The -pady option is a standard widget option, see Tk::options.

In addition, there are options -pady and -ipady for the geometry managers pack() and grid(). If you are using a different geometry manager, check the appropriate documentation - you should find a link to it on http://search.cpan.org/~srezic/Tk-804.030/.

There's an excellent discussion of geometry managers in the O'Reilly book Mastering Perl/Tk - the whole of chapter 2 is devoted to this subject.

I suspect using -ipady with pack() will probably do what you want but, as you've posted no code, I can only guess.

This works for me using the default fonts:

#! perl -slw
use strict;
use Tk;

my $mw = MainWindow->new();
my $om = $mw->Optionmenu( 
    -options => [ [fred => 1], [bill => 2] ] 
)->pack( -side=> 'left' );
my @btns = map {
    $mw->Button( -text => $_, -pady => 2 )->pack( -side=> 'left' );
} 1 .. 8;

MainLoop;
[download]

Sure it may be platform dependent.

By the way what is this 'map' thing? Is this a relatively new function in perl or am I under educated?

Sure it may be platform dependent.

I cannot prove it without seeing your code, but I don't think so.

The -pady values (without suffixes) are in pixels. The symptoms you describe (1 too small; 2 too big), are indicative that the y padding is being added both above and below. And that is indicative that the button is being packed with the default -anchor value which is centre.

You should find that if you adjust the packing so that it is no longer centered, the -pady will only be added to one edge, allowing you to match it to the Optionmenu size with -pady =>1.

By the way what is this 'map' thing?

See map.

---

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.

"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".

In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

The start of some sanity?

By the way what is this 'map' thing? Is this a relatively new function in perl or am I under educated?

Map has been there since 1994

In this case, the MenuButton idea is a great one as I think it is the same size as other buttons.

The more general advice is to use more sub-frames and the various anchor and centering options to get things to "line up". I draw "pencil on paper" diagrams before attempting to write a Tk GUI. This helps a lot! Draw diagrams showing the frames. Think sub-frame to get things to line up. Stay away from pixel oriented stuff.

Different users will have different frame resolutions and use say "large fonts" instead of "small fonts" - basically you are "doomed" if you deal with pixels. If you have a frame and pack in 2 widgets, that are are packed in left to right and then "centered" within that frame, then this work (in my experience).

GUI coding is one area where "mileage varies a lot!". But I think the basic advice of thinking "sub-frames" will take you a very long way down the road.

This prog is for my own use. Portability is not an issue for me. In my case -pady=>2 creates a Button smaller, -pady=>3 a Button bigger than an Optionmenu :). So this lazy unportable trial and error solution does not work for me. Now I may have to learn creating menus. At first sight it looks much more complicated (how to reproduce Optionmenu functionality with a Menubutton?). Also you seem to be limited to a single menu bar / main window (at the top). I have several control panels in my main window scattered all around the place.

Your sub-frame approach I fully appreciate. From my experience I have learned to put everything in void container frames (even in separate Toplevel windows which can be iconified). Every functional module in my prog gets a container frame to start with in the constructor which it can populate but knows nothing else about the world.