[HELP!] GUI Clock that Constantly Updates

[ok123jump]

Hi guys,

I have a program that is controlled through a GUI. The bottom of my GUI has a clock which is updated every 50ms during the While 1 loop. Some of the GUI buttons call functions which contain algorithms that take on the order of 10's of minutes to run. During the running of these functions, the clock does not update. I am looking for a way to force the clock to update every 20ms - regardless of whether or not there is another loop running within the program. In essence, it would run in the background all the time.

Here's a bit of my code to show you how I'm currently animating the clock.

;----------------GUI Functionality Code-------------------
While 1
    ;20ms Delay to Reduce CPU Usage
    Sleep(20)
    ;Get and Read Time
    UpdateTime()
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $Button_ExportData
            AutoItSetOption("MouseCoordMode", 0)
            ExportData()
            $regionFlag1 = False
            $regionFlag2 = False
        Case .
                     .
                     .
                     .
                     .
                     .

        Case $Menu_Tools_CoordTool
            Local $scrDir = @ScriptDir
            Run("Coordinate Tool.exe", $scrDir & "\Tools")
    EndSwitch
WEnd
.
.
.
.
.
.
Func UpdateTime()
    $tCur = _Date_Time_GetLocalTime()
    GUICtrlSetData($Label_Clock, _Date_Time_SystemTimeToTimeStr($tCur))
EndFunc

I guess this fits into my more general question about how I would have a separate monitoring layer that would allow the program to be terminated by simply clicking the "x" button during algorithm execution, but I fear the flames. =/

Thanks for the help!

Edited May 30, 2010 by ok123jump

[zeffy]

One way to do this would be to have your app invoke it's self with a command line parameter that updates the parent process's GUI. Example

If $CmdLine[0] Then
    If $CmdLine[1] = "/time" Then
        $hTimeControl = ControlGetHandle("Your app's title", "", 999) ; Replace 999 with whatever the Time Update's ControlID is
        While 1
            ControlSetText("Your app's title", "", $hTimeControl, @HOUR & ":" & @MIN & ":" & @SEC & "." & @MSEC)
            Sleep(20)
        WEnd
    EndIf
EndIf

Edited May 30, 2010 by Zef

[Melba23]

ok123jump,

For the clock update, try using AdlibRegister. It runs a function at a predetermined interval regardless of what else is happening in your script.

As for the exit problem, if you use the search feature this has been answered many times before. A lot depends on whether you are using OnEvent or MessageLoop mode.

M23

[soadmania]

You can use timers also.

[ok123jump]

ok123jump,

For the clock update, try using AdlibRegister. It runs a function at a predetermined interval regardless of what else is happening in your script.

As for the exit problem, if you use the search feature this has been answered many times before. A lot depends on whether you are using OnEvent or MessageLoop mode.

M23

Thanks! The AdlibRegister function worked! I have been so bothered by fixing this problem that I have spent so much time trying to structure my code so that the GUI functions operated independently of the main calculation loop - I thought I would need to run the Clock in the GUI functions segment.

This simplifies the problem very much so!

Oh yeah... thnx for the flames! I searched under the parameters "run simultaneously", "execute simultaneously", "in parllel", "calculate parallel", "run at the same time"... and about two dozen other terms. You can complain about the quality of my choice for search terms, but not of my non-use of the search function.

I am using a MessageLoop, I believe.

Edited May 30, 2010 by ok123jump

[GEOSoft]

Thanks! The AdlibRegister function worked! I have been so bothered by fixing this problem that I have spent so much time trying to structure my code so that the GUI functions operated independently of the main calculation loop - I thought I would need to run the Clock in the GUI functions segment.

This simplifies the problem very much so!

Oh yeah... thnx for the flames! I searched under the parameters "run simultaneously", "execute simultaneously", "in parllel", "calculate parallel", "run at the same time"... and about two dozen other terms. You can complain about the quality of my choice for search terms, but not of my non-use of the search function.

I am using a MessageLoop, I believe.

I don't see where Melba23 flamed you at all in this thread and this is the second time in the thread you have refered to being flamed. Perhaps you would like to provide a link to a post where you were flamed.

[ok123jump]

Mmmm... perhaps "flamed" was not the right word. How about "accosted"? I was accosted by Melba23 for failing to use the search functionality - when in fact, I had.

That just doesn't roll off your tongue like "flamed".

[GEOSoft]

I can only see where he suggested the use of the Search feature and I can't see that as accosting you. We are well aware that Search can be tricky and the search terms can be very critical. He suggested that as a way for you to find an answer and that should not be misconstrued into meaning anything else.

Perhaps you think that he should have done the search for you? That does happen on occasion but only if the person making the reply has the time to do it for you and generally you only get one chance in that direction. The next time you want help searching, it just won't happen so don't waste your one shot. We all had to get used to the search at one point and it still annoys me but the more you use it the better you become at it.

[Melba23]

ok123jump,

Please try not to be so sensitive - if you think that was "flaming" you must have a really difficult time using any forum!

George is quite correct - I was merely suggesting that you search to find how to use the [X] in a function. And I am well aware that Search is tricky - my top tip is to use "+" in front of each multiple term.

Just to prove what nice people we are, here is the content of a post I wrote a few days ago answering the same question:

[previous post]

If you use OnEvent mode, you can break into the running function:

#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>

Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 1)

$hGUI = GUICreate("Test", 500, 500)
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "CLOSEClicked")
GUISetState()

_Long_Function()

; Enter an infinite loop
While 1
    Sleep(10)
WEnd

Func _Long_Function()
    $iBegin = TimerInit()
    While TimerDiff($iBegin) < 10000
        ConsoleWrite(@SEC & @CRLF)
        Sleep(1000)
    WEnd
EndFunc

Func CLOSEClicked()
    Exit
EndFunc

If you use MessageLoop mode, you have a big problem. AutoIt will NOT interrupt a running function unless you use a HotKey. So if you have long function without a periodic check of some kind, you cannot break out. The best you can do is run a HotKey and set a flag which you check now and again with an Adlib function.

[/previous post]

I also notice that I neglected to welcome you to the forum as I normally do with newcomers - my apologies: Welcome to the AutoIt forum.

Are we all friends again now?

M23

[ok123jump]

I also notice that I neglected to welcome you to the forum as I normally do with newcomers - my apologies: Welcome to the AutoIt forum.

Are we all friends again now?

M23

Of course we're all friends. I posted the "flaming" comment mostly joking, but I see that's a serious accusation here. =/

I do appreciate your help. I am going to study your code and attempt to integrate the strategy into my program.

A further question on the AdlibRegister functionality.

I implemented it, it works great until one of my routines gets in to some pixel checksum subroutines. When this occurs, AutoIt seems to crash. Have you heard of this, or might it be some other problem?

When I disable the pixel checksum routines, my script seems to behave just fine.

[martin]

Note that AdlibRegister will not always interrupt a script and update the clock or whatever. For example, dragging the window might make the clock freeze using AdlibRegister.

Using timers is more reliable I think.

[Yashied]

For example, dragging the window might make the clock freeze using AdlibRegister.

Or MsgBox(), or context menu. _Timer_SetTimer() will be the best choice, but Timers out of competition.

Edited May 30, 2010 by Yashied