Radio buttons can't be clicked on tkinter/python app

Question

I have the following code which sets up some button and radio buttons. The radio buttons (Full Tcl version info: 8.6.11) can not be clicked on my side (Python 3.9.2 on Debian Linux 11):

import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import ttk

class ComplexGUIExample(tk.Tk):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.title("Complex GUI Example")
        self.geometry("400x300")

        # Frame for VPN controls
        vpn_frame = tk.Frame(self)
        vpn_frame.pack(pady=(10, 0), padx=(10, 0), fill=tk.X)

        # VPN Connection Button
        button_connect_vpn = tk.Button(vpn_frame, text="Connect VPN", command=self.dummy_command)
        button_connect_vpn.pack(side=tk.LEFT, padx=(10, 10))

        # Check VPN Status Button
        button_check_vpn = tk.Button(vpn_frame, text="Check VPN Status", command=self.dummy_command)
        button_check_vpn.pack(side=tk.LEFT, padx=(10, 10))

        # Frame for URL Loading Preferences (Radio Buttons)
        url_pref_frame = tk.LabelFrame(self, text="URL Loading Preferences", padx=10, pady=10)
        url_pref_frame.pack(pady=(20, 0), padx=(10, 0), fill=tk.X)

        # Variable to track the radio button selection
        self.url_loading_preference = tk.StringVar(value="Most Recent")

        # Radio Buttons for URL Loading Preference
        tk.Radiobutton(url_pref_frame, text="Most Recent", variable=self.url_loading_preference, value="Most Recent", command=self.on_radio_change).pack(anchor=tk.W)
        tk.Radiobutton(url_pref_frame, text="Oldest", variable=self.url_loading_preference, value="Oldest", command=self.on_radio_change).pack(anchor=tk.W)
        tk.Radiobutton(url_pref_frame, text="Random page", variable=self.url_loading_preference, value="Random page", command=self.on_radio_change).pack(anchor=tk.W)

    def dummy_command(self):
        print("Button clicked")

    def on_radio_change(self):
        print(f"Selected URL Loading Preference: {self.url_loading_preference.get()}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    app = ComplexGUIExample()
    app.mainloop()

How do I make the radio buttons clickable ?

I have tried using some other widgets but so far I haven't been able to make it work.

Answer 1

You can use the grid method instead of pack for the radio buttons. The grid method allows you to specify the row and column where each widget should be placed, enabling them to be positioned side-by-side.

url_pref_frame = tk.LabelFrame(self, text="URL Loading Preferences", padx=10, pady=10)
url_pref_frame.pack(pady=(20, 0), padx=(10, 0), fill=tk.X)

self.url_loading_preference = tk.StringVar(value="Most Recent")

row = 0  # Keep track of the current row for grid placement
tk.Radiobutton(url_pref_frame, text="Most Recent", variable=self.url_loading_preference, value="Most Recent", command=self.on_radio_change).grid(row=row, column=0, sticky=tk.W)
row += 1  
tk.Radiobutton(url_pref_frame, text="Oldest", variable=self.url_loading_preference, value="Oldest", command=self.on_radio_change).grid(row=row, column=0, sticky=tk.W)
row += 1  
tk.Radiobutton(url_pref_frame, text="Random page", variable=self.url_loading_preference, value="Random page", command=self.on_radio_change).grid(row=row, column=0, sticky=tk.W)

By using grid and specifying the row for each radio button, you ensure they are placed horizontally within the frame, making them all clickable.