Restoring Taskbar Icon After Using `overrideredirect(true)` in Tkinter

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Bringing Back the Missing Taskbar Icon

Encounter a common issue where utilizing overrideredirect(true) in a Tkinter application results in the disappearance of its icon from the taskbar? Learn how to restore it effectively.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this guide, you’ll grasp how to manage window properties in Tkinter to utilize overrideredirect(true) while ensuring your application’s icon remains visible on the taskbar.

Introduction to Problem and Solution

When developing desktop applications with Tkinter, achieving a frameless window by setting overrideredirect to true is common. However, this action not only removes the frame but also eliminates your app�s icon from the taskbar. This guide delves into resolving this issue without compromising on design choices or user experience.

Code

import tkinter as tk
from sys import platform

def add_taskbar_icon(window):
    if platform == "win32":
        from ctypes import windll
        GWL_EXSTYLE = -20
        WS_EX_APPWINDOW = 0x00040000

        hwnd = windll.user32.GetParent(window.winfo_id())
        style = windll.user32.GetWindowLongW(hwnd, GWL_EXSTYLE)
        style |= WS_EX_APPWINDOW

        res = windll.user32.SetWindowLongW(hwnd, GWL_EXSTYLE, style)

root = tk.Tk()
root.overrideredirect(True)

add_taskbar_icon(root)

root.mainloop()

# Copyright PHD

Explanation

In this solution: – Starting Point: Create a basic Tkinter window with overrideredirect(True) to eliminate title bars and borders. – Platform Check: The function add_taskbar_icon verifies if the program runs on Windows (platform == “win32”), crucial for utilizing Windows API calls via Python’s ctypes library. – System Calls: Utilize functions like GetParent, GetWindowLongW, and SetWindowLongW from user32.dll through ctypes to modify the main window’s extended styles (GWL_EXSTYLE) by adding the flag WS_EX_APPWINDOW. – Cross-platform Adaptability: While tailored for Windows systems due to their handling of overridden windows and taskbar icons, similar concepts can be adapted for other platforms using respective APIs.

This method maintains design choices like frameless windows while ensuring app accessibility via the taskbar.

  1. How can I restore my application’s icon on MacOS or Linux?

  2. While this solution targets Windows (win32), MacOS and Linux may require different approaches. Explore platform-specific APIs for managing window properties affecting dock/taskbar visibility.

  3. Does adding an icon impact performance?

  4. Simply adding an application icon back onto your system�s taskbar doesn�t significantly impact performance. It alters only visual handling by operating systems without affecting computational complexity or execution efficiency.

  5. Can I use custom icons with this method?

  6. Yes! This method restores default taskbar presence such as assigned favicons when packaged correctly. To use custom icons in Tkinter apps, set them via root.iconbitmap(‘path_to_icon’) before applying modifications like overridredirect or add_task_bar_icon functions.

  7. Why is checking for platform important?

  8. Diverse OSes handle windows differently concerning graphical elements like frames, borders, and icons. Tailoring solutions based on frequent usage platforms prevents errors or unexpected behavior on unsupported systems.

  9. Is there an alternative way without external libraries?

  10. For cross-platform compatibility without extensive reliance on OS-specific libraries beyond Python’s built-in tools (e.g., ctypes), design your UI framework within existing constraints�potentially sacrificing ‘true’ framelessness but creatively manipulating widgets/layouts/colors for similar effects while retaining key functionalities accessible via taskbars/docks.

Conclusion: Enhancing User Experience Without Compromise

By addressing challenges related to maintaining aesthetics through frameless windows alongside practicality via visible icons, broaden usability across various computing environments today!

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