tkinter, button returns variable - python-3.x

Question

I am trying to make a GUI text based adventure game in python. I want to be able to take text from a textinput box and store it as string variable.
I have 2 problems:
Making the python wait for the submit button to be pressed, before
processing the input and updating the game.
Getting the text variable out of the command, I would like to not
use global if possible.
Here is some of my code to better understand:
root = tk.Tk()
root.geometry('800x600+100+100')
root.title("my game")
textbox = tk.StringVar()
textboxentry = tk.Entry(root, textvariable=textbox, bd=5, width = "40", font=("times", 20))
textboxentry.pack(in_=bgImageLabel, side = "bottom")
def getInput():
textboxInput = textbox.get() #gets entry
lengthEntry = len(textbox.get())
textboxentry.delete(0,lengthEntry) #removes entry from widget
return textboxInput # I would like this return to work
submit = tk.Button(root, text ="Submit", command = (textboxInput = getInput()))
##I want the command function to use command = getInput and store the return on getInput as textboxInput. This will update the wait_variable down below, and give the inputs(textboxInput) a string to work with.
submit.pack(in_=bgImageLabel, side = "bottom")
while game == True:
root.update_idletasks()
root.update()
submit.wait_variable(textboxentry)
## I need it to wait before proceeding to this next line because i need the textboxInput from the entry widget.
actionInput, extraInput, texts = inputs(textboxInput)
Currently I can't figure a way to use command = (textboxInput = getInput), using lambda or anything else. I just want to store the return which comes off of the Entry as a string variable that can be used by the main function.
All help is appreciated!

Answer 1

Below code processes entry widget's text when Submit button is pressed.
import tkinter as tk
root = tk.Tk()
aVarOutside = 'asd'
def btn_cmd(obj):
#use global variable
global aVarOutside
#print its unmodified value
print("aVarOutside: " + aVarOutside)
#modify it with what's written in Entry widget
aVarOutside = obj.get()
#modify lblTextVar, which is essentially modifying Label's text as lblTextVar is its textvariable
lblTextVar.set(obj.get())
#print what's inside Entry
print("Entry: " + obj.get())
txt = tk.Entry(root)
txt.pack()
lblTextVar = tk.StringVar()
lbl = tk.Label(root, textvariable=lblTextVar)
lbl.pack()
btn = tk.Button(text="Submit", command=lambda obj = txt : btn_cmd(obj))
btn.pack()
root.mainloop()
When the button is pressed:
Value of a global variable, aVarOutside is printed.
Value of aVarOutside is modified to the value of Entry box's
(txt's) content.
Value of a textvariable used by a label (lbl) is modified. Which
means that the text of lbl is updated and can be seen on the GUI.
Finally Entry box, txt's content is printed.

Answer 2

I think you should use inputs() inside getInputs() and then button doesn't have to return any variables - and then you can use root.mainloop() instead of while loop.
import tkinter as tk
# --- functions ---
def inputs(text):
# do something with text
print(text)
# and return something
return 'a', 'b', 'c'
def get_input():
global action_input, extra_input, texts
text = textbox.get()
if text: # check if text is not empty
textbox.set('') # remove text from entry
#textbox_entry.delete(0, 'end') # remove text from entry
action_input, extra_input, texts = inputs(text)
# --- main ---
root = tk.Tk()
textbox = tk.StringVar()
textbox_entry = tk.Entry(root, textvariable=textbox)
textbox_entry.pack()
submit = tk.Button(root, text="Submit", command=get_input)
submit.pack()
root.mainloop()
BTW: you could better organize code
all functions before main part (root = tk.Tk())
PEP8 suggests to use lower_case_names for functions and variables (instead of CamelCaseNames)
global is not prefered method but I think it is better solution than yours.
If you don't need global then you can use classes with self.
import tkinter as tk
# --- classes ---
class Game:
def __init__(self):
self.root = tk.Tk()
self.textbox = tk.StringVar()
self.textbox_entry = tk.Entry(self.root, textvariable=self.textbox)
self.textbox_entry.pack()
self.submit = tk.Button(self.root, text="Submit", command=self.get_input)
self.submit.pack()
def run(self):
self.root.mainloop()
def inputs(self, text):
# do something with text
print(text)
# and return something
return 'a', 'b', 'c'
def get_input(self):
text = self.textbox.get()
if text: # check if text is not empty
self.textbox.set('') # remove text from entry
#textbox_entry.delete(0, 'end') # remove text from entry
self.action_input, self.extra_input, self.texts = self.inputs(text)
# --- functions ---
# empty
# --- main ---
app = Game()
app.run()