Tkinter ToDo App: Filters, Search, and CSV Export
Integrating priority selection directly into the input panel speeds up task creation. We replace the modal dialog with a ttk.Combobox offering high, medium, and low options. Enabling add-on-Enter streamlines the workflow.
In create_widgets, add a frame with Entry, Combobox, and button:
from tkinter import ttk
top_frame = tk.Frame(self.root)
top_frame.pack(pady=10, padx=10, fill=tk.X)
self.entry = tk.Entry(top_frame, font=("Arial", 12))
self.entry.pack(side=tk.LEFT, fill=tk.X, expand=True, padx=(0, 5))
self.entry.bind("<Return>", lambda event: self.add_task())
tk.Label(top_frame, text="Priority:").pack(side=tk.LEFT, padx=(5, 2))
self.priority_var = tk.StringVar(value="medium")
priority_combo = ttk.Combobox(
top_frame,
textvariable=self.priority_var,
values=["high", "medium", "low"],
state="readonly",
width=8
)
priority_combo.pack(side=tk.LEFT, padx=(0, 5))
priority_combo.set("medium")
self.add_button = tk.Button(top_frame, text="➕ Add", command=self.add_task, bg="light blue")
self.add_button.pack(side=tk.RIGHT)The add_task method simplifies: grabs data from self.entry and self.priority_var.get(), saves the task, clears the field, and refreshes the list.
Filtering Tasks by Status
Radio buttons toggle views: all tasks, active only, or completed. Filter logic integrates into get_sorted_tasks.
In __init__, add self.filter_mode = "all". In create_widgets, add a filter panel with Radiobuttons:
filter_frame = tk.Frame(self.root)
filter_frame.pack(pady=5, padx=10, fill=tk.X)
tk.Label(filter_frame, text="Filter:").pack(side=tk.LEFT, padx=(0, 10))
self.filter_var = tk.StringVar(value="all")
tk.Radiobutton(filter_frame, text="All", variable=self.filter_var,
value="all", command=self.refresh_task_list).pack(side=tk.LEFT, padx=5)
tk.Radiobutton(filter_frame, text="Active", variable=self.filter_var,
value="active", command=self.refresh_task_list).pack(side=tk.LEFT, padx=5)
tk.Radiobutton(filter_frame, text="Completed", variable=self.filter_var,
value="completed", command=self.refresh_task_list).pack(side=tk.LEFT, padx=5)In refresh_task_list: self.filter_mode = self.filter_var.get().
get_sorted_tasks first filters by status, then sorts active tasks by ID at the top, completed at the bottom:
def get_sorted_tasks(self):
if self.filter_mode == "active":
filtered_tasks = [task for task in self.tasks if not task["completed"]]
elif self.filter_mode == "completed":
filtered_tasks = [task for task in self.tasks if task["completed"]]
else:
filtered_tasks = self.tasks.copy()
active_tasks = [task for task in filtered_tasks if not task["completed"]]
completed_tasks = [task for task in filtered_tasks if task["completed"]]
active_tasks.sort(key=lambda x: x["id"])
completed_tasks.sort(key=lambda x: x["id"])
return active_tasks + completed_tasksReal-Time Search by Task Text
Search field with <KeyRelease> binding enables instant filtering on top of the status filter. Clear button resets the query.
In create_widgets, add search_frame:
search_frame = tk.Frame(self.root)
search_frame.pack(pady=(0, 5), padx=10, fill=tk.X)
tk.Label(search_frame, text="Search:").pack(side=tk.LEFT, padx=(0, 5))
self.search_entry = tk.Entry(search_frame, font=("Arial", 10))
self.search_entry.pack(side=tk.LEFT, fill=tk.X, expand=True)
self.search_entry.bind("<KeyRelease>", lambda event: self.refresh_task_list())
clear_btn = tk.Button(search_frame, text="✖", command=self.clear_search, width=3)
clear_btn.pack(side=tk.RIGHT, padx=(5, 0))clear_search clears self.search_entry and calls refresh_task_list.
get_sorted_tasks expands with a second filter by search_text = self.search_entry.get().strip().lower():
search_text = self.search_entry.get().strip().lower()
if search_text:
filtered_tasks = [task for task in filtered_tasks if search_text in task["text"].lower()]Search is case-insensitive and applies after status filtering.
- Real-time search perks: Minimal lag using list comprehensions.
- Limitations: Linear O(n) search, fine for <1000 tasks.
- Optimization: For larger lists, consider bisect or external indexing.
Exporting Filtered Data to CSV
Export captures the current list view (after all filters/search). Uses csv.writer with UTF-8 BOM for Excel compatibility. Semicolon delimiter, headers: ID, Text, Status, Priority, Created Date.
Button in bottom_frame:
self.export_button = tk.Button(bottom_frame, text="📎 Export to CSV", command=self.export_to_csv, bg="light cyan")
self.export_button.pack(side=tk.LEFT, padx=5)export_to_csv:
import csv
from tkinter import filedialog
def export_to_csv(self):
tasks_to_export = self.get_sorted_tasks()
if not tasks_to_export:
messagebox.showinfo("Info", "No tasks to export")
return
filename = filedialog.asksaveasfilename(
defaultextension=".csv",
filetypes=[("CSV files", "*.csv"), ("All files", "*.*")],
title="Save as CSV"
)
if not filename:
return
try:
with open(filename, 'w', encoding='utf-8-sig', newline='') as f:
writer = csv.writer(f, delimiter=';')
writer.writerow(['ID', 'Text', 'Status', 'Priority', 'Created'])
for task in tasks_to_export:
status = "Completed" if task["completed"] else "Active"
try:
created = datetime.fromisoformat(task["created_at"])
date_str = created.strftime("%d.%m.%Y %H:%M:%S")
except:
date_str = task["created_at"]
priority_map = {"high": "High", "medium": "Medium", "low": "Low"}
priority_display = priority_map.get(task["priority"], task["priority"])
writer.writerow([task["id"], task["text"], status, priority_display, date_str])
messagebox.showinfo("Success", f"Tasks exported to:\n{filename}")
except Exception as e:
messagebox.showerror("Error", f"Failed to save file: {e}")Key Takeaways
- Combobox integration for priorities simplifies UX without popups.
- Combined filtering (status + search) leverages chained list comprehensions for speed.
- CSV export with UTF-8-sig and ';' works seamlessly with Excel on Windows.
- Real-time updates via
<KeyRelease>binds and Radiobutton commands. - Sorting always prioritizes active tasks at the top.
— Editorial Team
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