Python Tipper

Tkinter Constructor In The Making

2019-05-13T10:43:00.003+10:00

I started focusing on learning Python Tkinter in October 2018. As a result of this learning I am now creating an application made entrirely from Tkinter. It is called "Tkinter Constructor".

Here is a Youtube video of what you can do with Tkinter Constructor.

Tkinter Constructor - GUI Creator

Wikipedia - Tkinter states:

Tkinter is a Python binding to the Tk GUI toolkit. It is the standard Python interface to the Tk GUI toolkit, and is Python's de facto standard GUI. Tkinter is included with standard Linux, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X installs of Python.

I had looked at Tkinter a few years back, but wasn't happy with its appearance on Windows. It looked like an old windows 95 application if not worse.

Now with ttk Themes Tkinter looks a lot better in Windows 10, as noted in the above youtube video.

The Text Editor in the video uses the pack geometry method. There is another video coming that shows the use of the grid geometry method, which is great for building data entry and database applications.

Tkinter: Python Standard GUI Toolkit

Since Tkinter is the standard GUI toolkit in Python. I thought why not use tkinter. You won't have the hassle of downloading, installing, compiling and deal with incompatibility of third party packages.

I love Python as a programming language. It is easy to learn and understand. If you are interested in using the Tkinter GUI toolkit, I would highly recomment these websites as Tkinter references:

Google Search and Stackflow were a great help in finding examples of code related to the various tkinter widgets.

The Making of Tkinter Constructor

I started hand writing the tkinter code to construct a python/tkinter GUI and found it took a long time creating an application. Hand writing code is also error prone and takes up a lot of time debugging due to typos or code not suited to a widget.

Then I thought, if I built a GUI construction application it would:

Speed up the development process
Reduce typo errors, debugging code
Most importantly teach me how to use tkinter

I started building Tkinter Constructor as a project to learn how to use tkinter.

Tkinter Constructor - Telling The World

At his stage Tkinter Constructor is still in Beta phase and isn't ready for consumer use.

The reason why I have created the Youtube video is to let the world know about:

what Tkinter Constructor is
developing interest in the application
get user feedback and suggestions

If you have any suggestions or questions, please feel free to speak in the comments section.
Subscribe to this blog site and my Youtube channel Python Bytes.

Bibliograpy
Python Bytes Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC486taQ8gRb6gHKvyzdmplg
Tkinter Constructor first video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0VpYO_Q5vg
Tkinter Widipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tkinter
An Introduction to Tkinter: http://effbot.org/tkinterbook/
Tkinter 8.5 reference: a GUI for Python: http://infohost.nmt.edu/tcc/help/pubs/tkinter/web/index.html
Graphical User Interfaces with Tk: https://docs.python.org/3/library/tk.html
TkDocs: https://tkdocs.com/tutorial/index.html

Using Python 3.4 and wxPython Phoenix

2015-04-19T14:10:00.004+10:00

When I was creating the Boa Constructor video tutorials I was already using XRCed to create xrc files which is a different method of creating Python GUI's.

Then I found wxFormBuilder - OMG!

It took me 2 weeks to confidently use wxFormBuilder. I think wxFormBuilder is way better than Boa Constructor and XRCed.

Not only do you get to design the GUI, but you also get the wxPython design code generated for you.

It was at this point I thought, because I like wxFormBuilder so much, maybe I can take the plunge and move on to Python 3.4 and wxPython Phoenix.

I have loads of programs I wrote using Python 2.7 & wxPython so I thought I would install Python 3.4 on my notebook.

I have 2 computers

Vista PC (Python 2.7 & wxPython)
Windows 7 Notebook (Python 3.4 and wxPython Phoenix)

It's been a week now since using Python 3.4 and wxPython Phoenix, so here is my verdict:

At present I don't have dedicated custom programs written for a business,so I can move onto Python 3.4 and build new GUI's.
I build a lot of database applications and built an app that generates most of the code automatically for me. This saves me weeks if not months of coding by hand. I have had to build a new app to generate the code for database apps that will now use Python 3.4 and wxPython Phoenix. This is a good thing because it is forcing me to add new functions to the app that will speed up the development time. I have been avoiding this, thinking I will do this one of these days. Well that day has come. My pythonic coding has matured, so I am adding new methods of generating my code.
One of the things I need to get used to with Python 3.4 is that I keep getting errors because I'm using the old print "xyz" or print variable statements. I have to get used to using parentheses after the print statement print("xyz") or print(variable).
The wxPython design code generated by wxFormBuilder has issues because some of the wxPython Phoenix code and methods have changed. There isn't a wxPython Phoenix Demo application to refer to the use of widgets, dialogs etc. so there is a lot of time spent looking for answers using the online docs. I have created a script that runs through the generated code and cleans it up so it will run using wxPython Phoenix and Python 3.4.
Boa Constructor was heavy on the generated code where as wxFormBuilders is a lot lighter on wxPython code and a lot cleaner.
I feel using wxFormBuilder is like building a house with bricks. The eventual GUI application you build using wxFormBuilder seems to be built a lot more solidly.
Oh yes what I really like about Python 3.4 is you don't get all those annoying .pyc files mixed in with all your .py files. They are stored in a separate __pycache__ directory.

Are you using Python 3.4 and wxPython Phoenix? Leave a comment what you think.

Python GUI Which Library

2015-03-26T09:16:00.000+11:00

Last night I downloaded wxFormBuilder and gave it a go.

OMG!!! where have you been my little pretty?

In two hours after some orienteering I was creating applications. Unbelievable.

The reason wxFormBuilder was so easy to use is because I taught myself how to program in Python (5 years), use Boa Constuctor (4 years), then XRCed (6 months) and wxFormBuilder (2 hours).

When I say taught myself, I mean there is limited documentation or online tutorials explaing how to use them. Not that that is a bad thing. It has served me well to develop the skills of learning how to learn. Most importantly thank goodness for Google search engine.

What is wxFormBuilder
wxFormBuilder is Boa Contructor and XRCed all built into one IDE application. Wow! I love it.

All night in my sleep I was using wxFormBuilder (dreaming). When I woke up this morning, I wondered, why is tkinter the one and only GUI library that is shipped with Python?

What is Tkinter
Guess what I've started reading John E. Grayson's ebook Python and Tkinter Programming.

That's right, Tkinter. I never got to learn about Tkinter since 2010. The reason was, I didn't like the widgets on Windows.

But now I'm thinking, I've learned how to use Python, Boa Contructor, XRCed and wxFormBuilder is a sinch and they are all GUI builders. Why not have a look at Tkinter.

Why would I do that? To see why Tkinter was choosen to be part of the Python library and compare Tkinter to wxPython.

I will keep you posted.

Ask Questions give a Comment
I need some inspiration on what to write about. Please leave a comment and ask me some questions I can answer.

P.S. Just a thought. I'm still trying to find a way to fund my Python and wxPython research and addiction. Basically so I can stay alive. If you have any suggestions please leave a comment. I would really, really appreciate it.

Boa Constructor Menubar

2015-03-09T14:22:00.000+11:00

Creating a wxPython menubar on a frame can be a task when coding by hand. Boa Constructor IDE makes it easier to create menubars.

In this video tutorial you will leanr how to add a:

menubar to a frame
menu to menubar
menu items in menu

Boa Constructor Menubar Tutorial

Get Boa Constructor eBook

Leave a comment, or if you have any questions ask and I will do my best to answer them for you.

Boa Constructor 1 wx.Frame

2015-03-06T13:42:00.000+11:00

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a wxpython frame using Boa Constructor.

You will learn about the settings:

Position
Size
Title
Icon

A wxpython frame is the first widget you use to build a python GUI application.

It is so easy to create in Boa Constructor when you are shown how. This tutorials explains in simple terms how to do it.

Boa Constructor 1 wx.Frame

Boa Constructor eBook

References:
wxPython wxFrame docs

Boa Constructor Website

Leave a comment and let me know what you would like to learn.

Boa Constructor - Overview

2015-02-13T16:05:00.000+11:00

I have been using wxPython over four years now and taught myself how to use python, wxPython along with many other wxPython related subjects such as using the Boa Constructor for building python GUI's with wxPython. wxPython has reached version 3. Which has an impact on Boa Constructor. Boa will no longer run with wxPython version 3.

The last known Python and wxPython vesion I am aware of that Boa with run with is:

Python 2.7
wxPython2.8-win32-unicode-2.8.12.1
wxPython2.8-win32-doc-demos-2.8.12.1

Boa Constructor is an amazing IDE and I have learned a lot from it. As with all technology, old technology slowly falls to the way side as new and better technology takes over. Just have a look at the HTML, CSS, Javascript technology alone (HTML5, CSS3, jQuery).

I feel it's really important to pass on my knowledge of Boa Constructor so I can move on to more advanced uses of python and wxpython.

How Boa Constructor Helps You Understand wxPython

I feel Boa Constructor plays an import role in helping wxPython users understand:

the concept of building wxPython GUI's
widget default settings
wxPyhon code construct
little tricks like building and importing panels as templates for other GUI projects

You will not need to learn how to use every wxPython widget. Listed below are widgets I always use when building and constructing database related applications.

Here is a list of widgets you will learn how to use when building GUI's. So lets get started:

wx.Frame
wx.StatusBar
wx.MenuBar
wx.Toolbar
wx.DirDialog
wxFileDialog
About Box
wx.Panel
wx.BoxSizer
wx.FlexGridSizer
wx.StaticText
wx.TextCtrl
wx.Choice
wx.ComboBox
wx.CheckBox
wx.RadioButton
wx.StaticBitmap
wx.DatePickerCtrl
wx.Button
wx.BitmapButton
wx.ListCtrl

Boa Constructor - Build Text Editor

2014-12-18T14:54:00.000+11:00

I have almost finished writing an eBook titled Boa Constructor - Build Text Editor.

The book has over 100 screen-shot pictures and 55 pages of very easy to follow and understand instructions. Taking you through the steps of building a text editor similar to window notepad.

As far as I know, there are no ebooks on the internet explaining how to use Boa Constructor Editor, Palette and Inspector.

After spending four years searching the internet:

how to use wxpython widgets
filtering vague encrypted comments on how to use Boa Constructor
experimenting trial and error with various python and wxpython coding methods

I finally wrote an eBook about Boa Constructor. The ebook is called Boa Constructor, Build A Text Editor.

55 page eBook with over 100 pictures teaching you how to create a text editor using Boa Constructor.

Written by Daryl Williams (December 2014)

Easy to understand with loads of screen-shots to help you visually learn on the way.

Table of Contents

How To Install Boa Constructor
How To Install Python
Second – Install wxPython
How To Install Boa Constructor
Create a Frame
Give The Frame A Title
Test The Frame
Add A Menu Bar
Add A Menu
Add A Menu
Link Menu Bar To Frame
Create MenuBar Menus
Test Menu Bar
Add A Panel
Add Box Sizer
Add TextCtrl
Menu Events
File Open Menu Code
File New Menu Code
File Save As Menu Code
File Save Menu Code
Add Exit Text Editor Menu
Exit Text Editor Menu Code
Edit Menu Items Dialog
Help About Menu
Help About Menu Code

Not sure what the response will be for this eBook or future eBooks but we will see what happens.

Add a comment if you're interested in the Boa Constructor - Build Text Editor ebook and what you would like to see in future ebooks.

Boa Constructor Tutorial 1 - Build a Text Editor

2013-11-28T17:26:00.000+11:00

Like a lot of Python programmers, I was really frustrated that there were no tutorials on the internet explaining how to use Boa Constructor. So I decided to produce a video so other frustrated Pythonians can learn how to use this great application on the Windows operating system.

Warning – I tried to use Boa Constructor on Ubuntu(Linux) and it kept crashing. Boa Constructor is an easy tool to use when creating Python GUI's (Easy, meaning when you know how to use it).

There is a Help manual in Boa Constructor, but the readers are prone to make mistakes with the Getting Started tutorial.

This tutorial will explain how to build a:

Frame
Menu bar
Status bar

You will learn how to add wxPython and Python code after you have finished creating the Text Editor GUI.

Here is the video tutorial.

I hope this tutorial has been helpful learning about Boa Constructor.

Go to my latest ebook Boa Constructor, Build A Text Editor.

If you have any questions please add a comment to this blog.

Boa Constructor Frustrating No User Tutorial Support

2013-02-23T10:31:00.002+11:00

After doing some research about Boa Constructor, I found Riaan Booysen was the founder and developer of Boa Constructor. Here is an article written Friday, August 15th, 2003 in the Linux Magazine about Riaan Booysen and Boa Constructor.
http://www.linux-mag.com/id/1430/

No User Support For Boa Constructor
Here is the mailing list for Boa Constructor.
http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1909

You will find there are a lot of people asking questions. But they receive little and at most times no supportive replies.

To be honest, I have been hesitant in writing Boa Constructor tutorials due to the lack of tutorials on the internet. This brings to mind questions:

Why aren't Boa Constructor users writing tutorials to help new users?
Are they being protective of what they have learned, the hard way?
Or is Boa Constructor just a dud (hopelessly bad)?

Paranoia sets in with conspiracy theories that those fluent in Boa Constructor, don't want others to learn how to use it because of it's simplicity and GUI (Graphical User Interface) programming potential.

Unfortunately if users don't promote Boa Constructor and don't provide tutorials on the internet. This shows a lack of interest in the project and results in the demise, or to be blunt the death of the project.

It's like the old Economics rule “Supply and Demand: If there is no demand, supply will be reduced or even worse stopped. But if there is a great demand, then the supply will be increased.”

Give Your Support To Boa Constructor
My final conclusion is, if you want support in how to use Boa Constructor, you need to write tutorials on how to use Boa Constructor. If people start writing tutorials about Boa Constructor and provide them freely (Open Source), they will encourage a greater interest in the project and possibly rekindle the efforts of those who started the project. This could give the project a breath of life and result in new updates, patches, plugins and more.

Learning How To Code In Boa Constructor
So to get the ball rolling and develop interest in the project, I will explain how I learned to use Boa Constructor.

Here is the evolutionary process (learning curve) I went through:

Learned how to use Python IDLE.
Searched the internet for tutorials and Watched a lot of videos on Youtube about Python and wxPython.
When I stumbled upon Boa Constructor, I wanted to jump right in and build GUI's straight away (Yes!, I was impatient)

After 2 years, I can create simple to medium GUI's, but now I realise, I need to learn and understand more advanced Python programming code and styles.

What helped me the most in learning how to write code in Boa Constructor was by searching for tutorials about wxPython and it's various widgets. That's because Boa Constructor uses wxPython widgets to create GUI's.

Have your say – Add a comment
I would really appreciate your thoughts about, the lack of User Support for Boa Constructor. Have your found any Boa Constructor tutorials on the internet?

Blogger Tutorial Test

2010-12-09T10:21:00.000+11:00

This is an article for testing purposes, show how to post a blog on blogger

Blogger post tools are really easy to use. If you have used a text editor or word processor you will be familiar with the formatting tools:

font
font size

------------
Bold
Italic
Underline
~~Strikethrough~~
------------
text color
text background color
------------
Link (hyperlink)
Insert Picture
Insert a video
Insert Jump break
------------
Justify
Left

Center

Right

Justified
------------
Number list

Number list
Number list
Number list
Number list

Bullet list

Bullet list
Bullet list
Bullet list

Bullet list
------------

Quote

Remove Formatting
------------
Check Spelling
------------

Python GUI Building with Boa Constructor

2010-12-09T09:46:00.003+11:00

The tool that I use for building a GUI (Graphical User Interface) application for Python is Boa constructor.

In the last article I explained, what tools you need to build Python GUI's

One of the frustrating things I've found while researching on the internet, is the lack of information and tutorials showing you how to use Boa Constructor.

There are some video tutorials that show you how to use Boa Constructor. But they are very basic and only take you to the point of creating a:

frame
add buttons
add text boxes
add staticText (labels)
add sizers
create a menubar
create a status bar

I have been creating Python applications using Boa Constructor. Because there is a lack of information on how to add certain widgets, I have:

experimented how to add widgets
Boa Constructor crashes
try something else
Boa Constructor crashes
try something else
Boa Constructor crashes

After persisting, I have found a solution to the problem. So my advice to you is Persist, persist!!! until you find a solution.

This tutorial will show you how to create a wxPython frame in Boa Constructor.

As I said in the last tutorial I explained how you can install:

Python
wxPython
Boa Constructor

The Python version I'm using 2.6.x may appear out-dated compared to the later versions (2.8 and 3.0). The reason I'm using version 2.6.x is because some of the python modules are not up-to-date or can't function in version 2.8 and 3.0.

Build a wxPython GUI with Boa Constructor

blah blah blah blah

Python on Windows (OS) References
Python Download: http://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.6.6/python-2.6.6.msi
wxPython Download: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/wxpython/wxPython2.8-win32-unicode-2.8.11.0-py26.exe
Boa Constructor Download: http://sourceforge.net/projects/boa-constructor/files/Boa-Constructor/0.6.1-beta/boa-constructor-0.6.1.src.win32.exe/download

How To Start Python Programming

2010-11-25T12:41:00.006+11:00

The Python programming language is very easy to learn. Don't underestimate the power or python.

Building a GUI (Graphical User interface) may seem complicated at first. The way to learn how to create a GUI is to go through some practical examples. Eventually you will remember what code you need, to do certain tasks.

In this tutorial I will explain how to download and install:

Python
wxPython
Boa Constructor

What Operating Systems Can Use Python?
Python can be run on various operating systems:

Linux
Mac OS-X
Windows

The articles posted on this blog site Python Tipper will be for the Windows operating system. It has been said that you can run a Windows Python program on Linux and OS-X with some slight adjustments to the code. I will test it on Linux since I use Linux, but I can't test it on a Mac.

I don't own a Mac because it's way out of my budget range. If you would like me to provide information on how to program Python on a Mac, may be some kind person can donate a Mac for testing purposes.

What is wxpython?
wxPython is a wrapper for the cross-platform GUI API wxWidgets (toolkit) for the Python programming language. What does that mean? Well it means you can use the wxPython widgets to build Windows programs using Python. If you use wxPython instead of Boa Constructor to build a program, you will have to manually write all the code. This can be confusing because if the program doesn't work, you'll have to read through all the code to find where the error is located.

What is Boa Constructor?
If you have used Microsoft Visual Basic to create Windows programs you will know what an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is. Boa Constructor is an IDE for Python. It simplifies designing a GUI and you don't have to manually write a lot of code to make it work.

wxPython has to be installed on your computer so you can use Boa Constructor.

Getting Started
So lets get started downloading and installing:

Download python
Download wxpython
Download Boa Constructor

We will install the latest stable version of Python which as of November 2010 is version 2.6.x (x = version number)

Download Python 2.6.6

This file will install Python on your Windows computer. Accept all the default settings and where the file will be saved.

Download wxpython for Python version 2.6 which is the unicode version

This file will install wxPython on Windows. Accept all the default settings and where the file is saved.

Download Boa Constructor

This file will install wxPython on Windows. Accept all the default settings and where the file is saved.

Once you have installed Python, wxPython and Boa Constructor, you will be ready to start building your own Windows GUI programs using the Python programming language.

If you have any questions, Please leave a comment.