MacPython -- Tk problems

[Chris Barker]

"Karl G. Merkley" wrote:
> I just installed MacPython on a Mac OS 9 machine
> this morning.  However, it complained about Tk not
> working with Carbon.   This is on a machine at an
> elementary school and they are not planning on
> upgrading the OS anytime in the foreseeable future.

THe current version of MacPython (2.1.1) can be installed to use Carbon,
or use Classic. TK still works with the Classic Version. The default
install makes a guess as to what you want. If it istalled the carbon
version, and you want to use TK, you need to re-install, and this time
choose the custom install option, and then choose Python for Classic
PPC.

> The teacher is really excited about using Python
> in a grade school setting to teach some basic
> programming skills.

Great!
 
> Is there anything I can do to get MacPython fully
> working in this configuration?

The above should work. However, there is a caveat to all this: MacPython
is a little awkward to use with TKinter. THe easiest way to use Python
on the Mac is to use the MacPython IDE, which is pretty nice.
Unfortunately, the IDE does not play well with TK, so if you use TK, you
need to write your scripts in the editor of your choice (check out
Pepper or Alpha, I think they both have Python modes), then save them,
and drag and drop them on the interpreter to run them. The other option
is to save them as type "PYTH" and then you can double click them to run
them. You can also make an applet out of them. THere is more info in the
docs, look around...

For more questions, you might want to try the MacPython mailing list:

http://www.python.org/sigs/pythonmac-sig/

-Chris










-- 
Christopher Barker,
Ph.D.                                                           
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