How to create custom sliders in Tkinter Python?

by sneha@openweaver.com Updated: Jul 18, 2023

Solution Kit

The Tkinter Slider widget is also known as a Tkinter Scale widget. It is a graphical control element. It allows users to select a value within a specified range by dragging a sliding thumb along a track. It provides a visual representation of a continuous range of values. It allows users to set a value by moving the thumb along the track. The Slider widget in Tkinter can create simple user interfaces for applications. There are different sliders available to suit different needs and design choices.

Here are some common types of sliders:

Linear sliders are also known as horizontal or vertical sliders. They are the most common type of sliders. They have a linear track where the thumb can be dragged to select a slider value within a specified range.
Toggled sliders are also known as binary sliders or on/off switches. It allows users to toggle between two states, represented as "on" and "off." These sliders have two fixed positions instead of a continuous scale range. Users can slide their thumb to either side to switch between the two states.
Scale sliders represent values on a logarithmic scale rather than a linear scale. They are particularly useful when dealing with scale values. It is when a logarithmic scale is more appropriate for representing the data.
Discrete sliders are also known as stepped sliders or quantized sliders. It allows users to select a given value only from a predefined set of discrete steps or intervals.
Range sliders are also known as dual sliders or double sliders. It selects a range of values rather than a single value. It contains thumbs to define the lower and upper boundaries of the selected range.
Tree-based sliders, also known as hierarchy sliders or tree sliders. It provides a hierarchical structure of values. It allows users to navigate and select values within the hierarchy.

In Tkinter, the Slider widget provides several properties. It can be set to control its behavior and appearance like:

from_ and to: These properties define the range of values the slider can display. The from_ property sets the minimum value, and the two properties set the maximum value.
orient: This property determines the orientation of the slider. It can be set to 'horizontal' or 'vertical' to create a horizontal or vertical slider. The default orientation is horizontal.
resolution: This property specifies the precision or granularity of the slider's values. It sets the smallest increment between values.
length: This property sets the length of the slider's track in pixels. It determines the visible size of the slider.
variable: This property links the slider to a control variable. It stores the selected value. It allows you to retrieve and set the value.
command: This property associates a callback function. It is executed when the value of the slider changes. It performs actions based on the slider's current value.
show value determines whether the current value is displayed near the slider. It can be set to True or False.

To use a Slider, the process involves creating the user interface and setting up the widget. It helps in implementing event handlers to respond to user input. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Import tkinter modules.
Create the main Tkinter window.
Define an event handler function to respond to slider value changes.
Create the Slider widget.
Pack the Slider widget into the main window.
Start the Tkinter event loop.

Tkinter sliders incorporate value selection and user interaction into application interfaces. Their flexibility and customization options make them a popular choice for various applications. It includes settings panels, data visualization tools, multimedia applications, and more.

Here is an example of how to create custom sliders in Tkinter Python.

Fig1: Preview of the Code.

Fig2: Preview of the Output when the code is run in IDE.

Code

In this solution, we are creating custom sliders in Tkinter Python.

Python Tkinter Slider

PythonLines of Code : 97License : Strong Copyleft (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Dependent Libraries :

import tkinter as tk
import random

intro = """Panther's Den Slot Machine.


Welcome to my den!

You can win by rolling Ocelots, Jaguars, Boas, Caimans, Macaws or Tapirs.
You can also with big with three Ibis.

You'll lose a coin for anything else, and if you roll three Scorpions say good bye to 500 coins

Good luck kit!"""


def play():
    global first, second, third
    first = spin()
    second = spin()
    third = spin()
    score()

def quit_play():
    lbl.config(text="Game has ended. You won a total of " + str(stake) + " coins")

def spin():
    randomnumber = random.randint(0, 10)
    return ITEMS[randomnumber]

def score():
    global stake, first, second, third
    if((first == "OCELOT") and (second != "MACAW")):
        win = 5 * bet
    elif((first == "JAGUAR") and (second == "JAGUAR") and (third != "JAGUAR")):
        win = 8 * bet
    elif((first == "BOA") and (second == "BOA") and (third == "BOA")):
        win = 10 * bet
    elif((first == "CAIMAN") and (second == "CAIMAN") and ((third == "CAIMAN") or (third == "BOA"))):
        win = 8 * bet
    elif((first == "MACAW") and (second == "IBIS") and ((third == "MACAW"))):
        win = 15 * bet
    elif((first == "TAPIR") and (second == "TAPIR") and ((third == "TAPIR"))):
        win = 20 * bet
    elif((first == "IBIS") and (second == "IBIS") and (third == "IBIS")):
        win = 300 * bet
    elif((first == "SCORPION") and (second == "SCORPION") and (third == "SCORPION")):
        win = -500 * bet
    else:
        win = -1 * bet

    stake += win

    if(win > 0):
        lbl.config(text="{}\t{}\t{} -- You win {} Coins".format(first, second, third, win))
        lbl2.config(text=stake)
    else:
        lbl.config(text="{}\t{}\t{} -- You lose".format(first, second, third))
        lbl2.config(text=stake)

def set_bet(value):
    global bet
    bet = int(value)
    lbl2.config(text=str(bet))    


root = tk.Tk()
root.geometry("700x500")
root.title("Slot Machine")
root.configure(background='seagreen')

INIT_STAKE = 100
ITEMS = ["OCELOT", "MACAW", "JAGUAR", "IBIS", "CAIMAN", "BOA", "SCORPION", "TAPIR", "CONDOR", "BAMBOO", "FROG"]

first = None
second = None
third = None
stake = INIT_STAKE

nameLabel = tk.Label(root, text="PANTHER DEN", font=('Cambria', 60))
nameLabel.pack()
lbl = tk.Label(root, text=intro, background='seagreen', font=('Cambria', 12))
lbl.pack()
lbl2 = tk.Label(root, text=stake)
lbl2.pack()

tk.Button(root, text="Play", command=play).pack()
tk.Button(root, text="Quit", command=quit_play).pack()
tk.Button(root, text="Exit", command=quit).pack()

bet = 0

bet_scale = tk.Scale(root, from_=0, to=stake, orient=tk.HORIZONTAL, length=200, bg='violet', command=set_bet)
bet_scale.pack()

root.mainloop()

Instructions

Follow the steps carefully to get the output easily.

Install Jupyter Notebook on your computer.
Open the terminal and install the required libraries with the following commands.
Install tkinter - pip install tk
Copy the snippet using the 'copy' button and paste it into that file
Run the file using run button.

I hope you found this useful. I have added the link to dependent libraries, and version information in the following sections.

I found this code snippet by searching for "How to create custom sliders in Tkinter Python" in kandi. You can try any such use case!

Dependent Libraries

Tkinter-Designerby ParthJadhav

Python

5885

Version:v1.0.7

License: Permissive (BSD-3-Clause)

An easy and fast way to create a Python GUI 🐍

Support

Quality

Security

License

Reuse

Tkinter-Designerby ParthJadhav

Python 5885 Version:v1.0.7 License: Permissive (BSD-3-Clause)

An easy and fast way to create a Python GUI 🐍

Support

Quality

Security

License

Reuse

You can also search for any dependent libraries on kandi like "tkinter"

Environment Tested

I tested this solution in the following versions. Be mindful of changes when working with other versions.

The solution is created in Python3.9.6.
The solution is tested on Tkinter 0.1.0 version.

Using this solution, we are able to create custom sliders in Tkinter Python.

This process also facilities an easy to use, hassle free method to create a hands-on working version of code which would help us to create custom sliders in Tkinter Python.

Support

For any support on kandi solution kits, please use the chat
For further learning resources, visit the Open Weaver Community learning page.

FAQ:

1. What is the Tkinter Scale Widget, and how does it work?

The Tkinter Scale widget is also known as a slider. It is a graphical control element. It allows users to select a value within a specified range by dragging a sliding thumb along a track. It provides a visual representation of a continuous range of values. It lets users set a value by moving the thumb along the track.

The Scale widget works by leveraging a linear or logarithmic scale. It depends on the configuration to map the position of the thumb. It tracks a corresponding value within the specified range. The position of the thumb is proportional to the selected value.

2. How do I create a Tkinter object for a graphical slider?

To create a graphical slider, you can use the Scale widget. It represents the Tkinter object for a slider. Here's an example of how to create a Tkinter object for a graphical slider:

Import the tkinter module.
Create the main Tkinter window.
Create a Scale widget.
Pack the Scale widget into the main window.
Start the Tkinter event loop.

3. How can I set the scale value of my slider widget?

You can use the set() method associated with the scale widget's control variable to set the scale value. Here's how you can do it:

Create the Tkinter slider widget with an associated control variable.
Set the scale value using the set() method.
Retrieve the scale value using the control variable.

4. What is the range of values that the widget will allow?

It determines the from_ and to properties that you set when creating the widget. These properties define the minimum and maximum values that the slider can represent. The Scale widget treats the range as continuous. It allows any value within the specified range.

You can use the resolution property to control the granularity of the values. For example, setting resolution=1 will restrict the values to integer increments. It is while setting resolution=0.1 will allow values with one decimal place.

5. Can I customize the look of my slider widget?

Yes, there are ways to customize the look of a Tkinter slider widget to match your desired style and design. Here are a few options for customizing the appearance of a slider:

Changing Colors
Modifying Fonts and Labels
Styling with ttk
Using Images
Applying Styles with CSS

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