Using Tabs for Navigation - Python

A well-designed application will have its widgets organized neatly so that a user can easily access them. To accomplish this, we can use sizers to organize widgets, making them easier to locate and use. However, there are more methods of organization beyond sizers. This article will introduce you to methods of organization that work in conjunction with sizers and such, so you can organize your widgets even more, further benefitting those who use your applications.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

By: Peyton McCullough

Poor Best

Rating:

/ 6

August 15, 2005

print this article

SEARCH DEV SHED

TOOLS YOU CAN USE

Using tabs for navigation is not unlike switching panels to navigate through sets of widgets. Each tab represents an individual panel, and the panel currently displayed is switched when a tab is pressed. The widget responsible for the arrangement of tabs is wxNotebook. Tabs are created by simply adding pages to the wxNotebook. Let's create some panels and test out the widget:

from wxPython.wx import *
# Create the main window
class Window ( wxFrame ):
   def __init__ ( self ):
      wxFrame.__init__ ( self, None, -1, 'Frame title.' )
      # Create a wxNotebook
      self.notebook = wxNotebook ( self, -1 )
      self.Show ( True )
# Create a panel
class Panel1 ( wxPanel ):
   def __init__ ( self, parent ):
      wxPanel.__init__ ( self, parent, -1 )
      # Put a label in the panel
      self.label = wxStaticText ( self, -1, 'This is the first panel.', pos = ( 25, 25 ) )
# Create another panel
class Panel2 ( wxPanel ):
   def __init__ ( self, parent ):
      wxPanel.__init__ ( self, parent, -1 )
      # Add a few buttons
      self.button1 = wxButton ( self, -1, 'This is a button.', pos = ( 5, 5 ) )
      self.button2 = wxButton ( self, -1, 'So is this.', pos = ( 30, 30 ) )
      self.button3 = wxButton ( self, -1, 'And this.', pos = ( 25, 60 ) )
# Create yet another panel
class Panel3 ( wxPanel ):
   def __init__ ( self, parent ):
      wxPanel.__init__ ( self, parent, -1 )
      # Add a few text boxes
      self.text1 = wxTextCtrl ( self, -1, pos = ( 5, 5 ) )
      self.text2 = wxTextCtrl ( self, -1, pos = ( 5, 50 ), style = wxTE_MULTILINE )
      self.text3 = wxTextCtrl ( self, -1, pos = ( 30, 25 ), style = wxTE_PASSWORD )
application = wxPySimpleApp()
frame = Window()
# Create the panels
instance1 = Panel1 ( frame.notebook )
instance2 = Panel2 ( frame.notebook )
instance3 = Panel3 ( frame.notebook )
# Add the panels
frame.notebook.AddPage ( instance1, 'Panel One' )
frame.notebook.AddPage ( instance2, 'Panel Two' )
frame.notebook.AddPage ( instance3, 'Panel Three' )
application.MainLoop()

As you can see, it's very simple to create a wxNotebook widget and populate it with panels. When the user clicks a tab, the corresponding panel is presented to the user.

Next: Using a List for Navigation >>