How to get variable from another class without instantiation? - python

How would i pass a varible from another class without instanting the class? the reason i do not want to instantiate the class is because i would have to pass self.master which would mess up the classes window i am passing the variable to.
class MainPageGUI:
def __init__(self, master):
self.master = master
self.master.title("Jans Corp")
self.master.configure(background='lightgrey')
self.master.geometry("1200x800")
listbox = tk.Listbox(self.master,width=150, height=35) # varibable i would like to use in the other class
listbox.place(x=150, y = 130)
Class i would like to pass the variable in:
class NewEmployee:
def __init__(self, master): #Creating basic GUI to add employees
self.master = master
self.master.title("Jans Corp")
self.master.configure(background="lightgrey")
self.master.geometry("300x500")
aa = MainPageGUI(self.master) ## my attempt at it, its wrong as the class get
self.listbox = self.aa.listbox

In general terms, the answer to "How to get variable from another class without instantiation?" is "you can't".
Your code example doesn't provide enough information to give a more concrete example. We don't know, for example, how, when, or where you create the instance of MainPageGUI, or how, when, and where you create an instance of NewEmployee.
I'm going to assume you've already created an instance of MainPageGUI before creating a NewEmployee.
In your case, you're trying to access something in MainPageGUI from another class. You don't want to create another MainPageGUI. Instead, what you need is a reference to the original MainPageGUI. Since that class must be instantiated somewhere, you simply need to pass that instance down when creating a new NewEmployee.
That means that you need to define NewEmployee something like this:
class NewEmployee:
def __init__(self, master, main_gui):
self.main_gui = main_gui
...
Then, anywhere in NewEmployee where you need to reference the listbox, you would use self.main_gui.listbox.
Of course, this also requires that MainGUI actually defines self.listbox. Right now your code does listbox = tk.Listbox(...) when it needs to be self.listbox = tk.Listbox(...).

Related

tkinter widget calling a method from another widget

Whilst working on a tkinter application (Tcl/Tk 8.6 and Python 3.9.2) I recently encountered an error that I was able to resolve, but I think the existence of the error highlights some gaps in my knowledge and potential weaknesses in my approach.
A reproducible example of the error is below - this code will not work and returns the error AttributeError: 'parent_class' object has no attribute 'first'.
from tkinter import *
from tkinter import ttk
class child_one(ttk.Frame):
def __init__(self, parent, **kwargs):
super().__init__(parent, **kwargs)
self.x = 10
def print_x(self):
print(self.x)
class child_two(ttk.Frame):
def __init__(self, parent, **kwargs):
super().__init__(parent, **kwargs)
self.b = ttk.Button(self, text='Button 1',
command=parent.first.print_x).grid()
class parent_class(ttk.Frame):
def __init__(self, parent, **kwargs):
super().__init__(parent, **kwargs)
self.grid()
self.second = child_two(self)
self.first = child_one(self)
self.first.grid()
self.second.grid()
if __name__ == '__main__':
root = Tk()
w = parent_class(root)
root.mainloop()
However the code will work if I reverse the order in which the instances of child_one and child_two are created i.e. replacing
self.second = child_two(self)
self.first = child_one(self)
with
self.first = child_one(self)
self.second = child_two(self)
in the definition of parent_class.
I'd really appreciate any explanations or link to resources to help me understand the program flow which causes this to happen - it appears to me that when I create w and get to the line self.second = child_two(self) Python is just looking at the part of the instance of parent_class which has already been created, and not the whole definition of the class.
Would this happen if this was not the first instance of parent_class to be created? Is it specific to tkinter? (I was only able to create a simple reproducible example with tkinter widgets, not with classes more generally.)
I suppose another solution would be to make print_x a (static?) method of parent_class? I also assume there's not enough detail here to definitively state if that (or alternative structures) would be preferable to facilitate interface between the components of my application, but would be interested to hear any suggestions for good practices in this space.
There's really no mystery here. If you do self.first = child_one(self) first, it defines self.first. When you then call child_two(self), it is able to access parent.first since it was previously created.
However, if you call child_two(self) first, at that point in time parent.first doesn't exist. Thus, when you do command=parent.first.print_x, parent.first doesn't exist.
it appears to me that when I create w and get to the line self.second = child_two(self) Python is just looking at the part of the instance of parent_class which has already been created
That is correct. You can't reference things that haven't been created yet.
Would this happen if this was not the first instance of parent_class to be created? Is it specific to tkinter?
I'm not quite sure what you're asking in the first part of that question. It will always happen if you try to reference any object attribute before that attribute has been created. And no, this isn't specific to tkinter. It's a fundamental aspect of the way that python works.
This is a good example of why it's generally best to create proper functions rather than using lambda. lambda is good when you need to pass arguments, but you don't need to do that in this case. Even then, a proper function is better than directly referencing some other object at the time the button is defined. An arguably better way would be to use a function so that self.parent.first doesn't need to be resolved until you actually click the button.
For example:
class child_two(ttk.Frame):
def __init__(self, parent, **kwargs):
super().__init__(parent, **kwargs)
self.parent = parent
self.b = ttk.Button(self, text='Button 1', command=self.print_x)
self.b.grid()
def print_x(self):
self.parent.first.print_x()
When you say "Python is just looking at the part of the instance of parent_class which has already been created, and not the whole definition of the class", you seem to be expecting python to have built a static description of your class before the program starts running.
Python does not work that way, it's a dynamic language. As Bryan just said, the first variable is created only when you assign to it for the first.

python tkinter inside class - getting state of widgets

I've written a program and I'm learning about classes and thus, rewriting the code to take advantage of classes and objects.
My problem is if I create a tkinter widget "dropdown menu" from a class, I can not retrieve the get.state variable.
class ...:
def make_drop_menu(self,parent,drop_opts,drop='empty',state=''):
self.parent = parent
self.drop = drop
self.drop_opts = drop_opts
self.state = tk.StringVar()
self.state.set(self.drop_opts[0]) # sets default value on drop (drop down menu)
self.drop = OptionMenu(self.parent, self.state, *self.drop_opts) # completed drop
return self.drop
----------------
class main:
self.widget = self.var.make_drop_menu(self.obj_mainwindow.btm_frame, self.col_opts)
Added for clearity:
window = windowclass() #windowclass is the style for tkinter. Makes a tkwindow.
self.widget = self.windowclass.var.make_drop_Menu() #
I've left out some code to simplify. But my main problem is that I create a widget called self.widget which builds my drop down menu. However, I have NO idea how to get the state of the drop down.
Hopefully the code makes sense.
If your class is named MyClass, then to access the state variable you would use the instance of the class. In your case it appears that self.var is the instance of your class, so it would look something like this:
self.var = MyClass()
self.var.make_drop_menu(...)
...
print(self.var.state.get())
Made the make_drop_menu class independent of any other class object. That way I could make a drop menu, assign the parent tk window, and create a method for getting the state variable when called.
Thanks to Bryan Oakley for the help!

Calling Tkinter Objects from Another File

class SneakerGuide(tk.Frame):
def __init__(self, parent, controller):
tk.Frame.__init__(self, parent)
global stockXURLInput
stockXURLInput = Entry(sneakerBasicDetails)
stockXURLInput.grid(row=5, column=1)
So I have this class, and within it, I have this function that is an initialization function and withing that I have a bunch of different things I want to .get() from. I just typed out one example. But I am trying to get the entry input outside of that class (actually I am trying to get it from another file but I know how to import them and stuff. How would I go about doing that in this case in particular
For objects you want to access outside of the class, you must make them instance attributes of the class.
For example, you wouldn't use global like in your example. The use of global largely defeats the purpose of using classes. Instead, you do it like this:
class SneakerGuide(tk.Frame):
def __init__(self, parent, controller):
tk.Frame.__init__(self, parent)
self.stockXURLInput = Entry(sneakerBasicDetails)
self.stockXURLInput.grid(row=5, column=1)
To get the value out of the entry, all you need is a reference to the instance of the class.
root = tk.Tk()
...
guide = SneakerGuide(root)
...
print(f"The url is {guide.stockXURLInput.get9)}")
This isn't anything unique to tkinter, this is how all python objects work.

python calling similar variables

I have a big problem using tkinter with self here is my code
Could people please give an answer, thanks! The error I get is something like,self could not be given a variable outside a function.
from tkinter import *
root = Tk()
class start():
global self
self = root
def __init__():
self.title('__init__')
self.geometry('300x300')
__init__(self)
class window_extra():
def canvas(self):
global self
selfc = Canvas(self, bg='black').pack()
canvas(self)
self.mainloop()
Thanks!
You should not use self as a variable name as it is used to specify if something is an attribute of the instance of the class.
You do not need to use global in classes either as class attributes are used in most cases when dealing with variables that are needed through the class.
Judging by the code you have shown I think you are trying to do something like this:
from tkinter import *
class start():
def __init__(self, root):
self.master = root
self.master.title('__init__')
self.master.geometry('300x300')
Canvas(self.master, bg='black').pack()
root = Tk()
start(root)
root.mainloop()
However I believe you are struggling with the OOP method of programing and I would suggest to not use OOP to start with if this is the case.
Maybe take a few tutorials on youtube or hit up Codecadamy.
In response to your comments:
In my Opinion using init properly is a bad idea. I use it as a regular def. I doesn't matter if I use self global, unless the function/class variable is called self.
I respect the proper use of init, but I just find the whole thing with, init and self.master I just don't get any of it!
Lack of understanding a thing does not mean said thing is bad. The use of self.master is there to provide a class attribute that ties back to the root Tk() variable. This allows any method within the class to interact with the instance of Tk(). I can't speak to other programing languages but the use of self is a very important in OOP for python. It may not be 100% required to reserve self for referencing to either the instance of the object or the class attribute but it is the accepted and known use of self and really should not be changed/overwritten.
I restructured for some simplicity, but I think that you need a better understanding of objects in Python before going too much further down the GUI route. I think that you mean something like this:
from tkinter import *
# creates a subclass of Tk() called 'Application'; class names by convention
# use CamelCase; best to stick with convention on this one
class Application(tkinter.Tk):
# you don't have to create an explicit invocation of '__init__', it
# is automatically run when you instantiate your class (last line)
def __init__():
super().__init__() # initialize the super class (the 'tkinter.Tk()')
self.title('__init__') # use 'self' to refer to this object - do not declare it as global! it is only valid within the object!
self.geometry('300x300')
self.my_canvas = tkinter.Canvas(self, bg='black') # save an instance of your canvas for easy reference later
self.my_canvas.pack() # pack as a separate step (only required if you plan to use the canvas later... or ever)
self.mainloop() # begin the tkinter loop
# this 'if __name__ ...' is a good idea in most cases, allows you to import `Application` into other
# files without actually running it unless you want to from that other file
if __name__ == '__main__':
Application() # start your class

Tkinter - Entry .get() from another class

i've recently come across a problem thats bugging me with the tkinter entry .get() function, I have put together an example code so you can see what i'm trying to do, I have two classes, a class for each window. In the first window(main window) I have an entry box, in the second window I am attempting to get the entry box text from the first window.
Here's the code: (Trying to get entry box info from the first class in the second class)
from Tkinter import *
class window_1(object):
def __init__(self):
self.app = Tk()
self.app.title("Window One")
def entrybox(self):
self.ent = Entry(self.app) #This is the text i'm trying to get in 2nd class
def button(self):
def ODV(self):
class window_2(object):
def __init__(self):
self.app2 = Tk()
self.app2.title("Window Two")
def labels(self):
self.label_0 = Label(self.app2, text = "Name: ")
def info(self):
self.fetch_name = self.ent.get()#Here is my problem
def gridder(self):
self.label_0.grid(row = 0, column = 0)
self.fetch_name.grid(row = 0, column = 1)
rooter = window_2()
rooter.labels()
rooter.info()
rooter.gridder()
open_data_viewer = lambda: ODV(self)
self.but = Button(self.app, text = "Save", command = open_data_viewer)
def packer(self):
self.ent.pack(anchor = W)
self.but.pack(anchor = W)
def App_Runner(self):
self.app.mainloop()
root = window_1()
root.entrybox()
root.button()
root.packer()
root.App_Runner()
Your first problem is that you're creating more than one instance of Tk. You can't do that, tkinter isn't designed to work that way. If you want multiple windows, create instances of Toplevel. A tkinter program should always have exactly one instance of Tk, exactly one call to mainloop, and there should be little to no code following the call to mainloop.
Second, there is absolutely no value in embedding the definition of a class inside a function. Move it out, it will make your code easier to understand, and easier to write and maintain.
Third, for an instance of one object to access a method on another object, the first object needs to know about the second object or needs to know about a central "controller" object. This isn't a tkinter problem, it's a normal thing to consider when writing OO code.
From a practical standpoint, you need to pass in a reference either to the entry widget, or the object that contains the entry widget, when you create the second object. For example:
class window_2(object):
def __init__(self, other):
...
self.other = other
...
def info(self):
self.fetch_name = self.other.ent.get()
...
rooter = window_2(self) # pass "self" to the new object
This produces a tight coupling between the two objects -- the second object knows about the inner workings of the first object. This is not very good design, though for very, very simple programs it's not so bad. The problem is this: if you change the layout of the first widget, perhaps renaming "self.ent" to "self.some_other_frame.ent", you have to modify the other class too.
A better solution is to define in your first class a function that gets it's own value. Of course, ent serves that purpose, but again, that is a tight coupling. better to have a helper function:
class window_1(object):
...
def get_string(self):
return self.ent.get()
class window_2(object):
def info(self):
self.fetch_name = self.other.get_string()
This still has a loose coupling, but one that is much easier to manage because the coupling isn't tied to the specific internal layout and names of the first window. You can change the widgets all you want, as long as you continue to provide a get_string method that does what the other class expects. Your first class is providing a contract to the second class: a promise that no matter how else the window may change over time, it promises to provide this interface.

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