Create GUI dialogs in one line of code
SQL Data in List Dialogs
SQL command-line utilities can output SQL queries to a Zenity list dialog. Like the earlier CSV examples, the SQL output needs to reformatted to a sequential list. The SQL output from the command-line tools will vary by database; for example, MySQL uses tabs between the fields, whereas SQLite uses a vertical bar (|
).
For my testing, I used an SQLite3 database (someuser.db
) with a table (users
) of fields containing first and last names, age, and job. To output a SELECT
query, I entered:
$ sqlite3 someuser.db "select fname,lname,age,job from users" Brooke|Metcalfe|18|Student Leah|Metcalfe|18|Co-op Pete|Metcalfe|100|Old dude ... Willy|Coyote|99|Evil genius
The SQLite query output can be modified with the tr
command and shown in a Zenity list
dialog (Figure 8):
$ sqlite3 someuser.db "select fname,lname,age,job from users" | tr '|' '\n' | zenity --list --title="My Database" --column="first name" --column="last name" --column=age --column=job
The Zenity list
dialog supports a number of useful options, such as radio buttons and checkboxes. The lists are editable, and the selected fields or rows can be used in further scripting.
Insert SQL Data in a Zenity Form
Zenity forms
allows for the creation of basic data entry dialogs. In about eight lines of Bash code (Listing 3), I created a Zenity form (Figure 9) I can use to insert data into my SQLite users table.
Listing 3
SQL Input Form
01 #!/bin/bash 02 row=$(zenity --forms --title="Create user" --text="Add new user" --add-entry="First Name" --add-entry="Last Name" --add-entry="Age" --add-entry="Job" --separator="','") 03 if [[ -n $row ]] # Some data found 04 then 05 cmd="sqlite3 someuser.db \"INSERT INTO users (Fname,Lname,Age,Job) VALUES ('$row')\"" 06 eval $cmd 07 echo "Added data: '$row'" 08 fi
The OK button will pass the user-entered data as a string, whereas the Cancel button will not pass any data. An if
statement checks to see whether any data has been entered.
The SQL INSERT
statement needs VALUES
to be in the format
("value1","value2,"value3,"value4")
The formatting can be done by setting the Zenity --separator
option to a comma, defined with single quotes within double quotes (line 2).
This example is quite basic, so the next step would be to add data validation.
Final Comments
For simple dialogs, Zenity works amazingly well. I found that as the requirements started to get more complicated, a Python solution appeared to be cleaner and simpler. I was able to control a Raspberry Pi rover in about 20 lines of Bash and Zenity code, but it only took 15 lines of Python and Tkinter code.
There is a Python library (Zenity 2.0) that emulates Zenity, so if you're feeling comfortable with the Zenity dialogs and you don't need complex dialogs, this might be something to consider.
If you are looking for a more complete command-line GUI tool, try YAD [3].
Infos
- Zenity documentation: https://help.gnome.org/users/zenity/3.32/index.html
- Pango markup language: https://developer.gnome.org/pygtk/stable/pango-markup-language.html
- YAD: https://sourceforge.net/projects/yad-dialog/
« Previous 1 2
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.
-
ZorinOS 17.1 Released, Includes Improved Windows App Support
If you need or desire to run Windows applications on Linux, there's one distribution intent on making that easier for you and its new release further improves that feature.
-
Linux Market Share Surpasses 4% for the First Time
Look out Windows and macOS, Linux is on the rise and has even topped ChromeOS to become the fourth most widely used OS around the globe.
-
KDE’s Plasma 6 Officially Available
KDE’s Plasma 6.0 "Megarelease" has happened, and it's brimming with new features, polish, and performance.
-
Latest Version of Tails Unleashed
Tails 6.0 is based on Debian 12 and includes GNOME 43.
-
KDE Announces New Slimbook V with Plenty of Power and KDE’s Plasma 6
If you're a fan of KDE Plasma, you'll be thrilled to hear they've announced a new Slimbook with an AMD CPU and the latest version of KDE Plasma desktop.
-
Monthly Sponsorship Includes Early Access to elementary OS 8
If you want to get a glimpse of what's in the pipeline for elementary OS 8, just set up a monthly sponsorship to help fund its continued existence.