Python Tkinter Window Output and Shell Input

Question

I am having a problem between the python shell in my IDE and the Tkinter window. What I am trying to do is have all of my user input in the shell, and then I would like to output the corresponding information in a Tkinter window.

However, when my window is made and pops up, I close it to continue my program in the shell, then I continue with input. However, when I try to reinitialize my window. It says that the window has been destroyed. I understand what this means so I tried having a Toplevel window where I output my info which can be closed, and hide my root window, but the shell will not continue until I close/destroy the root window as well.

Is there a way I can continue in the shell without destroying my root window? I am fairly new to this language so any help would be very much appreciated.

This is my general idea:

from Tkinter import *

#get all my info from the shell

root = Tk()
root.withdraw()  #hide the root window

main = Toplevel()
     #this is the window that I want to be able to close and open later

#get more info from the shell after main is closed

#now I want to open the updated main window

Thanks in advance! (And I am working on Windows if that matters)

Don Question Don Question · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-18T10:43:38

I'm not sure if the way you are trying to do this is the most efficient way, but i would propose these changes so far:

from Tkinter import *

#get all my info from the shell

window = Tk()
window.iconify()  #hide the root window

#get more info from the shell after main is closed

window.deiconify()
window.mainloop() # to handle events

i renamed your root-Window to make it more clear for you whats happening and removed the superflous (imho) additional Toplevel-window!

Also keep in mind, that you won't accomplish anything without the mainloop and the necessary event-handlers!

Python Tkinter Window Output and Shell Input

2 Answers