Message_box modification

[fhutt]

Hello
I have been using the following code for years to create a message box to make simple entries. It works great except I need the window to close after a certain time if no keys are pressed.

The way I think this works is that it waits for a variable (towards the end of the listing):
tkwait variable tkPriv(button)
to change for the program to continue. I don't know how to bypass this.

Could someone help with the modification?

proc message_box {w title text bitmap default args} {
#************************************************
# This procedure displays a dialog box, waits for a button in the dialog
# to be invoked, then returns the index of the selected button.
#
# Arguments:
# w - Window to use for dialog top-level. (Must start with a ".")
# title - Title to display in dialog's decorative frame.
# text - Message to display in dialog.
# bitmap - Bitmap to display in dialog (empty string means none).
# default - Index of button that is to display the default ring
# (-1 means none).
# args - One or more strings to display in buttons across the
# bottom of the dialog box.

# The focus may be moved from button to button by pressing the Tab key.
# Modification - The buttons may be activated by:
# Left mouse button
# Return key
# Space key

# The name of the button is returned instead of the index of the button.
# No default ring is displayed.
global tkPriv

# 1. Create the top-level window and divide it into top
# and bottom parts.

catch {destroy $w}
toplevel $w -class Dialog
wm title $w $title
wm iconname $w Dialog
wm protocol $w WM_DELETE_WINDOW { }
# wm transient $w [winfo toplevel [winfo parent $w]]
frame $w.top -relief raised -bd 1
pack $w.top -side top -fill both
frame $w.bot -relief raised -bd 1
pack $w.bot -side bottom -fill both
# 2. Fill the top part with bitmap and message (use the option
# database for -wraplength so that it can be overridden by
# the caller).

option add *Dialog.msg.wrapLength 3i widgetDefault
label $w.msg -justify left -text $text \
-font -Adobe-Times-Medium-R-Normal--*-180-*-*-*-*-*-*
pack $w.msg -in $w.top -side right -expand 1 -fill both -padx 3m -pady 3m
if {$bitmap != ""} {
label $w.bitmap -bitmap $bitmap
pack $w.bitmap -in $w.top -side left -padx 3m -pady 3m
}

# 3. Create a row of buttons at the bottom of the dialog.
set i 0
foreach but $args {
button $w.button$i -text $but -command "set tkPriv(button) $but"
pack $w.button$i -in $w.bot -side left -expand 1 \
-padx 3m -pady 2m
bind $w.button$i <Return> "set tkPriv(button) $but"
bind $w.button$i <KeyRelease-space> "set tkPriv(button) $but"
bind $w.button$i <Tab> "\
if {$i == [expr [llength $args] - 1]} {
focus $w.button0
} else {
focus $w.button[expr $i + 1]
}"
if {$i == $default} {
focus $w.button$i
# frame $w.default -relief sunken -bd 1
# raise $w.button$i $w.default
# pack $w.default -in $w.bot -side left -expand 1 -padx 3m -pady 2m
# pack $w.button$i -in $w.default -padx 2m -pady 2m
# } else {
# pack $w.button$i -in $w.bot -side left -expand 1 \
# -padx 3m -pady 2m
}
incr i
}

# 4. Withdraw the window, then update all the geometry information
# so we know how big it wants to be, then center the window in the
# display and de-iconify it.
wm withdraw $w
update idletasks
set x [expr [winfo screenwidth $w]/2 - [winfo reqwidth $w]/2 \
- [winfo vrootx [winfo parent $w]]]
set y [expr [winfo screenheight $w]/2 - [winfo reqheight $w]/2 \
- [winfo vrooty [winfo parent $w]]]
wm geom $w +$x+$y
wm deiconify $w

# 5. Set a grab and claim the focus too.
set oldFocus [focus]
set oldGrab [grab current $w]
if {$oldGrab != ""} {
set grabStatus [grab status $oldGrab]
}
grab $w
tkwait visibility $w
if {$default >= 0} {
# focus $w.button$default
} else {
focus $w.button0
}

# 6. Wait for the user to respond, then restore the focus and
# return the index of the selected button. Restore the focus
# before deleting the window, since otherwise the window manager
# may take the focus away so we can't redirect it. Finally,
# restore any grab that was in effect.
tkwait variable tkPriv(button)
catch {focus $oldFocus}
destroy $w
if {$oldGrab != ""} {
if {$grabStatus == "global"} {
grab -global $oldGrab
} else {
grab $oldGrab
}
}
return $tkPriv(button)
}

 

[fhutt]

Worked out a method:-
Replace the line
tkwait variable tkPriv(button)
with the following script

set flag 0
set tkPriv(button) {}
set wait [expr $wait * 10]
while {$tkPriv(button) == {}} {
update
after 85
incr flag
if {$wait > 0} {if {$flag >= $wait} {break}}
}
The variable $wait is passed to this procedure as:
proc message_box {w title text bitmap default args {wait 0}} {

The variable wait is in approximate seconds on my machine. A value of zero will make it wait indefinitely.
If there is anyone who can make this more concise please let me know.
Thanks

 

[fhutt]

There is a minor problem with the above solution. The while loop timing is to some degree dependent on the computer speed.
I thought of a solution to this problem as follows:

set tkPriv(button) {}
set tm [expr [clock seconds] + $wait]
while {$tkPriv(button) == {}} {
update
if {$wait > 0} {if {[clock seconds] >= $tm} {break}}
}

The only problem here is that the accuracy is within one second. For short delays it's not very accurate.
Any better ideas?
Thanks