Change OptionMenu based on what is selected in another OptionMenu

Question

I am currently trying to make two OptionMenus, where the second will be updated dynamically based on what is selected in the first OptionMenu.

For example, I would like to make OptionMenu_A with list

[North America, Europe, Asia]

• If Asia is selected, then OptionMenu_B will change to something like [Japan, China, Malasia].
• If Europe is selected, then it will change to [Germany, France, Switzerland] for example.

I am able to make two OptionMenus but can't get OptionMenu_B to update based on OptionMenu_A's status.

Would anybody be kind enough to show if such thing is possible?

Purism

Answer 1

Yes, it is possible. With StringVar.trace you can check when the first option has been changed. Then delete all the options of the second OptionMenu and populate it with the corresponding options. If you have a data structure like a dictionary behind this, it can be very easy to map the correspondences:

import sys
if sys.version_info[0] >= 3:
    import tkinter as tk
else:
    import Tkinter as tk


class App(tk.Frame):

    def __init__(self, master):
        tk.Frame.__init__(self, master)

        self.dict = {'Asia': ['Japan', 'China', 'Malaysia'],
                     'Europe': ['Germany', 'France', 'Switzerland']}

        self.variable_a = tk.StringVar(self)
        self.variable_b = tk.StringVar(self)

        self.variable_a.trace('w', self.update_options)

        self.optionmenu_a = tk.OptionMenu(self, self.variable_a, *self.dict.keys())
        self.optionmenu_b = tk.OptionMenu(self, self.variable_b, '')

        self.variable_a.set('Asia')

        self.optionmenu_a.pack()
        self.optionmenu_b.pack()
        self.pack()


    def update_options(self, *args):
        countries = self.dict[self.variable_a.get()]
        self.variable_b.set(countries[0])

        menu = self.optionmenu_b['menu']
        menu.delete(0, 'end')

        for country in countries:
            menu.add_command(label=country, command=lambda nation=country: self.variable_b.set(nation))


if __name__ == "__main__":
    root = tk.Tk()
    app = App(root)
    app.mainloop()

Fitted

Does the "self.variable_a.set('Asia')" command automatically trigger updateoptions() so self.optionmenu_b is set? – Towe

Answer 2

Hi Just to add a little thing. I manage to make 3 dynamic option-menus where two are updated from the previous drop down menu...

from tkinter import *
root = Tk()

def update_options_B(*args):
    countries = data[variable_a.get()]
    variable_b.set(countries[0])
    menu = optionmenu_b['menu']
    menu.delete(0, 'end')
    for country in countries:
        menu.add_command(label=country, command=lambda nation=country: variable_b.set(nation))

def update_options_C(*args):
    cities = data2[variable_b.get()]
    variable_c.set(cities[0])
    menu = optionmenu_c['menu']
    menu.delete(0, "end")
    for city in cities:
        menu.add_command(label=city, command=lambda nation=city: variable_c.set(nation))


data = {'Asia': ['Japan', 'China', 'Malasia'],'Europe': ['Germany', 'France', 'Switzerland'], 'Africa': ['Nigeria', 'Kenya', 'Ethiopia']}
data2 = {'Japan': ["jiustu", "kamikaz", "Tokyo"], 'China': ["Shaigon", "Hong Kong"], 'Malasia': ["tiramusto", "quala lopour"], 'Germany': ["Dusseldorf", "Berlin", "Hambourg"], 'France': ["Paris", "Lille"], 'Switzerland': ["Biern", "Bonn"], 'Nigeria': ['Nigeria1', 'Nigeria3'], 'Kenya': ["Keny West", "Notorious"], 'Ethiopia': ["Etanpi", "Neeandertaal"]}
variable_a = StringVar()
variable_b = StringVar()
variable_c = StringVar()

variable_a.trace('w', update_options_B)
variable_b.trace('w', update_options_C)
optionmenu_a = OptionMenu(root, variable_a, *data.keys())
optionmenu_b = OptionMenu(root, variable_b, '')
optionmenu_c = OptionMenu(root, variable_c, '')

variable_a.set('Asia')
optionmenu_a.pack()
optionmenu_b.pack()
optionmenu_c.pack()


root.mainloop()

Jaehne