Tkinter: is there a way to check checkboxes by default?

Question

I have this piece of code that will create a simple checkbox :

from Tkinter import *

CheckVar = IntVar()
self.checkbutton = Checkbutton(self.root, text = "Test", variable = CheckVar)

However this checkbox in unchecked by default and I'm searching for a way to check it.

So far I have tried to insert

CheckVar.set(1)

right after CheckVar but it didn't work.

Thanks for your help

Edit : here is my full piece of code. When I run it, the box is still unchecked

from Tkinter import *

class App():
    def __init__(self, root):   
        self.root = root
        CheckVar = IntVar()
        CheckVar.set(1)
        self.checkbutton = Checkbutton(self.root, text = "Test", variable = CheckVar)
        self.checkbutton.grid(row=0, column=0,)


root = Tk()
app = App(root)
root.mainloop()

Just tried it on my machine and it works perfectly. There must be a problem somewhere else in your code. — Kevin, Jun 02 '16 at 14:50
It should work. If not, then provide your full code related to this. — Billal Begueradj, Jun 02 '16 at 14:54

Bryan Oakley · Accepted Answer · 2021-09-03T20:52:06.477

44

Your CheckVar is a local variable. It's getting garbage collected. Save it as an object attribute. Also, you can create the variable and initialize it all in one step:

self.CheckVar = IntVar(value=1)
self.checkbutton = Checkbutton(..., variable = self.CheckVar)

You can also use the select function of the checkbutton:

self.checkbutton.select()

edited Sep 03 '21 at 20:52

answered Jun 02 '16 at 15:15

Bryan Oakley

370,779
53
539
685

I am getting `'Checkbutton' has no attribute 'select'` with ttk 0.3.1 – xjcl Jan 13 '22 at 16:03
@xjcl: then you must be using the `Checkbutton` from ttk instead of tkinter. – Bryan Oakley Jan 13 '22 at 16:09

score 19 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 02 '16 at 15:31

I think the function you are looking for is .select()

This function selects the checkbutton (as can be assumed from the function name)

Try calling this function after your widget is defined:

from Tkinter import *

CheckVar = IntVar()
self.checkbutton = Checkbutton(self.root, text = "Test", variable = CheckVar)
self.checkbutton.select()

By calling the function right after the widget is created, it looks as though it's selected by default.

Eduards · Answer 3 · 2019-10-03T15:37:38.797

Just adding onto GunnerStone's answer - Because I was looking for something where I can reset my values/checkboxes.

If you'd like to de-select the checkbox value for whatever reason, use deselect():

from Tkinter import *

CheckVar = IntVar()
self.checkbutton = Checkbutton(self.root, text = "Test", variable = CheckVar)
self.checkbutton.deselect()

or use toggle to switch between the two:

self.checkbutton.toggle()

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 04 '23 at 13:50

Thought I'd just post the sample code that worked for me, this creates a checked checkbox.

window1 = tkinter.Tk()
check1 = tkinter.IntVar()

checkbox1 = tkinter.Checkbutton(window1, variable=check1, text="")
checkbox1.grid(row=0, column=0)
checkbox1.select()

xjcl · Answer 5 · 2022-01-13T17:02:42.143

0

I was using ttk and the only thing that worked was

self.checkbutton.state(["selected"])

Check the state via

"selected" in self.checkbutton.state()

edited Jan 13 '22 at 17:02

answered Jan 13 '22 at 16:14

xjcl

12,848
6
67
89

score -1 · Answer 6 · edited Jul 27 '21 at 18:27

-1

var4 = IntVar(value=1)
Checkbutton(root, text="New", variable=var4, bg="light green").grid(row=12, column=0)

This will check all the check boxs.

edited Jul 27 '21 at 18:27

imxitiz

3,920
3
9
33

answered Jan 03 '20 at 16:05

Paul Trovato

9
1

Tkinter: is there a way to check checkboxes by default?

6 Answers6

Linked