How to restrict inputting text only for a specified time in Tkinter Text widget

Question

I am trying to implement a text widget in tkinter which will allow input text for only a specified time (here 5 secs) and then capture the typed text, without using a submit button calling a function.

I want the time to start as soon as user starts typing and shall prevent user inputting any longer after 5secs. The text that was inputted thus far shall be catured.

I tried the below code which is not working. I tried looking in the documentation and did web search and many stackoverflow discussion threads. I couldn't find an answer. Appreciate inputs on a solution.

from tkinter import *

my_window = Tk()
type_txt = Text()
type_txt.grid(row=0, column=0)
type_txt.focus()
type_txt.after(5000, type_txt.configure(state=DISABLED))
typed_text = type_txt.get("1.0", END)

print(typed_text)

my_window.mainloop()
  

Answer 1

You can bind <key> event to a function, then inside the callback to disable the text box 5 seconds later using .after().

from tkinter import *

my_window = Tk()

type_txt = Text()
type_txt.grid(row=0, column=0)
type_txt.focus()

def disable_textbox():
    type_txt.configure(state=DISABLED)
    typed_text = type_txt.get("1.0", END)
    print(typed_text)

def start_typing(event):
    # disable <Key> binding
    type_txt.unbind('<Key>')
    # disable text box 5 seconds later
    type_txt.after(5000, disable_textbox)

type_txt.bind('<Key>', start_typing)
my_window.mainloop()