Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

[chortle]

For example, how could I check something every 60 seconds and something else every 90 seconds.
The reason I wish to do this is to ensure the second check takes place 30 seconds after first check.

I realise I should be able to code a script somehow, just wondered if there was a way around the 1 timer limitation.

Thanks

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

No.

[chortle]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

Abrupt :)

But thanks

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

Only one timer.

You might try setting the ontimer event to 30 seconds. Then in the onTimer script use the MOD() function twice to direct the flow of program execution. In one case the numerator would be time elapsed (in seconds) and denominator would be 60. When the remainder is zero you know 60 seconds have passed. In the second the numerator would be time elapsed (in seconds) and denominator would be 90. When the remainder is zero you know 90 seconds have passed.

This will not force the second sequence to always be 30 seconds after the first, of course. But it will assure that one sequence fires every 60 seconds, and the other fires every 90, per your stated requirements. For example the first sequence will fire at 120 seconds, but the second won't fire again until elapsed time reaches 180, and that's when the first sequence would also fire.

It may be time to rethink your stated requirements.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

On second thought I suppose a single mod() "branch" in the code might be all that's needed. Check every 30 seconds. use MOD() to determine if 60 has elapsed. Raise a flag and branch to your every 60 second code. When ontimer fires again you know another 30 have passed if the flag is still raised, so branch to other code after first lowering the flag.

[G Gabriel]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

You could do something like this:
Set the timer to 30 sec
Put a numeric variable on your form, let's call it: t_lpsd and set its initial value to 0
In the OnTimer Event, put a script like this:

t_lpsd.value=t_lpsd.value+1
if mod(t_lpsd.value,2)=0
..run your first script...
else
if mod(t_lpsd.value,3)=0
..run second script..
end if

[G Gabriel]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

Apologies. The script as written, I think and without testing it, will encounter a self-defeating timing issue (has nothing to do with the OnTimer event).
With a slight modification, it should work:
Set the initial value of t_lpsd to 1 instead of zero:

if mod(t_lpsd.value,2)=0
..run your first script...
else
if mod(t_lpsd.value,3)=0
..run second script..
end if
t_lpsd.value=t_lpsd.value+1

[chortle]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

Thanks Tom and Gabriel,

After the initial curt reply, I wasn't expecting another response here. I will look at both suggestions.

Thanks again :)

[GGandhi]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

Apologies. The script as written, I think and without testing it, will encounter a self-defeating timing issue (has nothing to do with the OnTimer event).
With a slight modification, it should work:
Set the initial value of t_lpsd to 1 instead of zero:

if mod(t_lpsd.value,2)=0
..run your first script...
else
if mod(t_lpsd.value,3)=0
..run second script..
end if
t_lpsd.value=t_lpsd.value+1

i have a concern about the mod logic:
this will work for the first round and my concern is what happens when t_lpsed_value id 5 then mod function will not return 0 so neither process will run defeating the original question that each process should run alternatively every 30 secs starting at 60 secs.

if the code is rewritten
set the last_run_process to 2
set the t_lpsed_value to 1
(probably on form activate event or some button onClick event)
then

if t_lpsed_value >=2 then
   if last_run_process = 2 then
       run process 1
       last_run_process = 1
  else
       run process 2
       last_run_process = 2
  end if
end if
t_lpsd.value=t_lpsd.value+1

won't this work perpetually alternating processes skipping the first 30 sec interval?

[G Gabriel]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

Govindan:
Your concern is legitimate.
Just modify the last line to:

if t_lpsd.value=3
t_psd.value=1
else
t_lpsd.value=t_lpsd.value+1
end if

[Scott Kurimski]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

Try something like the code below. You can vary it to fit your needs.

Set your timer interval on the form to 1, then...

dim vTime1 as N
dim vTime2 as N

var->vTime1 = var->vTime1 + 1
IF var->vTime1 >= 60
	var->vTime1 = 0
	
	'Run your code here
END IF


var->vTime2 =  var->vTime2 + 1

IF var->vTime2 >= 90
	var->vTime2 = 0
	
	'Run your code here
END IF

[chortle]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

Thanks Scott, seems very straightforward - Does a timer running every second cause much of an overhead when you have folder content change watches running as well?

[Scott Kurimski]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

I do not use Folder Content Change so I cannot answer with any accuracy. I have most of my forms that I use like this set to a 1 second interval and some of the forms have 10-15 different timed events like the example and I do not have any negative performance impacts and our hardware is lower end stuff. When you set your timer interval really small it increases the overhead for sure but still no show stoppers that I have noticed. I have one form with a timer interval of .01 where the form is reading a scale via a serial port and do not have any issues.

[chortle]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

Thanks again, will give it a try.

[G Gabriel]

Re: Is it possible to have more than one timer on a desktop form?

Does a timer running every second cause much of an overhead when you have folder content change watches running as well?

That question was asked years ago, by me, in the form of a puzzler regarding OnTimer events in general. The answer as I see it, is no. But in this case, it's different, because the script has to update the value of these two variables every second not to mention whatever "watches" you were referring to. So in one minute, you run 60 scripts !!
If you want to go this route, you are better off with something like:

t1=now()
if now()-t1=>90
..run your second script...
t1=now()
elseif now()-t1=>60
..run first script..
end if