Create a GUI to extract information from VIN number Using Python

A VIN or Vehicle Identification Number is a unique code that is assigned to every vehicle for identification purposes. It contains information such as the model year, maker, engine type and vehicle origin.

Extracting this information from a VIN number can be a tedious task, but with Python programming language, it is easy to create a Graphical User Interface (GUI) tool that can make this task simpler. This article will show you how to create a GUI tool to extract information from a VIN number using Python.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure that you have the following installed:
– Python 3.5 or later
– Tkinter package (for creating the GUI)

Getting Started

To get started, first we need to import the required modules. We will be using the re (regular expression) module to extract the information from the VIN number.

import re
import tkinter as tk

Now that we have imported the required modules, let us create the layout for our GUI.

root = tk.Tk()
root.title('VIN Number Info Tool')

label = tk.Label(root, text="Enter VIN number:")
label.pack(pady=10)

entry = tk.Entry(root, width=20, font=('Arial', 14))
entry.pack(padx=10, pady=10)

button = tk.Button(root, text="Extract Info", font=('Arial', 14), command=lambda:get_info())
button.pack(pady=10)

info_label = tk.Label(root, text="")
info_label.pack(pady=10)

In the above code, we have used Tkinter to create a basic GUI layout with a label, an input field, a button and a label to display the extracted information.

The command parameter of the button is set to get_info(). This means that when the button is clicked, the get_info() function will be called. Let’s define this function now.

def get_info():
    vin = entry.get().upper()
    if len(vin) != 17:
        info_label.config(text="Invalid VIN number")
        return
    matches = re.findall('[A-HJ-NPR-Z0-9]{8}[\\dX][A-HJ-NPR-Z0-9]{2}\\d{6}', vin)
    if not matches:
        info_label.config(text="Invalid VIN number")
        return
    country = vin[0:3]
    manufacturer = vin[0:3]
    attributes = {
        '1': 'Manufacturer',
        '4': 'Model',
        '5': 'Body type',
        '6': 'Engine type',
        '7': 'Restraint system',
        '9': 'Check digit',
        '10': 'Model year',
        '11': 'Assembly plant',
        '12': 'Serial number'
    }
    output = ""
    for index, value in enumerate(vin):
        if str(index + 1) in attributes:
            output += attributes[str(index + 1)] + ": " + value + "\n"
    output += "\nCountry: " + country + "\n"
    output += "Manufacturer: " + manufacturer + "\n"
    info_label.config(text=output)

In the above code, we have defined the get_info() function. This function extracts the information from the entered VIN number and displays it in the info_label label.

First, we retrieve the VIN number entered by the user using the get() method of the entry widget. We then check if the entered VIN number is of the correct length (17 characters). If it is not, we display an error message in the info_label label and return.

Next, we use regular expressions to check if the entered VIN number conforms to the standard format. If it does not, we display an error message in the info_label label and return.

We then extract the country and manufacturer codes from the VIN number. We also create a dictionary of attributes such as model, body type, engine type etc. along with their corresponding positions in the VIN number.

We then loop through the VIN number and extract the value of each attribute. We concatenate this information into a single string and display it in the info_label label.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned how to create a GUI tool to extract information from a VIN number using Python. We have used Tkinter to create a basic GUI layout, and the re module to extract information from the VIN number.

With this tool, it is now easy to extract the information from a VIN number and save time in the process. Feel free to modify, improve or add extra functionality to this GUI tool to suit your specific requirements. Happy coding!

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you improve the functionality of your VIN number info tool:

Error Handling

Make sure that your tool has adequate error handling in place to prevent issues like crashes or invalid inputs. This can include checking the VIN number for the correct length and format, displaying error messages when necessary, and using try-catch blocks to handle exceptions.

Advanced Functionality

You can add search functionality to your tool to enable users to look up specific attributes or details using their VIN number. You can also include filters or search parameters to narrow down search results and make the tool more efficient.

Final Thoughts

Creating a GUI tool to extract information from VIN numbers is a great way to streamline the process of looking up vehicle details. With just a few lines of Python code, you can create a tool that can save time and effort for users who need this information regularly.

In this article, we’ve covered the basics of how to create a GUI tool using Tkinter and the re module. We’ve also shared a few tips and tricks to help you take your VIN number tool to the next level.

As always, feel free to experiment and explore the possibilities of Python programming. With a little creativity and determination, you can build amazing tools and applications that can make a real difference in the world. Good luck!