Python Tkinter text editor: Save text to file

Last update on April 25 2025 12:53:17 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

Write a Python program using Tkinter that allows the user to create a text file and write content to it using a Text widget.

Sample Solution:

Python Code:

import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import filedialog

def save_to_file():
    file_path = filedialog.asksaveasfilename(defaultextension=".txt", filetypes=[("Text files", "*.txt"), ("All files", "*.*")])
    if file_path:
        try:
            with open(file_path, 'w') as file:
                text_content = text_widget.get("1.0", "end-1c")
                file.write(text_content)
            status_label.config(text=f"File saved: {file_path}")
        except Exception as e:
            status_label.config(text=f"Error saving file: {str(e)}")

root = tk.Tk()
root.title("Text Editor")

text_widget = tk.Text(root, wrap=tk.WORD)
text_widget.pack(padx=20, pady=20, fill="both", expand=True)

save_button = tk.Button(root, text="Save to File", command=save_to_file)
save_button.pack(pady=10)

status_label = tk.Label(root, text="", padx=20, pady=10)
status_label.pack()

root.mainloop()

Explanation:

In the exercise above -

Import "tkinter" as "tk" and "filedialog" for creating the GUI components and opening the file save dialog.
Define the "save_to_file()" function, which opens the file save dialog using "filedialog.asksaveasfilename()" function. This dialog allows the user to specify a file path for saving text. If a file path is selected, it reads the Text widget content using "text_widget.get()" function, and then writes it to the selected file. The status label is updated to show the saved file path or an error message if saving fails.
Create the main Tkinter window, set its title, and create a Text widget for editing text.
Create a "Save to File" button that calls the "save_to_file()" function when clicked.
Create a status label to show messages about file saving or errors.
The main event loop, root.mainloop(), starts the Tkinter application.

Sample Output:

Flowchart:

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