tkinter - Get global mouse position and use in python program? -

as part of larger project, trying create snapshot tool works similar mac os x snapshot. should take first click, second click, , return image of area created square.

i have python functions take first point (x, y) , second point (x, y) , create snapshot of square points create on screenshot. missing piece getting mouse locations of initial click , second click, passing data python program create snapshot.

in other words, flow of program should be:

1. first click (save x, y)
2. second click (save x2, y2)
3. run snapshot.py using saved clicked data return screenshot

i've found solutions can return position of pointer within frame. if helps, i'm using "import gtk" , "from xlib import display"

edit: have tried use tkinter make invisible frame covers whole screen. idea use invisible frame exact coordinates of 2 mouse clicks, , invisible frame disappear, pass coordinates on screenshot function, , done. however, code i've been writing doesn't keep frame transparent.

edit 2: code can create window, make transparent, size screen, return mouse coordinates on window. can use return mouse coordinates on 2 clicks, remove window , send coordinates snapshot code. when run below code line-by-line in python shell, works perfectly. however, whenever run code whole, seems skip part makes window transparent. if copy , paste block of code includes 'attributes("-alpha", 0.1)' python shell, ignores line.

from tkinter import *  root = tk() root.attributes('-alpha', 0.1)  maxw = root.winfo_screenwidth() maxh = root.winfo_screenheight()  root.geometry("{0}x{1}+0+0".format(maxw, maxh))  def callback(event):     print "clicked at: ", event.x, "and: ", event.y  root.bind("<button-1>", callback)  def exit(event):     root.destroy() root.bind("<escape>", exit)   # root.overrideredirect(true)  root.mainloop() 

i open using c or c++ code, or language's code, return coordinates of mouse on click. this guy wrote code make computer click @ given points, may on same track problem.

it's indentation problem - bound callback in callback mistake - try instead:

root.geometry("{0}x{1}+0+0".format(maxw, maxh))  def callback(event):     print "clicked at: ", event.x, "and: ", event.y  root.bind("<button-1>", callback) 

edit

ok, here's theory - maybe when run command line, takes longer root window appear, reason, set alpha before exists, , alpha option gets ignored. give try:

root.wait_visibility(root) root.attributes('-alpha', 0.1)