Adding padding query insert to Listbox - python-3.x

Question

I have read a number of threads and other resources to try to find the correct way to handle this but I have not found anything that works with my application.
Here is what I am trying to accomplish.
When a query is completed and the insert of the data to a Listbox is done I cannot seem to get it to margin the data insert by 1 character space.
I am using pack() and I have read the tkinter manual for this and have tried each example available along with others found on various threads here.
The widget:
output = tkinter.Listbox(window_2, height = 20, font='Times 10',
width=42, bd=1, bg = '#FFD599', fg = '#9A0615', selectmode=SINGLE)
output.pack()
output.place(x=210, y=195)
I have tried padx and pady with pack() without success, although this works successfully with the Text widget. I have also attempted to use a few alternatives that I have found here on the site but all without success in margining the Listbox when the data is inserted.
Any advice?

Answer 1

pack's padx/pady and ipadx/ipady options don't affect the data that is inside the listbox. The listbox itself doesn't have any options to add an internal margin.
To get a margin around the inside of the listbox, what I normally do is give it a zero borderwidth and highlightthickness, and then place it in a frame with the same background color and let the frame be the border. You can then add any padding you want between the border and the listbox.
This is also convenient because you can put a scrollbar inside the frame, giving it the appearance that it is inside the listbox without actually being inside the listbox.
Example:
import tkinter as tk
root = tk.Tk()
root.configure(background="gray")
listbox_border = tk.Frame(root, bd=1, relief="sunken", background="white")
listbox_border.pack(padx=10, pady=10, fill=None, expand=False)
listbox = tk.Listbox(listbox_border, width=20, height=10,
borderwidth=0, highlightthickness=0,
background=listbox_border.cget("background"),
)
vsb = tk.Scrollbar(listbox_border, orient="vertical", command=listbox.yview)
listbox.configure(yscrollcommand=vsb)
vsb.pack(side="right", fill="y")
listbox.pack(padx=10, pady=10, fill="both", expand=True)
for i in range(100):
listbox.insert("end", "Item #{}".format(i))
root.mainloop()

Answer 2

here is a variation on the much appreciated answer by Bryan Oakley.
it uses ttk widgets instead of tk widgets
the scrollbar tracks your position in the list box when you scroll with the mouse
uses the oStyle.theme_use("clam") because it may look more modern...this can be commented out
'
import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import ttk
try: # allows the text to be more crisp on a high dpi display
from ctypes import windll
windll.shcore.SetProcessDpiAwareness(1)
except:
pass
root = tk.Tk()
oStyle = ttk.Style()
oStyle.theme_use("clam")
oStyle.configure('LB.TFrame', bd=1, relief="sunken", background="white")
listbox_border = ttk.Frame(root, style='LB.TFrame')
listbox_border.pack(padx=4, pady=4, fill=None, expand=False)
vsb = ttk.Scrollbar(listbox_border)
vsb.pack(side="right", fill="y")
listbox = tk.Listbox(listbox_border, width=20, height=10, borderwidth=0,
highlightthickness=0, selectmode=tk.SINGLE,
activestyle=tk.NONE)
listbox.pack(padx=6, pady=6, fill="y", expand=True)
listbox.config(yscrollcommand=vsb.set)
vsb.config(command=listbox.yview)
for i in range(100):
listbox.insert("end", "Item #{}".format(i))
root.mainloop()
'

Answer 3

first of all to format chars in a tkinter listbox you need to use a fixed font and .format python funcion....;
So you can do something this
Press Load to load data in the listbox and pay attention to this line code
s = '{0:>8}{1:5}'.format(i[0],i[1])
self.list.insert(tk.END, s)
import tkinter as tk
RS = (('Apple',10),
('Banana',20),
('Peack',8),
('Lemon',6),)
class App(tk.Frame):
def __init__(self,):
super().__init__()
self.master.title("Hello World")
self.init_ui()
def init_ui(self):
self.pack(fill=tk.BOTH, expand=1,)
f = tk.Frame()
sb = tk.Scrollbar(f,orient=tk.VERTICAL)
self.list = tk.Listbox(f,
relief=tk.GROOVE,
selectmode=tk.BROWSE,
exportselection=0,
background = 'white',
font='TkFixedFont',
yscrollcommand=sb.set,)
sb.config(command=self.list.yview)
self.list.pack(side=tk.LEFT,fill=tk.BOTH, expand =1)
sb.pack(fill=tk.Y, expand=1)
w = tk.Frame()
tk.Button(w, text="Load", command=self.on_callback).pack()
tk.Button(w, text="Close", command=self.on_close).pack()
f.pack(side=tk.LEFT, fill=tk.BOTH, expand=0)
w.pack(side=tk.RIGHT, fill=tk.BOTH, expand=0)
def on_callback(self,):
for i in RS:
s = '{0:>8}{1:5}'.format(i[0],i[1])
self.list.insert(tk.END, s)
def on_close(self):
self.master.destroy()
if __name__ == '__main__':
app = App()
app.mainloop()