One file program using custom PNG images

[nekoalin]

Hello,

Can you make the program as one file exe using pyinstaller and custom error images? I tried it, but once I use custom images and give the location to those files, they work on the PC where the files are located, but once I move the location of the files or give the program to someone else, the pop ups won't appear (they appear in the background are are blank)

Thank you! ^^

[Akascape]

@nekoalin You should change the location search method.
I guess you are finding assets like this: C:/some_folder/.../image.png
This is not a good way to search files because the location may not exist in other computers.

So you should change the method for searching files.
For example, this is your folder structure:

‣ folder
   ↳image.png
‣ program.py

Inside program.py:
‣ simple way to search that asset:

asset = "folder/image.png"

‣ best way to search the asset:

import os
base_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
asset = os.path.join(base_path, "folder", "image.png")

You should use this method to search files and images and it will never give errors.

Secondly, if you are making a one-file exe then you have to keep that folder outside the exe.

If you are packing them inside, then you have to change the search method again. That search method and a detailed guide is given here: TomSchimansky/CustomTkinter#939

[nekoalin]

@Akascape it looks much better! :D

As a feedback, I think it would look better if there was some type of feedback for when the mouse is hovering the X button, since the X is quite small, would help a little to make sure you're actually pressing on it.
But that's something small, overall it looks great! Thank you!

[Akascape]

I'm on windows 10, didn't do anything!

Lol, that was the windows theme color ig. I thought you made some changes with ctypes.

since the X is quite small, would help a little to make sure you're actually pressing on it.

I actually disabled the mouse hover effect on that button. I don't think it will bother much. The whole area is itself a button with transparent bg.

[nekoalin]

@Akascape btw, if you have any link or something around and don't need to dig too much, I'd want to know how to to make a proper config/save system. At the beginning I had 2 frames which wrote/read from the same while, and override each other, so only one of them would get saved when I switch frames/close program. So I told them to use different config.ini files :)))))

[Akascape]

@nekoalin Make a dictionary out of the options, save it to .ini/.json file types, read it again and form the dictionary and use it. I find this method easier.

[nekoalin]

@Akascape I'm still trying to process your proposal :))))

Correct my logic, I can create a file config.ini, imbed it into assets folder, and use something like this(1st printscreen) to check if a value is present, and if so, to, to load config to with
" self.orchestration_value.set(config.get("PCMenu", "orchestration"))
self.branch_value.set(config.get("PCMenu", "branch"))",
right?
Then I should call this function to write into the the config file what has changed. (2nd printscreen)
But when should I call the save_config, or how, so it doesn't write over that the [App] wrote there?

update: Hmm, and the config should be saved in such a way, so it us unpacked into a relative location when the program is opened for the first time, so if the user modifies something, it is saved somewhere, not in a temporal location like we did with the icons.png

[Akascape]

@nekoalin

I can create a file config.ini, imbed it into assets folder

Don't save it to the asset folder as it is packed inside the one-file exe, one-file exe treats that as a temporary folder so it will delete it after exiting the program and create a new one on every startup.
Instead, save the .ini file to the windows user folder.

home_dir = os.getenv("UserProfile") 
save_file = os.path.join(home_dir, '.example_app', 'file.ini')

But when should I call the save_config, or how, so it doesn't write over that the [App] wrote there?

save_config can be called when you exit the program. (Otherwise, you have to implement a separate button for it)
Similarly, load_config can be called when you start the program.

Here is a full example for your reference:

import customtkinter
from configparser import ConfigParser
import os

def load():
    if not os.path.exists(save_file):
        return
    
    config = ConfigParser()
    config.read(save_file)
    
    # edit widgets based on the config file data
    if config.get('switch', 'toggle')=='1':
        switch.select()
        set_mode()
    textbox.insert(0.0, config.get('textbox', 'string'))
    combobox.set(config.get('combobox', 'option'))
    
def save_on_exit():
    print(f"saved file: {save_file}") # print the saved file location

    # check if base folder exists
    if not os.path.exists(os.path.join(home_dir, '.example_app')):
        os.mkdir(os.path.join(home_dir, '.example_app'))

    # set values to sections
    config = ConfigParser()
    config.add_section('switch')
    config.set('switch', 'toggle', str(switch.get()))
    config.add_section('textbox')
    config.set('textbox', 'string', textbox.get(0.0, customtkinter.END))
    config.add_section('combobox')
    config.set('combobox', 'option', combobox.get())

    # save the file 
    with open(save_file, 'w') as f:
        config.write(f)
        
    app.destroy()
    
def set_mode():
    if switch.get()==1:        
        customtkinter.set_appearance_mode("Dark")
    else:
        customtkinter.set_appearance_mode("Light")

# save the file in the user folder    
home_dir = os.getenv("UserProfile") 
save_file = os.path.join(home_dir, '.example_app', 'file.ini')
            
app = customtkinter.CTk()
app.title("Example App")
app.geometry("250x300")

# save file on exit
app.protocol("WM_DELETE_WINDOW", save_on_exit)

# some widgets
frame_1 = customtkinter.CTkFrame(master=app)
frame_1.pack(expand=True, fill="both")

switch = customtkinter.CTkSwitch(master=frame_1, text="Dark Mode", command=set_mode)
switch.pack(pady=10)
set_mode()

textbox = customtkinter.CTkTextbox(master=frame_1)
textbox.pack()

combobox = customtkinter.CTkComboBox(master=frame_1, values=["A", "B", "C"])
combobox.pack(pady=10)

load() # load the data

app.mainloop()                

[nekoalin]

@Akascape, thank you a lot, I will try to digest the information, then apply it to my code.

What's a little confusing for me is that I have save system in multiple app files (I have window for PC, one for Xbox, both of them have different widgets), and here comes my confusion of how to implement it. If I apply your save system onto 2 different files, won't both of them try to override each other?

[Akascape]

@nekoalin
In that case you have to change the file names for both the app as they have different versions.
For a complex file save system, try to implement a save/load button. Use the tkinter asksaveasfilename method to save the file according to the user. The user can then load that specific file.

[nekoalin]

@Akascape thank you so much for the explanations! I really appreciate that a lot! I decided that for now, till I get better at programming and my my logic can understand it, will go with multiple config.inis for each frame, but will take your approach and save them inside user's Documents, so if the app is on desktop, the config files won't be there.
I don't think it's a problem if there are multiple config files as long as the user is not bothered by them.