Create a File Explorer in Python using Tkinter

Create a File explorer in Python using Tkinter

Using Tkinter, it is possible to create a fully functional file explorer in Python. This can be useful for quickly browsing and navigating your file system without having to use the command-line or a graphical user interface. To get started, you will need to import the necessary modules from the Tkinter library.

Step 1: Import Modules

The first step is to import the Tkinter module, and other modules that are required to create our file explorer. Here are the modules you need:

• Tkinter
• tkFileDialog
• tkMessageBox
• os

These modules provide us with the tools we need to create our file explorer.

Step 2: Create Widgets

Now we can create the widgets we need for our file explorer. We will need a label, an entry box, a listbox widget, and three buttons. The label will tell the user what path they are viewing, the entry box will take in a directory path from the user, and the listbox will show all the files and folders in that directory. The three buttons will allow users to enter a directory, go to the parent directory, and quit the program.

Step 3: Set Up Directory Paths

Next, we will set up the directory paths which will be used to navigate our file explorer. First, we will define global variables which will hold the current directory path and the parent directory path.

Step 4: Define Functions

Now that we have our widgets and paths setup, we can define the functions that will be used to control our file explorer. We will need to define functions for entering a directory path, going back to the parent directory, and quitting the program. We will also need to define a function which gets all the files and folders in a given directory and displays them in the listbox widget.

Step 5: Activate the Program

Now we can activate our file explorer program. To do so, we will call the functions defined in the previous steps, and bind them to the buttons, so that when a user clicks on the corresponding button, the correct action is performed. We will also bind the entry box to the enter key and the listbox to the mouse click, so that when these events occur, the appropriate action is triggered.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined above, you can create a fully functional file explorer in Python using Tkinter. With this program, you will be able to easily navigate your file system, view files, and manage folders without having to use the command line or a graphical user interface.