How to minimize CPU usage

[Baritonomarchetto]

Hi All,

I am trying to figure out how to reduce the CPU usage of a script like this:

#include <Misc.au3>

Local $hDLL = DllOpen("user32.dll")

While 1
If WinActive("[CLASS:MYWIN]") Then
   function()
EndIf
Sleep(80) ; keep the CPU cool
WEnd

Func function()
If _IsPressed("30", $hDLL)  Then
...
...
...
EndIf
EndFunc

It relies on key pressing so i suppose i cannot go high with "Sleep" (which, i suppose, could reduce the usage by reducing the number of cycles per second). Any idea?

Thanks

[water]

Can you tell us what you try to achieve? Maybe there is a simpler solution.

[Baritonomarchetto]

I want that, while a defined program is active, my button-press related function is triggered... the target program can go unactive then active, and so on, so i suppose there are no better solutions other than set "WinActive" into the "while" loop, which probably is the heaviest part, isn't it?

Edited July 5, 2012 by Baritonomarchetto

[water]

I would raise the sleep time from 80 milliseconds to at least 250 to keep the CPU cool. You would have to wait 1/4 second maximum. That should be acceptable.

[Baritonomarchetto]

Thanks

[John]

On a lot of scripts I do I turn GUIOnEventMode on and use Sleep(2100000000) instead of using a While loop, which is a good part of a month before the program will exit on its own. If you want it to run longer the same sleep time in a loop will work. The Gui can also be created and destroyed with this mode via a HotKey, making the code do almost nothing whatsoever except Sleep until you act on it. Even with the Gui active there is no active While loop polling the Gui.

[Zedna]

Use diferent Sleep time when your window is/isn't active

While 1
    If WinActive("[CLASS:MYWIN]") Then
       function()
        Sleep(25) ; keep the CPU cool
    Else
        Sleep(250) ; keep the CPU cool
    EndIf
WEnd

[twitchyliquid64]

Use diferent Sleep time when your window is/isn't active

While 1
If WinActive("[CLASS:MYWIN]") Then
function()
Sleep(25) ; keep the CPU cool
Else
Sleep(250) ; keep the CPU cool
EndIf
WEnd

Good idea!

Also, on larger projects with lots of windows, I find its good to nest your If statements for control clicks in IF statements that test if the message comes from a specific window. That way you avoid doing ALL the tests every iteration.

While 1
$msg = GUIGetMsg(1)

if $msg[0] == $win1 then

;...IF statements for testing controls on first window

elseif $msg[0] == $win2 then

;...Likewise for second window.

Endif
Wend

Edited July 5, 2012 by twitchyliquid64