Can you have a timer without using the control

[brailian]

I want to put a timer into a class that has no user interface (i.e. no form to drop the timer object onto). Does anyone know of a simple way to do this? Do I have to use an API call? (if so which?)

Thanks,
AJ

 

[WilMead]

You can build a timer using the sleep API call.

It sleeps for n milliseconds.

Wil Mead
wmead@optonline.net

 

[strongm]

Only you may not want to, as this VB is (generally) single-threaded, which means that your application stops processing whilst the sleep is in progress.

 

[AdaHacker]

I'm with strongm on this one. The sleep function would be okay, but only in a very limited set of circumstances. Just note that you can't even redraw the form while your sleeping, much less process anything else.

Not to take this off topic, but I have a more general version of the question: Can you use ANY control without drawing it on a form? For example, a couple of weeks ago, I tried to build a wrapper class for modem access using the MSComm control. However, I couldn't figure out how to use the control without putting it on a form. Dim and Set just didn't work. Is there a general method for doing this with controls like the Timer and MSComm which normally require a GUI?

 

[WilMead]

The man has no forms.

Wil Mead
wmead@optonline.net

 

[Guest_imported]

Dim MyTimeIsNow as Double

MyTimeIsNow = Timer 'seconds since a day in 1970

do
Loop While Timer - MyTimeIsNow < 5

'this will make your code hang for 5 seconds

 

[WilMead]

My solution to the &quot;control without a form&quot; problem is simply not to solve it. Create an invisible form to hold the controls. I know it's the easy way out. More often then not I end up creating a debug aid that activates with command line parameter anyway.




Wil Mead
wmead@optonline.net

 

[chiph]

You can use the SetTimer and KillTimer API functions.

When calling SetTimer you pass in the address of a public subroutine that is located in a .BAS module (using the addressof operator) that gets called when the timer elapses. It returns you a handle to the timer which you use when killing the timer.

No form required, and your process is not blocked.

Chip H.

 

[brailian]

Heh, unfortunately, SetTimer seems to require an hwnd argument which you only get if you have a form/window, therefore...back to square one. Might as well create a form, drop a timer on it, and load it w/o showing it. Aesthetically repugnant, but that's life. Seems my question has been answered. Thanks to all who responded.

 

[chiph]

Pass a 0 for HWND argument. You don't need it.

Chip H.