Build a Simple Text Editor Using Python and Tkinter

In this tutorial, we will create a text editor using Python and Tkinter. Developers can simplify the process of building desktop applications with Tkinter, a standard GUI toolkit for Python, and enhance their knowledge of GUI programming. In this guide, we will take you through the step-by-step process of developing a basic text editor. The program will allow users to create new documents, open existing files, edit content, and save changes. Each step will be explained in detail to ensure a clear understanding of the project. 👌 Okay, let's dive into the tutorial. 💻

Getting Start

first, we need to create a new Python file and import the necessary libraries. Tkinter is imported as tk, and the filedialog submodule is specifically imported to facilitate file-related operations.

import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import filedialog

Building the Main Window

The Tkinter library uses the Tk class to create the main window for the application. Set the window title to “Text-Editor” or any title of your preference.

root = tk.Tk()
root.title("Text-Editor")

Implementing the Text Widget

The Text widget is a fundamental component that allows users to input and edit text. Ensure that the widget is set to wrap text by word and enables undo functionality.

text = tk.Text(root, wrap="word", undo=True)
text.pack(expand="yes", fill="both")

Creating the Menu Bar

Create a menu bar that will house various options for the text editor. For simplicity, focus on the File menu and add options like New, Open, Save, and Exit.

menu_bar = tk.Menu(root)
root.config(menu=menu_bar)

# File-menu
file_menu = tk.Menu(menu_bar, tearoff=0)
menu_bar.add_cascade(label="File", menu=file_menu)
file_menu.add_command(label="New", command=new_file)
file_menu.add_command(label="Open", command=open_file)
file_menu.add_command(label="Save", command=save_file)
file_menu.add_separator()
file_menu.add_command(label="Exit", command=root.destroy)

Creating File Operations

We need to define functions for handling file operations such as creating a new file, opening an existing file, saving changes, and exiting the application. These functions will interact with the filedialog module to prompt users for file paths.

def new_file():
    text.delete("1.0", tk.END)
    root.title("Text-Editor")

def open_file():
    file_path = filedialog.askopenfilename(defaultextension=".txt", filetypes=[("Text Files", "*.txt"), ("All Files", "*.*")])
    if file_path:
        with open(file_path, 'r') as file:
            content = file.read()
            text.delete("1.0", tk.END)
            text.insert(tk.END, content)
        root.title(file_path)

def save_file():
    file_path = filedialog.asksaveasfilename(defaultextension=".txt", filetypes=[("Text Files", "*.txt"), ("All Files", "*.*")])
    if file_path:
        with open(file_path, 'w') as file:
            content = text.get("1.0", tk.END)
            file.write(content)
        root.title(file_path)

Run the Program

The final step in building your Tkinter text editor is to start the Tkinter event loop. This loop is responsible for handling user input, updating the GUI, and executing any event-driven functions.

root.mainloop()

Preview

Following these steps, you’ve successfully created a simple text editor using Python and Tkinter. This project serves as an excellent starting point for understanding GUI programming and provides a foundation for expanding the functionality of your text editor in the future. Feel free to test with additional features such as copy, cut, paste, and more advanced text manipulation options.

"Happy coding!👏"

Learn more about python GUI libraries you can refer this article. where talk about python libraries use to create GUI interfaces to programs.

10 Best Python Libraries for GUI in 2024

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Sandun Lakshan