Python tkinter place for layout using absolute and relative coordinates

Positioning of widgets based on absolute and relative coordinates with respect to parent window.

Tkinter layout management using place for absolute & relative height width and positioning of widget

Here is an example of layout of the page to place the components using x , y coordinates.

We will keep Labels showing x ( horizontal ) and y ( vertical ) positions

Here x=0 is left edge and y=0 is top edge of the window.

import tkinter as tk
my_w = tk.Tk()
my_w.geometry("250x150")  # Size of the window 

l1=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=0,y=0',bg='yellow')
l1.place(x=0,y=0)

l2=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=50,y=25',bg='yellow')
l2.place(x=50,y=25)

l3=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=100,y=50',bg='yellow')
l3.place(x=100,y=50)

l4=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=150,y=75',bg='yellow')
l4.place(x=150,y=75)

my_w.mainloop()  # Keep the window open

relx & rely

We can use relative x ( horizontal ) and y ( vertical ) position with respect to width and height of the window by using relx and rely options.
relx and rely can take values from 0 to 1
relx=0 is left edge of the window relx=1 is right edge of the window.

rely=0 is top of the window and rely=1 is the bottom edge of the window.
Here default value for anchor='nw' is used.

l1=tk.Label(my_w,text='relx=.1,rely=.1 ',bg='yellow')
l1.place(relx=.1,rely=.1)

l2=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=.3,y=.3',bg='yellow')
l2.place(relx=.3,rely=.3)

l3=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=.5,y=.5',bg='yellow')
l3.place(relx=.5,rely=.5)

l4=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=.7,y=.7',bg='yellow')
l4.place(relx=.7,rely=.7)

Understanding anchor

The option anchor says which side or the corner of the widget to be considered for positing the widget in layout.
Values of anchor option is here

anchor=nw(default),ne,se,sw,n,s,e,w,center

Using relx & rely with anchor at four corners

We will place four Labels at four corners of a window. We will use relx and rely with values either 0 or 1 to assign relative position to widgets.

We have to change the anchor values to position the widget at corners. Note that we have not used any fraction values for relx or rely.

l1=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=0, y=0, nw',bg='yellow')
l1.place(relx=0,rely=0,anchor='nw') # top left  

l2=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=1, y=0, ne',bg='yellow')
l2.place(relx=1,rely=0,anchor='ne') # top right 

l3=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=1, y=1, se',bg='yellow')
l3.place(relx=1,rely=1,anchor='se') # bottom right 

l4=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=0, y=1, sw',bg='yellow')
l4.place(relx=0,rely=1,anchor='sw') # bottom left

anchor and x,y coordinates

Here both the buttons has same x and y coordinate value but are placed at different positions due to their respective anchor values. Note that the bottom right ( anchor='se' ) corner of first widget is touching the top left ( anchor='nw' ) of second widget.

b1=tk.Button(my_w,text='x=100,y=50,se')
b1.place(x=100,y=50,anchor='se') # top left  

b2=tk.Button(my_w,text='x=100,y=50,nw')
b2.place(x=100,y=50,anchor='nw')

relwidth & relheight

The dimension of the widget can be fixed based on the size of the parent window by using relwidth and relheight options.

Here relwidth=1 will occupy the full width of the parent window, similarly relheight=1 will occupy the full height of the window.

import tkinter as tk
my_w = tk.Tk()
my_w.geometry("250x150")  # Size of the window 

b1=tk.Button(my_w,text='relwidth=0.6,relheight=0.4',fg='red')
b1.place(relx=0.1,rely=0.1,relwidth=0.6,relheight=0.4) 

my_w.mainloop()  # Keep the window open

place_forget(): Remove and show widget using Button

How to Show and Hide Labels Using place_forget() in Tkinter

Button b1 will remove the center Label ( saying welcome ) and Button b2 will restore the same.

import tkinter as tk
my_w = tk.Tk()
font1=['Arial',18,'normal'] # Higher size font
my_w.geometry("490x300")  # Size of the window 

l1=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=10,y=10',bg='yellow')
l1.place(x=10,y=10)

l2=tk.Label(my_w,text='Welcome',bg='lightgreen',font=font1)
l2.place(x=210,y=100)

l3=tk.Label(my_w,text='x=100,y=50',bg='yellow')
l3.place(x=200,y=170)

b1 = tk.Button(my_w, text = "Hide text",font=font1 ,
    command = lambda: l2.place_forget()) 
b1.place(x = 30, y = 200) 

b2 = tk.Button(my_w, text = "Retrieve text", font=font1,
    command = lambda: l2.place(x=210,y=100)) 
b2.place(x = 270, y =200 ) 

my_w.mainloop()  # Keep the window open

Moving widget left or right direction

Moving Left and Right using place layout

Move widget in left and right direction on click of buttons by using place layout in Tkinter

We will use two buttons to move one Label in left or right direction.

import tkinter as tk
my_w = tk.Tk()
font1=['Arial',18,'normal'] # Higher size font
my_w.geometry("490x300")  # Size of the window 
x1=210
def my_upd(direction):
    global x1
    l2.place_forget() # remove the Label 
    if direction=='left':
        x1=x1-10
    elif direction=='right':
        x1=x1+10
    l2.place(x=x1,y=100) # Show the Label in new location

l2=tk.Label(my_w,text='Welcome',bg='lightgreen',font=font1)
l2.place(x=210,y=100)

b1 = tk.Button(my_w, text = "Left ",font=font1 ,
    command = lambda: my_upd('left')) 
b1.place(x = 30, y = 200) 

b2 = tk.Button(my_w, text = "Right", font=font1,
    command = lambda: my_upd('right')) 
b2.place(x = 270, y =200 ) 

my_w.mainloop()  # Keep the window open

Adding UP and Down button for vertical movement

import tkinter as tk
my_w = tk.Tk()
my_w.geometry("490x300")  # Size of the window 
font1=['Arial',18,'normal'] # Higher size font
x1,y1=210,100 #intital position of Label 

def my_upd(direction):
    global x1,y1 # global variable 
    l2.place_forget() # removes the label 
    if direction=='left':
        x1=x1-10
    elif direction=='right':
        x1=x1+10
    elif direction=='up':
        y1=y1-10
    elif direction=='down':
        y1=y1+10
        
    l2.place(x=x1,y=y1) # New position 

l2=tk.Label(my_w,text='Welcome',bg='lightgreen',font=font1)
l2.place(x=x1,y=y1)

b1=tk.Button(my_w,text='Left',font=font1,
             command=lambda:my_upd('left'))
b1.place(x=30,y=200)

b2=tk.Button(my_w,text='Right',font=font1,
             command=lambda:my_upd('right'))
b2.place(x=300,y=200)

b3=tk.Button(my_w,text='Up',font=font1,
             command=lambda:my_upd('up'))
b3.place(x=170,y=150)

b4=tk.Button(my_w,text='Down',font=font1,
             command=lambda:my_upd('down'))
b4.place(x=170,y=220)
my_w.mainloop()  # Keep the window open

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Subhendu Mohapatra

Author & Instructor at plus2net

I write and maintain practical tutorials on Python, PHP, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, jQuery, and web development at plus2net. The tutorials focus on clear explanations, working examples, and code that readers can test and adapt while learning.

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