How to proper inherit values into thread class with wxPython

Question

I have a wxPython gui that is controlling some hardware. I need a button to disable while a function is running. The function also receives an argument value

let's say that I have this function that is bound to a button press:

    def button_press(self, event):

       in_val = self.num_in.GetValue() #grabs a value from a NumCtrl
       TheThread(in_val) #initiates the thread with argument
       btn = event.GetEventObject() 
       btn.Disable() #disables button

this function goes to the following thread class:

    class TheThread(Thread):
def __init__(self, in_val):

    """Init Worker Thread Class."""
    Thread.__init__(self)

    self.run(in_val)

def run(self, in_val):
    print val
    time.sleep(5)

    wx.CallAfter(Publisher.sendMessage, "ctrl")
    """
    threadsafe method to call a pub.subscribe that runs a 
    function to re-enable button
    """

This works improperly, as the gui freezes during the function run period, and the button does not properly disable.

How do I properly inherit this argument to allow this to run properly? Maybe something involving self.start() method?

Answer 1

You're right in your guess about the start method.

run is the method that gets invoked on the new thread, and start is the method you want to call to tell the Thread object to do that.

In your example, by calling run yourself you're calling run on the main thread and no threading is taking place at all. (the thread is never started)

class TheThread(Thread):
    def __init__(self, in_val):

        """Init Worker Thread Class."""
        Thread.__init__(self)

        self.in_val = in_val
        self.start()

    def run(self):
        print self.in_val
        time.sleep(5)

        wx.CallAfter(Publisher.sendMessage, "ctrl")
        """
        threadsafe method to call a pub.subscribe that runs a 
        function to re-enable button
        """