threepanewindows 1.2.0

Professional three-pane window layouts for Tkinter applications with docking, theming, and advanced UI components

ThreePaneWindows

Professional three-pane window layouts for Tkinter applications with docking, theming, and advanced UI components.

Features

• DockableThreePaneWindow: A sophisticated three-pane layout with detachable side panels and automatic center panel expansion
• FixedThreePaneLayout: A simple fixed three-pane layout with customizable panels
• ✨ NEW: EnhancedDockableThreePaneWindow: Professional-grade interface with advanced features
• 🔒 NEW: Fixed Width Panes: Optional fixed-width panes that don't resize with the window
• 📋 NEW: Menu Bar Integration: Built-in support for menu bars across all window types
• 🎯 NEW v1.2.0: Smart Layout System: Automatic layout detection for optimal sash behavior
• Easy-to-use builder pattern for content creation
• Fully customizable panel sizes and colors
• Dynamic width control and constraint management
• Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux)

🎨 Enhanced Professional Features (NEW!)

• Professional Theming System: Light, Dark, and Blue Professional themes
• Cross-Platform Icon Support: Multiple icon formats (.ico, .png, .gif, .bmp, .xbm) with automatic platform optimization
• Drag & Drop Interface: Intuitive panel detaching by dragging headers
• Advanced Customization: Configurable panel properties, icons, and constraints
• Fixed Width Control: Panes can be set to fixed widths or remain resizable
• Smart Sash Behavior: Fixed panes use custom layout without interactive sash handles
• Menu Bar Integration: Seamless menu bar support across all window types
• Beautiful UI: Modern, professional appearance with smooth interactions
• Smart Positioning: Intelligent window placement and sizing
• Visual Feedback: Professional hover effects and drag indicators

📖 See ENHANCED_FEATURES.md for complete documentation of the new professional features.

🖼️ See CROSS_PLATFORM_ICONS.md for detailed cross-platform icon support documentation.

Requirements

• Python: 3.9 to 3.13
• Dependencies: None (uses Python standard library only)
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

Installation

From PyPI (Recommended)

pip install threepanewindows

From Source

git clone https://github.com/stntg/threepanewindows.git
cd threepanewindows
pip install -e .

Development Installation

pip install -e ".[dev]"

Quick Start

Dockable Three-Pane Window

import tkinter as tk
from threepanewindows import DockableThreePaneWindow

def build_left(frame):
    tk.Label(frame, text="Left Panel").pack(pady=10)
    tk.Button(frame, text="Button 1").pack(pady=5)

def build_center(frame):
    tk.Label(frame, text="Center Panel").pack(pady=10)
    text = tk.Text(frame)
    text.pack(fill='both', expand=True, padx=10, pady=10)

def build_right(frame):
    tk.Label(frame, text="Right Panel").pack(pady=10)
    tk.Listbox(frame).pack(fill='both', expand=True, padx=10, pady=10)

root = tk.Tk()
root.title("Dockable Three-Pane Example")
root.geometry("900x600")

window = DockableThreePaneWindow(
    root,
    side_width=200,
    left_builder=build_left,
    center_builder=build_center,
    right_builder=build_right
)
window.pack(fill='both', expand=True)

root.mainloop()

✨ Enhanced Professional Three-Pane Window (NEW!)

import tkinter as tk
from threepanewindows import EnhancedDockableThreePaneWindow, PaneConfig

def build_left(frame):
    tk.Label(frame, text="📁 File Explorer").pack(pady=10)
    # Add your file tree here

def build_center(frame):
    tk.Label(frame, text="📝 Code Editor").pack(pady=10)
    # Add your text editor here

def build_right(frame):
    tk.Label(frame, text="🔧 Properties").pack(pady=10)
    # Add your properties panel here

root = tk.Tk()
root.title("Professional IDE")
root.geometry("1200x800")

# Configure panels with professional settings
left_config = PaneConfig(
    title="Explorer",
    icon="📁",
    default_width=250,
    min_width=200,
    max_width=400,
    detachable=True
)

right_config = PaneConfig(
    title="Properties",
    icon="🔧",
    default_width=200,
    detachable=True
)

# Create enhanced window with professional theming
window = EnhancedDockableThreePaneWindow(
    root,
    left_config=left_config,
    right_config=right_config,
    left_builder=build_left,
    center_builder=build_center,
    right_builder=build_right,
    theme_name="blue"  # Professional blue theme
)
window.pack(fill='both', expand=True)

root.mainloop()

Fixed Three-Pane Layout

import tkinter as tk
from threepanewindows import FixedThreePaneLayout

root = tk.Tk()
root.title("Fixed Three-Pane Example")
root.geometry("800x500")

layout = FixedThreePaneLayout(root, side_width=180)
layout.pack(fill='both', expand=True)

# Customize panel labels
layout.set_label_texts(
    left="Navigation",
    center="Workspace",
    right="Properties"
)

# Add content to panels
layout.add_to_left(tk.Button(root, text="Menu Item 1"))
layout.add_to_center(tk.Text(root))
layout.add_to_right(tk.Label(root, text="Property 1"))

root.mainloop()

🔒 Fixed Width Panes (NEW!)

All window types now support fixed width panes that don't resize with the window:

import tkinter as tk
from threepanewindows import DockableThreePaneWindow

def build_left(frame):
    tk.Label(frame, text="Fixed Width\n200px").pack(pady=10)

def build_center(frame):
    tk.Label(frame, text="Resizable Center").pack(pady=10)

def build_right(frame):
    tk.Label(frame, text="Fixed Width\n150px").pack(pady=10)

root = tk.Tk()

# Create menu bar
menubar = tk.Menu(root)
file_menu = tk.Menu(menubar, tearoff=0)
file_menu.add_command(label="New", command=lambda: print("New"))
menubar.add_cascade(label="File", menu=file_menu)

# Create window with fixed width panes and menu
window = DockableThreePaneWindow(
    root,
    left_builder=build_left,
    center_builder=build_center,
    right_builder=build_right,
    left_fixed_width=200,   # Left pane fixed at 200px
    right_fixed_width=150,  # Right pane fixed at 150px
    menu_bar=menubar        # Integrated menu bar
)
window.pack(fill='both', expand=True)

# Dynamic width control
window.set_left_fixed_width(250)     # Change to 250px
window.clear_right_fixed_width()     # Make right pane resizable

root.mainloop()

📖 See FIXED_WIDTH_FEATURES.md for complete documentation of the fixed width and menu bar features.

Demo Application

Run the demo to see both layout types in action:

threepane-demo

Or run directly with Python:

python -m threepanewindows.examples

System Requirements

• Python 3.9+
• tkinter (included with Python)

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.