TOP, fill=BOTH, expand=True)
label = Label(text_frame, text=string, justify=LEFT,
background='#ffffe0',
font=('tahoma', '8', 'normal'))
label.pack(ipadx=1)
def free(self):
self.destroy() # first we destroy this one
for val,widget in enumerate(dialogs): # go through the dialogs list
if widget is self: # when we find this widget
dialogs.pop(val) # pop it out
break # and stop searching
if dialogs: # if there are any dialogs left:
for widget in dialogs: # go through each widget
widget.lift(aboveThis=self.root) # and lift it above the root
def bind():
"""
toggle property window creation mode
"""
root.bind('<ButtonPress-1>', create)
def create(event):
"""
Create actual window upon mouse click
"""
dialogs.append(PropertyDialog(root, 'help me'))
root = Tk()
dialogs = []
root.geometry('%dx%d' % (300,400))
Button(root, text='create', command=bind).pack()
root.mainloop()

change this:
if dialogs: # if there are any dialogs left:
for widget in dialogs: # go through each widget
widget.lift(aboveThis=self.root) # and lift it above the root
to this:
if dialogs: # if there are any dialogs left:
for widget in dialogs: # go through each widget
widget.lift() # and lift it above the root
the widgets will stay above the main window.
EDIT:
Sorry that only half worked... the widows will stay above sometimes with that code
:-X
It was keeping the widgets on top until you closed one of them.... this code does keep the widgets on top
it uses the self.attributes("-topmost", True) when you spawn the windows.
Sorry again.
from Tkinter import *
class PropertyDialog(Toplevel):
def __init__(self, root, string):
Toplevel.__init__(self)
self.wm_overrideredirect(1)
self.root = root
self.\
geometry('+%d+%d' %
(root.winfo_pointerx(),
root.winfo_pointery()))
try:
self.tk.call('::Tk::unsupported::MacWindowStyle',
'style', self._w,
'help', 'noActivates')
except TclError:
pass
window_frame = Frame(self)
window_frame.pack(side=TOP, fill=BOTH, expand=True)
exit_frame = Frame(window_frame, background='#ffffe0')
exit_frame.pack(side=TOP, fill=X, expand=True)
button = Button(exit_frame, text='x', width=3, command=self.free,
background='#ffffe0', highlightthickness=0, relief=FLAT)
button.pack(side=RIGHT)
text_frame = Frame(window_frame)
text_frame.pack(side=TOP, fill=BOTH, expand=True)
label = Label(text_frame, text=string, justify=LEFT,
background='#ffffe0',
font=('tahoma', '8', 'normal'))
label.pack(ipadx=1)
self.attributes("-topmost", True)
def free(self):
self.destroy() # first we destroy this one
def bind():
"""
toggle property window creation mode
"""
root.bind('<ButtonPress-1>', create)
def create(event):
"""
Create actual window upon mouse click
"""
dialogs.append(PropertyDialog(root, 'help me'))
root = Tk()
dialogs = []
root.geometry('%dx%d' % (300,400))
Button(root, text='create', command=bind).pack()
root.mainloop()

I recommend moving away from Toplevel widgets, since those are separate windows and you're suppressing their window-like behavior. This version makes PropertyDialog inherit from Frame instead of Toplevel, using the place() geometry manager. When you click the main window, it first checks whether the widget clicked was the main window or a popup window to prevent a new popup from appearing when you close an existing one. Changed areas are marked with #CHANGED#.
from Tkinter import *
class PropertyDialog(Frame): #CHANGED#
def __init__(self, root, string, event): #CHANGED#
Frame.__init__(self) #CHANGED#
self.root = root
try:
self.tk.call('::Tk::unsupported::MacWindowStyle',
'style', self._w,
'help', 'noActivates')
except TclError:
pass
exit_frame = Frame(self, background='#ffffe0') #CHANGED#
exit_frame.pack(side=TOP, fill=X, expand=True)
button = Button(exit_frame, text='x', width=3, command=self.free,
background='#ffffe0', highlightthickness=0, relief=FLAT)
button.pack(side=RIGHT)
text_frame = Frame(self) #CHANGED#
text_frame.pack(side=TOP, fill=BOTH, expand=True)
label = Label(text_frame, text=string, justify=LEFT,
background='#ffffe0',
font=('tahoma', '8', 'normal'))
label.pack(ipadx=1)
self.place(x=event.x, y=event.y, anchor=NW) #CHANGED#
def free(self):
self.destroy()
# other things you want to do - if there's nothing else,
# just bind the close button to self.destroy
def bind():
"""
toggle property window creation mode
"""
root.bind('<ButtonPress-1>', create)
def create(event):
"""
Create actual window upon mouse click
"""
if event.widget is root: #CHANGED#
dialogs.append(PropertyDialog(root, 'help me', event))
root = Tk()
dialogs = []
root.geometry('%dx%d' % (300,400))
Button(root, text='create', command=bind).pack()
root.mainloop()