Timer help needed

BlitzMax Forums/BlitzMax Beginners Area/Timer help needed

DannyD

(Posted 2005) [#1]

Hi,
The following code works and displays the text at 250,0. I want to pause for maybe 1 second before displaying the next text.I'm not sure how to do this, do I need some sort of timer ? Any help appreciated.

Graphics 800,600,0 'set gfx mode
Repeat
Cls
DrawText "test text",250,0

Flip
FlushMem

Until KeyHit(KEY_ESCAPE)

LarsG

(Posted 2005) [#2]

a quick and dirty example, but I think you get the point..

Graphics 800,600,0 'set gfx mode

Global a:String = "test text"
Global time:Int = MilliSecs()

Repeat

	check()
	Cls
	DrawText a,250,0

	Flip
	FlushMem

Until KeyHit(KEY_ESCAPE) 

Function check()
	If MilliSecs() - time > 1000
		a = "HEY!"
	EndIf
EndFunction

Jams	(Posted 2005) [#3]

Here's the timekeeping part of my current project, you might find it useful...

Type _Timer Final

	Field Active:Byte
	Field LastTick:Int
	Field Frequency:Int
	Field Tick:Byte

	Method Update:Byte()
		If Active = True
			If LastTick + Frequency < MilliSecs()
				Tick = True
				LastTick = MilliSecs()
			EndIf
		EndIf
	End Method

	Method HasTicked:Byte()
		If Tick = True Then Tick = False; Return True
		Return False
	End Method

	Method Activate:Byte()
		Active = True
		LastTick = MilliSecs()
	End Method

	Method DeActivate:Byte()
		Active = False
	End Method

	Method SetFreq:Byte( NewFreq:Int )
		Frequency = NewFreq
	End Method

	Method GetTimeSinceLastTick:Int()
		Return MilliSecs() - LastTick
	End Method

End Type

Then use it like this

t:_Timer = New _Timer
t.SetFreq(1000)
t.Activate()

blah blah...

t.Update()
If t.HasTicked() = True, 'Display next text

exactly the same as LarsG's example, just more long winded and harder to follow ;)

DannyD

(Posted 2005) [#4]

Thanks alot guys, your examples will come in handy.

CoderLaureate

(Posted 2005) [#5]

You could use function pointers as a sort of CallBack feature that can simulate multi threading...

Type TTimer
	Field BoundObject:Object
	Field Clock
	Field Interval
	Field NextTick
	Field Enabled = True
	Field TickCallback(Sender:TTimer)
	Function Create:TTimer(Interval, BoundObject:Object = null)
		Local o:TTimer = New TTimer
		o.BoundObject = BoundObject
		o.Interval = Interval
		o.Clock = MilliSecs()
		o.NextTick = o.Clock + o.Interval
		Return o
	End Function
	Method Update()
		If Enabled Then
			If MilliSecs() > NextTick Then
				Clock = MilliSecs()
				NextTick = Clock + Interval
				If TickCallback <> Null Then TickCallback(Self)
			End If
		End If
	End Method
End Type

Function TimerCallback(Sender:TTimer)
     Print "Tick!"
End Function

Local T:TTimer = TTimer.Create(1000)
T.TickCallback = TimerCallback

While Not Keyhit(Key_Escape)
     Cls
     T.Update()
     Flip
     Flushmem
Wend