How to Remember User Inputted Settings Between GIMP Sessions Using Python

Описание: Learn how to save user settings in GIMP using Python, enabling smooth transitions and improved user experience by remembering folder directories across sessions.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/75732199/ asked by the user 'spaghetti' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/21376004/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/75732939/ provided by the user 'xenoid' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/6378557/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Remembering user inputted settings between GIMP sessions

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
A Beginner's Guide to Remembering User Inputted Settings in GIMP

Are you a beginner in Python and curious about how to create plugins for GIMP that remember user settings between sessions? If you’ve ever had to repeatedly select folder directories each time you launch GIMP, you know how frustrating it can be! Fortunately, there’s a straightforward way to achieve this with the Python GIMP API. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of saving user settings effectively so that your plugin can retain values between sessions.

The Problem

You’re likely attempting to save specific folder directories when using your GIMP plugin, but have encountered challenges in retaining these user inputs after closing the application. While methods like using pdb.gimp_set_data() or creating a config file with json.dump() can theoretically work, they may be tricky to implement correctly if you're just getting started. So, let’s explore how to create a plugin that tackles this issue efficiently.

Understanding the Code Structure

To understand how to create the functionality that retains folder directory settings, let’s analyze a basic plugin structure. Here’s a simple example with a plugin setup:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key Concepts of the Plugin

Plugin Body: This is where the code that runs when the plugin is activated resides. Notice how you can call for user arguments like strings and other settings.

Registration: You can define parameters that are essential for how users will interact with your plugin.

Storing User Data

Now, how do we ensure that the pngFolder and gifFolder values are remembered between sessions? Here's a step-by-step solution:

1. Load Previous Values

Before anything else, you need a method to load previously saved values when the plugin starts. You could do something like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

2. Define Your Plugin with Save Functionality

Here's how you can define a plugin that saves the user input folder values:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

3. Register the Plugin with Dynamic Defaults

When registering your plugin, use the loaded values as defaults for the folder parameters:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

4. Saving Values to a File

You can opt to store the folder paths in a user-safe location, like the GIMP presets directory. You can use Python I/O or JSON formats for writing to a file. Example saving function:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

5. Loading Values from a File

For loading previously saved values, you might do something like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Final Thoughts

Remember that the first argument in the registration, also called the "atom", should be unique. You might want to change it to your own prefix to avoid potential clashes with other plugins. Keeping your plugin tidy and professional ensures a better user experience!

By implementing these strategies, you can create a GIMP plugin that successfully retains user folder settings between sessions, enhancing user convenience and efficiency. Happy coding, and enjoy creating your GIMP plugins!