Tkinter.Button subclass needs tuple constructor argument

[TMS]

OK, suppose there is a tuple of tuples like this:

s = (('a\nb', 1), ('c\nd', 1), ('e\nf', 1), 
('g\nh', 1), ('i\nj', 1), ('k\nl', 1))
 

and I want each tuple to be on one widget and 1st three is on top row, 2nd 3 is on 2nd row. How would I iterate through this? I've tried some stuff, but nothing is making sense.

tms

[bartonc]

OK, suppose there is a tuple of tuples like this:

s = (('a\nb', 1), ('c\nd', 1), ('e\nf', 1), 
('g\nh', 1), ('i\nj', 1), ('k\nl', 1))
 

and I want each tuple to be on one widget and 1st three is on top row, 2nd 3 is on 2nd row. How would I iterate through this? I've tried some stuff, but nothing is making sense.

tms

Sorry TMS, I'm not sure if you're using Tkinter or something else. Do you want to create Entry widgets (not usually multiline) or Text widgets?

[TMS]

buttons, they need to be buttons that respond and will print what the value of the button says based on a state. So, when in a state 1 the second line prints, in state 2 the 1st line prints within each button. I hope that is clearer.

:)

tms

[TMS]

OH, and I'm using Tkinter...think typewriter.

[bartonc]

OH, and I'm using Tkinter...think typewriter.

Here's the way I see it; tested for one button only. Let's see if you can loop and create a grid. There's help here if you get stuck.

from Tkinter import *
 
 
buttonData = (('a\nb', 1), ('c\nd', 1), ('e\nf', 1),
              ('g\nh', 1), ('i\nj', 1), ('k\nl', 1))
nColumns = 3
nRows = len(buttonData)/nColumns
 
 
class KeyButton(Button):
    def __init__(self, parent, label, state):
        self.btnStates = label.split()
        self.state = state
        Button.__init__(self, parent, text=label, command=self.DoAction)
 
    def DoAction(self):
        try:
            print self.btnStates[self.state]
        except IndexError:
            print "No such state"
 
    def SetState(self, state):
        self.state = state
 
 
 
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    root = Tk()
    keyButton = KeyButton(root, buttonData[0][0], buttonData[0][1])
    keyButton.grid(row=0, column=0)
    root.mainloop()
 

[bartonc]

buttons, they need to be buttons that respond and will print what the value of the button says based on a state. So, when in a state 1 the second line prints, in state 2 the 1st line prints within each button. I hope that is clearer.

:)

tms

After I changed the title of the thread, I liked this way a little better:

from Tkinter import *
 
 
buttonData = (('a\nb', 1), ('c\nd', 1), ('e\nf', 1),
              ('g\nh', 1), ('i\nj', 1), ('k\nl', 1))
nColumns = 3
nRows = len(buttonData)/nColumns
 
 
class KeyButton(Button):
    def __init__(self, parent, label_state):
        label = label_state[0]
        self.btnStates = label.split()
        self.state = label_state[1]
        Button.__init__(self, parent, text=label, command=self.DoAction)
 
    def DoAction(self):
        try:
            print self.btnStates[self.state]
        except IndexError:
            print "No such state"
 
    def SetState(self, state):
        self.state = state
 
 
 
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    root = Tk()
    keyButton = KeyButton(root, buttonData[0])
    keyButton.grid(row=0, column=0)
    root.mainloop()
 

[bartonc]

OK, suppose there is a tuple of tuples like this:

s = (('a\nb', 1), ('c\nd', 1), ('e\nf', 1), 
('g\nh', 1), ('i\nj', 1), ('k\nl', 1))
 

and I want each tuple to be on one widget and 1st three is on top row, 2nd 3 is on 2nd row. How would I iterate through this? I've tried some stuff, but nothing is making sense.

tms

Hint: append to a list of Buttons as you create each button. Then you can:

btnList[i].SetState(0)  # or 1

in a loop or individually.

[bartonc]

buttons, they need to be buttons that respond and will print what the value of the button says based on a state. So, when in a state 1 the second line prints, in state 2 the 1st line prints within each button. I hope that is clearer.

:)

tms

Yeah... It's gonna be a lot easier if your numbering system is always "zero based". That way in state 0 you print the 0th item, etc. There are ways (subtract from the state before using it as an index or empty 0th slots) but you'll regret using them in a very short time.

[TMS]

Wow... thanks thats great. It was the iterating through the tuples that I'm having a problem with, but your answer is very helpful for the next steps.

I'm sure its become apparant that I'm trying to write a virtual keyboard. The layout I was given is a tuple with tuples. I can't seem to get the layout to work with any iteration process I've tried.

The first row is the first tuple... like I gave in the example. Then the second tuple is the second row... like that. I am supposing the number given is the padding needed because in the layout I was given it gives this for backspace: ('Backspace', 2). I'm sure I can figure that part out... I just need to get the iteration so get the keyboard to layout correctly. Should be easy after learning Python in a month and a 1/2 right?


tms

[bartonc]

Wow... thanks thats great. It was the iterating through the tuples that I'm having a problem with, but your answer is very helpful for the next steps.

I'm sure its become apparant that I'm trying to write a virtual keyboard. The layout I was given is a tuple with tuples. I can't seem to get the layout to work with any iteration process I've tried.

I copied, renamed and reformatted your example:

buttonData = (('a\nb', 1), ('c\nd', 1), ('e\nf', 1),
              ('g\nh', 1), ('i\nj', 1), ('k\nl', 1))

It is indeed a tuple of tuples.

The first row is the first tuple... like I gave in the example. Then the second tuple is the second row... like that.

Would look more like

buttonData = ((('a\nb', 1), ('c\nd', 1), ('e\nf', 1)),
              (('g\nh', 1), ('i\nj', 1), ('k\nl', 1)))

I am supposing the number given is the padding needed because in the layout I was given it gives this for backspace: ('Backspace', 2).

That makes a lot of sense to me.

I'm sure I can figure that part out... I just need to get the iteration so get the keyboard to layout correctly. Should be easy after learning Python in a month and a 1/2 right?


tms

Well easy for some after twice that long (maybe)! Keep it up!

[TMS]

But see that's the problem. How do I iterate through and perhaps map the tuple to the button?

[font=Verdana][size=2][/size][/font]

[bartonc]

But see that's the problem. How do I iterate through and perhaps map the tuple to the button?

[font=Verdana][size=2][/size][/font]

for rowNum, rowTuple in enumerate(buttonData):
    for colNum, constTuple in enumerate(rowTuple):
        # here you have everything you need to create KeyButtons in a grid.
        print rowNum, colNum, constTuple

enumerate() maps index, listortuple[index] pairs for you.

[TMS]

OK, making progress. I get an empty frame, so I'm haven't formated the loop correctly. Here it is:

for rowNum, rowTuple in enumerate(buttonData):
            for colNum, constTuple in enumerate(rowTuple):
                keyButton=KeyButton(root, buttonData[rowTuple])  #I put this in...
keyButton.grid(row=0, column=0)
nColumns = 3
nRows = len(buttonData)/nColumns
 

so... once again, help..... please.....

(I honestly wish I didn't take this class, its been so frustrating to learn so quickly! I'm enjoying the language, but wish it was so much slower).

[bartonc]

OK, making progress. I get an empty frame, so I'm haven't formated the loop correctly. Here it is:

for rowNum, rowTuple in enumerate(buttonData):
            for colNum, constTuple in enumerate(rowTuple):
                keyButton=KeyButton(root, buttonData[rowTuple])  #I put this in...
keyButton.grid(row=0, column=0)
nColumns = 3
nRows = len(buttonData)/nColumns
 

so... once again, help..... please.....

(I honestly wish I didn't take this class, its been so frustrating to learn so quickly! I'm enjoying the language, but wish it was so much slower).

You were so close! I took the liberty of adding the list so that you can access each button. I haven't tested this, so let me know if there's any problem.

btnList = []  # an empty list
for rowNum, rowTuple in enumerate(buttonData):
    for colNum, constTuple in enumerate(rowTuple):
        keyButton=KeyButton(root, buttonData[constTuple])  #I put this in... NEED INNER MOST DATA!
        keyButton.grid(row=rowNum, column=colNum)
        btnList.append(keyButton)  # a linerar list of all the buttons.
 
 

[TMS]

still getting an empty frame. Here is the exact code I'm using, including the layout for the keyboard.

from Tkinter import *
buttonData = (
    ( ('~\n`', 1), ('!\n1', 1), ('@\n2', 1), ('#\n3', 1), ('$\n4', 1),
     ('%\n5', 1), ('^\n6', 1), ('&\n7', 1), ('*\n8', 1), ('(\n9', 1),
     (')\n0', 1), ('_\n-', 1), ('+\n=', 1), ('Backspace', 2),
     ),
    ( ('Tab', 2), ('Q', 1), ('W', 1), ('E', 1), ('R', 1), ('T', 1),
     ('Y', 1), ('U', 1), ('I', 1), ('O', 1), ('P', 1), ('{\n[', 1),
     ('}\n]', 1), ('|\n\\', 1)
     ),
    ( ('CapsLock', 2), ('A', 1), ('S', 1), ('D', 1), ('F', 1), ('G', 1),
     ('H', 1), ('J', 1), ('K', 1), ('L', 1), (':\n;', 1), ('"\n\'', 1),
     ('Enter', 2)
     ),
    ( ('Shift', 2), ('Z', 1), ('X', 1), ('C', 1), ('V', 1), ('B', 1),
     ('N', 1), ('M', 1), ('<\n,', 1), ('>\n.', 1), ('?\n/', 1), ('Shift', 3),
     ),
    ( ('Ctrl', 2), ('Alt', 2), ('Space', 7), ('Alt', 2), ('Ctrl', 2),
     ),
    )
 
 
class KeyButton(Button):
    def __init__(self, parent, label_state):
        label = label_state[0]
        self.btnStates = label.split()
        self.state = label_state[1]
        Button.__init__(self, parent, text=label, command=self.DoAction)
        btnList = [] # an empty list
        for rowNum, rowTuple in enumerate(buttonData):
            for colNum, constTuple in enumerate(rowTuple):
                keyButton=KeyButton(root, buttonData[constTuple]) #I put this in... NEED INNER MOST DATA!
                keyButton.grid(row=rowNum, column=colNum)
                btnList.append(keyButton) # a linerar list of all the buttons.
 
 
        nColumns = 3
        nRows = len(buttonData)/nColumns
 
    def DoAction(self):
        try:
            print self.btnStates[self.state]
        except IndexError:
            print "No such state"
    def SetState(self, state):
        self.state = state
 
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    root = Tk()
    root.mainloop()
 
 

I tried some stuff, just trying to figure out what is stopping the buttons from building, but I can't figure it out....

[TMS]

ok, well, part of the problem is that I'm not calling KeyButton anywhere. So, I added KeyButton().mainloop() to just below root=Tk() and this is the error message I get:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Python25\buttonTest.pyw", line 52, in <module>
KeyButton().mainloop()
TypeError: __init__() takes exactly 3 arguments (1 given)

meaning that I didn't call it right. So, with your help, I'm getting closer, I'm sure... but still needs help. Thank you for helping me with this!

[bartonc]

I ran this. Some stuff you have in there, you'll have to work out. Mostly getting quotes right, I think (but I don't really see what you're trying to do with the [].

from Tkinter import *
buttonData = \
(
## ( ('~\n`', 1), ('!\n1', 1), ('@\n2', 1), ('#\n3', 1), ('$\n4', 1),
## ('%\n5', 1), ('^\n6', 1), ('&\n7', 1), ('*\n8', 1), ('(\n9', 1),
## (')\n0', 1), ('_\n-', 1), ('+\n=', 1), ('Backspace', 2)),
 
 (('Tab', 2), ('Q', 1), ('W', 1), ('E', 1), ('R', 1), ('T', 1),
 ('Y', 1), ('U', 1), ('I', 1), ('O', 1), ('P', 1), ('{\n[', 1),
 ('}\n]', 1), ('|\n\\', 1)),
 
 (('CapsLock', 2), ('A', 1), ('S', 1), ('D', 1), ('F', 1), ('G', 1),
 ('H', 1), ('J', 1), ('K', 1), ('L', 1), (':\n;', 1), ('"\n\'', 1),
 ('Enter', 2)),
 
 (('Shift', 2), ('Z', 1), ('X', 1), ('C', 1), ('V', 1), ('B', 1),
 ('N', 1), ('M', 1), ('<\n,', 1), ('>\n.', 1), ('?\n/', 1), ('Shift', 3)),
 
 (('Ctrl', 2), ('Alt', 2), ('Space', 7), ('Alt', 2), ('Ctrl', 2)),
)
 
 
class KeyButton(Button):
    def __init__(self, parent, label_state):
        label = label_state[0]
        self.btnStates = label.split()
        self.state = label_state[1]
        Button.__init__(self, parent, text=label, command=self.DoAction)
 
 
    def DoAction(self):
        try:
            print self.btnStates[self.state]
        except IndexError:
            print "No such state"
    def SetState(self, state):
        self.state = state
 
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    root = Tk()
 
    btnList = [] # an empty list
    for rowNum, rowTuple in enumerate(buttonData):
        for colNum, constTuple in enumerate(rowTuple):
            keyButton=KeyButton(root, constTuple) #I put this in... NEED INNER MOST DATA!
            keyButton.grid(row=rowNum, column=colNum)
            btnList.append(keyButton) # a linerar list of all the buttons.
 
 
    root.mainloop()
 

[bartonc]

I ran this. Some stuff you have in there, you'll have to work out. Mostly getting quotes right, I think (but I don't really see what you're trying to do with the [].

from Tkinter import *
buttonData = \
(
## ( ('~\n`', 1), ('!\n1', 1), ('@\n2', 1), ('#\n3', 1), ('$\n4', 1),
## ('%\n5', 1), ('^\n6', 1), ('&\n7', 1), ('*\n8', 1), ('(\n9', 1),
## (')\n0', 1), ('_\n-', 1), ('+\n=', 1), ('Backspace', 2)),
 

If you hit reply, and read just above, you'll see what got copied to my script. The Code view seems right. You should be able to work this out with your original.

[bartonc]

If you hit reply, and read just above, you'll see what got copied to my script. The Code view seems right. You should be able to work this out with your original.

OK. I worked it out:

from Tkinter import *
buttonData = \
(
 ( ('~\n`', 1), ('!\n1', 1), ('@\n2', 1), ('#\n3', 1), ('$\n4', 1),
 ('%\n5', 1), ('^\n6', 1), ('&\n7', 1), ('*\n8', 1), ('(\n9', 1),
 (')\n0', 1), ('_\n-', 1), ('+\n=', 1), ('Backspace', 2)),
 
 (('Tab', 2), ('Q', 1), ('W', 1), ('E', 1), ('R', 1), ('T', 1),
 ('Y', 1), ('U', 1), ('I', 1), ('O', 1), ('P', 1), ('{\n[', 1),
 ('}\n]', 1), ('|\n\\', 1)),
 
 (('CapsLock', 2), ('A', 1), ('S', 1), ('D', 1), ('F', 1), ('G', 1),
 ('H', 1), ('J', 1), ('K', 1), ('L', 1), (':\n;', 1), ('"\n\'', 1),
 ('Enter', 2)),
 
 (('Shift', 2), ('Z', 1), ('X', 1), ('C', 1), ('V', 1), ('B', 1),
 ('N', 1), ('M', 1), ('<\n,', 1), ('>\n.', 1), ('?\n/', 1), ('Shift', 3)),
 
 (('Ctrl', 2), ('Alt', 2), ('Space', 7), ('Alt', 2), ('Ctrl', 2)),
)
 
 
class KeyButton(Button):
    def __init__(self, parent, label_state):
        label = label_state[0]
        self.btnStates = label.split()
        self.state = label_state[1]
        Button.__init__(self, parent, text=label, command=self.DoAction)
 
 
    def DoAction(self):
        try:
            print self.btnStates[self.state]
        except IndexError:
            print "No such state"
    def SetState(self, state):
        self.state = state
 
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    root = Tk()
 
    btnList = [] # an empty list
    for rowNum, rowTuple in enumerate(buttonData):
        for colNum, constTuple in enumerate(rowTuple):
            keyButton=KeyButton(root, constTuple) #I put this in... NEED INNER MOST DATA!
            keyButton.grid(row=rowNum, column=colNum)
            btnList.append(keyButton) # a linerar list of all the buttons.
 
 
    root.mainloop()
 

[bartonc]

I've gotten a better understanding, so here's a big head start. I've begun formating the screen for you.

from Tkinter import *
buttonData = \
(
 ((), (), (), ('~\n`', 1), ('!\n1', 1), ('@\n2', 1), ('#\n3', 1), ('$\n4', 1),
 ('%\n5', 1), ('^\n6', 1), ('&\n7', 1), ('*\n8', 1), ('(\n9', 1),
 (')\n0', 1), ('_\n-', 1), ('+\n=', 1), ('Backspace', 2)),
 
 ((), ('Tab', 2), (), ('Q', 1), ('W', 1), ('E', 1), ('R', 1), ('T', 1),
 ('Y', 1), ('U', 1), ('I', 1), ('O', 1), ('P', 1), ('{\n[', 1),
 ('}\n]', 1), ('|\n\\', 1)),
 
 (('CapsLock', 3), (), (), ('A', 1), ('S', 1), ('D', 1), ('F', 1), ('G', 1),
 ('H', 1), ('J', 1), ('K', 1), ('L', 1), (':\n;', 1), ('"\n\'', 1),
 ('Enter', 2)),
 
 ((), ('Shift', 2), (), ('Z', 1), ('X', 1), ('C', 1), ('V', 1), ('B', 1),
 ('N', 1), ('M', 1), ('<\n,', 1), ('>\n.', 1), ('?\n/', 1), ('Shift', 3)),
 
 ((), ('Ctrl', 2), (), ('Alt', 2), (), ('Space', 5), (), (), (), (), ('Alt', 2), (), ('Ctrl', 2)),
)
 
 
class KeyButton(Button):
    def __init__(self, parent, label):
        states = label.split('\n')
        if len(states) < 2:
            states.append(label)
        self.btnStates = states
        self.state = 0
        Button.__init__(self, parent, text=label, command=self.DoAction)
 
 
    def DoAction(self):
        try:
            print self.btnStates[self.state]
        except IndexError:
            print "No such state"
 
    def SetState(self, state):
        self.state = state
 
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    root = Tk()
 
    btnList = [] # an empty list
    for rowNum, rowTuple in enumerate(buttonData):
        for colNum, constTuple in enumerate(rowTuple):
            if constTuple:
                keyButton=KeyButton(root, constTuple[0]) # Send the lable to the keyButton
                keyButton.grid(row=rowNum, column=colNum, columnspan=constTuple[1], sticky=EW)
                btnList.append(keyButton) # a linerar list of all the buttons.
 
 
    root.mainloop()
 

[TMS]

Awesome.

One question... why build the buttons in the test program? If I was to call it from a command line, it wouldn't work, right? Just curious.

[bartonc]

Awesome.

One question... why build the buttons in the test program? If I was to call it from a command line, it wouldn't work, right? Just curious.

If you run this as a script (command line counts as such), __name__ will be __main__. We do this so that later you can reuse the class from another module with import.

[TMS]

ok, thank you. It looks really good. I did some space formatting and now I'm working on backspace and such. This is what it looks like with the formatting:

from Tkinter import *
buttonData = \
(
 ( ('  ~  \n  `  \n ', 1), ('   !  \n 1 \n ', 1),  ('  @  \n  2  \n', 1), ('   #  \n   3  \n', 1), ('   $  \n  4  \n', 1), 
 ('   %   \n  5   \n', 1), ('  ^  \n   6   \n', 1), ('   &   \n  7  \n', 1), ('   *   \n   8  \n', 1), ('  (   \n   9   \n', 1), 
 ('  )   \n  0  \n', 1), ('  _  \n   -   \n', 1), ('  +  \n  =   \n', 1),  (' \n    Backspace    \n', 6), (),  ()),
 (('  Tab  \n', 2), (),  (' Q \n', 1), (' W \n', 1), (' E \n', 1), (' R \n', 1), (' T \n', 1),
 (' Y \n', 1), (' U \n  ', 1), (' I  \n ', 1), (' O \n ', 1), (' P \n ', 1), (' {  \n  [  ', 1), 
 ('    }   \n    ]   ', 1 ), ('       |       \n   \\   ', 1) ),
 (('Caps Lock\n', 3), (), (), ('A\n', 1), ('S\n', 1), ('D\n', 1), ('F\n', 1), ('G\n', 1),
 ('H\n', 1), ('J\n', 1), ('K\n', 1), ('L\n', 1), (':\n;', 1), ('"\n\'', 1),
 ('Enter\n ', 2)),
 (('Shift\n', 3), (), (), ('Z\n', 1), ('X\n', 1), ('C\n', 1), ('V\n', 1), ('B\n', 1),
 ('N\n', 1), ('M\n', 1), ('<\n,', 1), ('>\n.', 1), ('?\n/', 1), ('Shift\n', 2)),
 (('\nCtrl', 3), (), (), ('\nAlt', 2), (), ('\n          Space              ', 7), (), (),(),(),(), (), ('\nAlt', 2), (), ('\nCtrl', 2)),
)
 
class KeyButton(Button):
    def __init__(self, parent, label):
        states = label.split('\n')
        if len(states) < 2:
            states.append(label)
        self.btnStates = states
        self.state = 0
        Button.__init__(self, parent, text=label, command=self.DoAction)
    def DoAction(self):
        try:
            print self.btnStates[self.state]
        except IndexError:
            print "No such state"
    def SetState(self, state):
        self.state = state
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    root = Tk()
    btnList = [] # an empty list
    for rowNum, rowTuple in enumerate(buttonData):
        for colNum, constTuple in enumerate(rowTuple):
            if constTuple:
                keyButton=KeyButton(root, constTuple[0]) # Send the lable to the keyButton
                keyButton.grid(row=rowNum, column=colNum, columnspan=constTuple[1], sticky=EW)
                btnList.append(keyButton) # a linerar list of all the buttons.
 
    root.mainloop()
 
 
 

I'm trying to make it look like a keyboard, and on my machine it works. I will try it on a laptop later. Thank you so much for the BIG push. I'm definitely more optimistic.

TMS

[TMS]

OK, I don't get it. HOW did you get the space bar to print a space? I see that it works, but I don't see where you told it to do that! Please point it out, I've been going through the code and .... well, its a mystery!

[bartonc]

ok, thank you. It looks really good. I did some space formatting and now I'm working on backspace and such. This is what it looks like with the formatting:

from Tkinter import *
buttonData = \
(
 ( ('  ~  \n  `  \n ', 1), ('   !  \n 1 \n ', 1),  ('  @  \n  2  \n', 1), ('   #  \n   3  \n', 1), ('   $  \n  4  \n', 1), 
 ('   %   \n  5   \n', 1), ('  ^  \n   6   \n', 1), ('   &   \n  7  \n', 1), ('   *   \n   8  \n', 1), ('  (   \n   9   \n', 1), 
 ('  )   \n  0  \n', 1), ('  _  \n   -   \n', 1), ('  +  \n  =   \n', 1),  (' \n    Backspace    \n', 6), (),  ()),
 (('  Tab  \n', 2), (),  (' Q \n', 1), (' W \n', 1), (' E \n', 1), (' R \n', 1), (' T \n', 1),
 (' Y \n', 1), (' U \n  ', 1), (' I  \n ', 1), (' O \n ', 1), (' P \n ', 1), (' {  \n  [  ', 1), 
 ('    }   \n    ]   ', 1 ), ('       |       \n   \\   ', 1) ),
 (('Caps Lock\n', 3), (), (), ('A\n', 1), ('S\n', 1), ('D\n', 1), ('F\n', 1), ('G\n', 1),
 ('H\n', 1), ('J\n', 1), ('K\n', 1), ('L\n', 1), (':\n;', 1), ('"\n\'', 1),
 ('Enter\n ', 2)),
 (('Shift\n', 3), (), (), ('Z\n', 1), ('X\n', 1), ('C\n', 1), ('V\n', 1), ('B\n', 1),
 ('N\n', 1), ('M\n', 1), ('<\n,', 1), ('>\n.', 1), ('?\n/', 1), ('Shift\n', 2)),
 (('\nCtrl', 3), (), (), ('\nAlt', 2), (), ('\n          Space              ', 7), (), (),(),(),(), (), ('\nAlt', 2), (), ('\nCtrl', 2)),
)
 
class KeyButton(Button):
    def __init__(self, parent, label):
        states = label.split('\n')
        if len(states) < 2:
            states.append(label)
        self.btnStates = states
        self.state = 0
        Button.__init__(self, parent, text=label, command=self.DoAction)
    def DoAction(self):
        try:
            print self.btnStates[self.state]
        except IndexError:
            print "No such state"
    def SetState(self, state):
        self.state = state
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    root = Tk()
    btnList = [] # an empty list
    for rowNum, rowTuple in enumerate(buttonData):
        for colNum, constTuple in enumerate(rowTuple):
            if constTuple:
                keyButton=KeyButton(root, constTuple[0]) # Send the lable to the keyButton
                keyButton.grid(row=rowNum, column=colNum, columnspan=constTuple[1], sticky=EW)
                btnList.append(keyButton) # a linerar list of all the buttons.
 
    root.mainloop()
 
 
 

I'm trying to make it look like a keyboard, and on my machine it works. I will try it on a laptop later. Thank you so much for the BIG push. I'm definitely more optimistic.

TMS

I guess that it's time to talk about inheritance: I designed this class for the general rule that a button has 2 values. The values come from the incoming label argument:

'  ~  \n  ` '.split('\n')  # for example

becomes

['  ~  ', ' ` ']

which is saved in self.btnStates (should probably be self.btnStateText)
DoAction() the looks at self.state and decides which of these to print.
I added some specialty code for buttons with no newline in the label that gave both states the same value, but at the time I was thinking that is was time for a new subclass of KeyButton or a rewrite of this one that takes more arguments ((say) label, [char1, char2]). Of course, the easiest thing to do is replace "space" with " " (I'm not sure what replacing "tab" with '\t' will do, though).

class KeyButton(Button):
    def __init__(self, parent, label):
        statesText = label.split('\n') ### see explanation above ##
        if len(statesText) < 2:
            statesText.append(label)
        self.btnStateText= statesText
        self.state = 0
        Button.__init__(self, parent, text=label, command=self.DoAction)
 
    def DoAction(self):
        try:
            print self.btnStateText[self.state]
        except IndexError:
            print "No such state"
    def SetState(self, state):
        self.state = state
 

[TMS]

right... I'm looking at the code and I don't see where space is replaced with " ". I have an understanding of how you did the \n thing, so that only one of the letters or chars is printed, but I don't see where you added the functionality for "space". You have defined an action, I see that, and defined states, but I'm looking specifically where the action of the spacebar is. thanks for your patience, I'm just amazed at this whole thing!

[TMS]

nevermind... I know why.... I did a newline and its printing the space from the top line. LOL. OK, nevermind.

tms

[TMS]

Well, my teacher tells me the approach is all wrong. As usual, its his way or no way. Really frustrating since there is no way to develop my own style when I get things wrong if I don't do it the way he wants me to. sigh..........

He said the code makes the assumption that the button label determines the states and that each key maintains its own state, and that is wrong. The state applies to the whole keyboard, so 'state' should not be an attribute of the button. I suppose that means different layouts? OMG I wish I never took this class!

thanks for the help... sigh....

[bartonc]

Well, my teacher tells me the approach is all wrong. As usual, its his way or no way. Really frustrating since there is no way to develop my own style when I get things wrong if I don't do it the way he wants me to. sigh..........

I think you're doing well and if you enjoy it or get to do your own project for fun you'll develop you own style. Then everbody elses way can be wrong.

He said the code makes the assumption that the button label determines the states and that each key maintains its own state, and that is wrong. The state applies to the whole keyboard, so 'state' should not be an attribute of the button.

This is a very good point. It does complicate things a bit, though.

I suppose that means different layouts?

It just means tweaking the class a little bit. That's the beauty of this type of OOP.

OMG I wish I never took this class!

Hang in there, you'll get it.

thanks for the help... sigh....

Sorry if I created the confusion that you're going through.

[TMS]

No... you didn't create the confusion.

I have a new question, and I'll start a new thread. Thank you again, I really learned some stuff from this process.

TMS

[bartonc]

No... you didn't create the confusion.

I have a new question, and I'll start a new thread. Thank you again, I really learned some stuff from this process.

TMS

Any time, really!