Interrupt a loop by clicking button

[Markus21]

Hello,

follow situation:

I have got two buttons "start" and "stop" and one input field "delay". When start is clicked, a function is called, where it should be looped until the stop button has been clicked. The Problem is, that the GUI doenst react anymore, when Im in that loop.

The program should send clicks every "delay" seconds until "stop" has been clicked.

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#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <Array.au3>

Global $running;
$running = False;

Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 1)

$GUI = GUICreate("DF Loop", 150, 80)
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "close")

GUICtrlCreateLabel("Delay:",20,20)
GUICtrlCreateLabel("ms",110,20)
$delay = GUICtrlCreateInput("",55,17,50)
$start = GUICtrlCreateButton("Start",20,44,60)
$stop = GUICtrlCreateButton("Stop",80,44,60)

GUICtrlSetState($stop,$GUI_DISABLE)

GUICtrlSetOnEvent($start,"start")
GUICtrlSetOnEvent($stop,"stop")


GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)

While (1)
    sleep(1000)
WEnd

Func close()
    Exit
EndFunc

Func start()
    $running = True
    $ms = GUICtrlRead($delay)
    GUICtrlSetState($start,$GUI_DISABLE)
    GUICtrlSetState($stop,$GUI_ENABLE)
    
    while($running)
        If (WinActive("bla")) Then
            MouseClick("left")
        EndIf
        sleep($ms)
    WEnd
    GUICtrlSetState($start,$GUI_ENABLE)
EndFunc

Func stop()
    GUICtrlSetState($stop,$GUI_DISABLE)
    $running = False
EndFunc

I need some kind of multi-threaded solution for this or a workaroud. I could skip the sleep by working with a timer. but then I have got a While(1) loop- which has the same effect on the GUI.

Thank you for help!

Markus

[BugFix]

Hi,

this make the problem:

while($running)
        If (WinActive("bla")) Then
            MouseClick("left")
        EndIf
        sleep($ms)
    WEnd

Better way: use AdlibEnable with $ms as time for repeat.

[Melba23]

Markus21,

The problem is that you cannot call a function until the current fuction has finished - so when you press the "Stop" button, it is waiting for the "Start" function to end - which is itself waiting for the "Stop" function to end it!

2 possibilites:

1. Use Adlib to call your function every $ms ms. "Start"/"Stop" would just enable/disable Adlib.

2. Add a GUIGetMsg loop inside your function. You can mix the GUI modes as long as you remember to reset the mode as required. This code shows what I mean - I have added a few lines so you can see the loop working and then ending:

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#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <Array.au3>

Global $running;
$running = False;

Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 1)

$GUI = GUICreate("DF Loop", 150, 80)
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "close")

GUICtrlCreateLabel("Delay:",20,20)
GUICtrlCreateLabel("ms",110,20)
$delay = GUICtrlCreateInput("",55,17,50)
$start = GUICtrlCreateButton("Start",20,44,60)
$stop = GUICtrlCreateButton("Stop",80,44,60)

GUICtrlSetState($stop,$GUI_DISABLE)

GUICtrlSetOnEvent($start,"start")
;GUICtrlSetOnEvent($stop,"stop")

GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)

While (1)
    sleep(1000)
WEnd

Func close()
    Exit
EndFunc

Func start()
    $running = True
    $ms = GUICtrlRead($delay)
    GUICtrlSetState($start,$GUI_DISABLE)
    GUICtrlSetState($stop,$GUI_ENABLE)
    
    Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 0)
    
    $begin = TimerInit()
    $count = 1
    
    while($running)
        If (WinActive("bla")) Then
            MouseClick("left")
        EndIf
        
        ConsoleWrite("Running " & $count & @CRLF)
        
        While TimerDiff($begin) < $ms
        
            If GUIGetMsg() = $stop Then
                stop()
                Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 1)
                GUICtrlSetState($start,$GUI_ENABLE)
                ConsoleWrite("Stopping" & @CRLF)
                ExitLoop 2
            EndIf
        
        WEnd
        
        $begin = TimerInit()
        $count += 1
        
    WEnd
    Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 1)
    
    GUICtrlSetState($start,$GUI_ENABLE)
EndFunc

Func stop()
    GUICtrlSetState($stop,$GUI_DISABLE)
    $running = False
EndFunc

I hope this is helpful.

M23

[Markus21]

Thanks Melba and BugFix, I tried the same, but I forgot to Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 0).

By the way, is there also a function, which sends a certain key to a window? (not to a specific control element)