Creating Your Own Snipping Tool in Python and PyQt5 in 10 minutes

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to create your own snipping tool in Python, then look no further than PyQt5. With just a few lines of code, you can have a fully functional snipping tool up and running in no time.

Step 1: Install PyQt5

The first step is to install PyQt5 if you haven’t already. You can do this using pip:


pip install PyQt5


Step 2: Create a new Python file

Next, create a new Python file to write your snipping tool code. You can name it snipping_tool.py or any other name you prefer.

Step 3: Write the code

Now, here’s the code to create a basic snipping tool using PyQt5:

    import sys
    from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication, QMainWindow, QAction

    class SnippingTool(QMainWindow):
        def __init__(self):
            super().__init__()

            self.initUI()

        def initUI(self):
            self.setWindowTitle('Snipping Tool')
            self.setGeometry(100, 100, 800, 600)

            snip_action = QAction('Snip', self)
            snip_action.triggered.connect(self.snip)

            self.toolbar = self.addToolBar('Snip')
            self.toolbar.addAction(snip_action)

        def snip(self):
            # Add code to capture the screen and save the snip

    if __name__ == '__main__':
        app = QApplication(sys.argv)
        window = SnippingTool()
        window.show()
        sys.exit(app.exec_())
  

Step 4: Add snipping functionality

In the snip method, you can add code to capture the screen and save the snip. You can use the PyAutoGUI library to capture the screen and PIL to manipulate the captured image.

Step 5: Run the snipping tool

Finally, run your snipping tool by executing the Python file you created. You should see a simple window with a “Snip” button in the toolbar. Click on the button to start snipping!

And there you have it – your own snipping tool in Python and PyQt5 in just 10 minutes. Feel free to add more features and customize it according to your needs. Happy coding!