Second Half of Python(PyQt) UI Framework

Python(PyQt) UI Framework Tutorial: Part 2

In this tutorial, we will continue our exploration of the PyQt UI framework in Python. In the previous tutorial, we covered the basics of PyQt and how to create a simple window with a button. In this part, we will dive deeper into PyQt and explore more advanced features.

Creating a Layout

In PyQt, layouts are used to arrange widgets inside a window. There are several types of layouts available, such as QHBoxLayout, QVBoxLayout, QGridLayout, and QFormLayout.

Let’s create a QVBoxLayout example. First, import the necessary modules:

import sys
from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication, QWidget, QVBoxLayout, QPushButton

Next, create a QWidget and set its layout to QVBoxLayout:

app = QApplication(sys.argv)
window = QWidget()
layout = QVBoxLayout()
window.setLayout(layout)

Now, let’s add a couple of buttons to the layout:

button1 = QPushButton("Button 1")
layout.addWidget(button1)

button2 = QPushButton("Button 2")
layout.addWidget(button2)

Finally, show the window:

window.show()
sys.exit(app.exec_())

Handling Events

In PyQt, you can connect signals (events) to slots (functions) using the connect() method. Let’s create a simple example where clicking a button will display a message:

def show_message():
    print("Button clicked!")

button = QPushButton("Click me")
button.clicked.connect(show_message)

In this example, when the button is clicked, the show_message function will be called, which will print a message to the console.

Working with Widgets

PyQt provides a wide range of widgets that you can use in your applications. Some common widgets include QLabel, QLineEdit, QComboBox, QListWidget, and QCheckBox.

Let’s create an example using a QLabel and QLineEdit:

from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QLabel, QLineEdit

label = QLabel("Enter your name:")
layout.addWidget(label)

line_edit = QLineEdit()
layout.addWidget(line_edit)

This will create a label prompting the user to enter their name, followed by an input field where they can type their name.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we explored some of the advanced features of the PyQt UI framework in Python. We learned how to create layouts, handle events, work with widgets, and much more. PyQt is a powerful toolkit for creating desktop applications with rich user interfaces. Experiment with the examples provided in this tutorial and explore the PyQt documentation to learn more. Happy coding!