Python:Tkinter -- How do I get cursor to show busy status

Question

I'm trying to make Tkinter show a busy cursor. Unfortunately, I must be missing something terribly obvious. Following is a very simple program that reproduces my problem:

 from Tkinter import *
 import time

 def do_something():
     print "starting"
     window.config(cursor="wait")
     time.sleep(5)
     window.config(cursor="")
     print "done"
     return

 root = Tk()
 menubar = Menu(root)
 filemenu = Menu(menubar, tearoff=0)
 filemenu.add_command(label="Do Something", command=do_something)
 filemenu.add_command(label="Exit", command=root.quit)
 menubar.add_cascade(label="File", menu=filemenu)
 root.config(menu=menubar)
 root.mainloop()

I'm not seeing any change in the cursor

Awesome ! I was missing the 'root.update()' command. Thanks very much!! — user1148257, Dec 05 '13 at 23:12

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited May 31 '23 at 07:20

6

Make do_something like this:

def do_something():
    print "starting"
    root.config(cursor="watch")
    root.update()
    time.sleep(5)
    root.config(cursor="")
    print "done"

Basically, I did three things:

Replaced window with root (since window isn't defined and root is the window's handle).
Added root.update() just after the line that configures the cursor.
Removed the unnecessary return (this didn't cause any errors, but why have it?).

edited May 31 '23 at 07:20

Volker Siegel

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answered Dec 05 '13 at 22:23

4

got TclError ' bad cursor spec "wait" '. For me it worked using 'cursor="clock" ' (Ubuntu 18.04) – testalucida Aug 09 '19 at 13:10
1

This displays the cursor after the task has finished. Anyone know how to make it so that it shows before? – Choripán Con Pebre Feb 10 '23 at 16:51

Python:Tkinter -- How do I get cursor to show busy status

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