[Tutor] Config options on Tkinter Label Widget

[Rick Pasotto]

On Wed, Jul 04, 2001 at 05:55:25PM -0700, Sheila King wrote:
> I'm trying my hand at a bit of Tkinter programming. I must say, the
> discussion in Mark Lutz' Programming Python, 2nd ed, is really
> excellent.
> 
> Anyhow, I liked the suggestion in Chun's Core Python Programming for one
> of the exercises: "Label and Entry Widgets and Python I/O: Create a GUI
> application that provides and Entry field where the suer can provide the
> name of a text file. Open the file and read it, displaying its contents
> in a Label."
> 
> So, I'm just starting out on the exercise, and I decided to mess around
> a bit with the look and feel of the application. (I've also snagged a
> local copy of Lundh's Tkinter reference and the Tkinter Life
> Preserver...so I think I have ample reference material.)
> 
> So, here is my code so far:
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> from Tkinter import *
> 
> root = Tk()
> Directions = Label(root, text ='Enter name of File to Open:')
> Directions.config(anchor=W)
> inputBox = Entry(root, width=80)
> 
> Directions.pack()
> inputBox.pack()
> mainloop()
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Now, notice the line where I am trying to configure on Directions the
> positioning of the text in the label:
> Directions.config(anchor=W)
> 
> >From reading Lundh's reference, I thought that this would position the
> text all the way to the left of the label.
> 
> However, it remains centered.
> 
> Why isn't it moving to the left? What do I need to do to get that
> effect?

Actually it *is* positioned to the left of the label. The problem is
that the label is only as wide as the text. You need to add two things
to the pack command: 'expand=1' to say you want the label to fill the
available space, and 'fill=X' to say you want the label to expand
horizontally.

Directions.pack(expand=1,fill=X)

To get a better idea of what is happening first color the label:

Directions.config(anchor=W,bg='yellow')

and then try adding a width:

Directions.config(anchor=W,bg='yellow',width=70)

(Be sure you do the above with the original Directions.pack().)

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    Rick Pasotto    rickp@telocity.com    http://www.niof.net