java timer

mcshen · 03-29-2004, 02:46 PM

How do I implement a timer?

like

I wanna to tell my program to run for 100 seconds

after than, System.out.println("out of time");

rose_bud4201 · 03-29-2004, 08:27 PM

Well, one way would be to make your program threaded. Start a thread, have it start the main body of your program on another thread, have your thread wait for 100 seconds (or 100000 ms), and when it comes out of the wait, make it stop the program's thread and print "out of time".

Hope that helps,

Laura

mcshen · 03-29-2004, 08:30 PM

ah, i see!

moeminhtun · 03-29-2004, 09:39 PM

You can use java.util.Timer or javax.swing.Timer.

javax.swing.Timer is easier.

rose_bud4201 · 03-29-2004, 09:59 PM

I thought of that, and looked it up. However, the Timer class doesn't do what he seems to want. A Timer() will only accept a delay time 'til it starts - there's no way to control how long it runs (as far as I saw, I've not used it before /disclaimer)

-Laura

moeminhtun · 03-29-2004, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rose_bud4201
I thought of that, and looked it up. However, the Timer class doesn't do what he seems to want. A Timer() will only accept a delay time 'til it starts - there's no way to control how long it runs (as far as I saw, I've not used it before /disclaimer)

-Laura

If that's the case, yeah, timer can't do the job, but he didn't stated what he want clearly. I think the timer could be the answer, not sure what he want.

rose_bud4201 · 03-30-2004, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcshen
I wanna to tell my program to run for 100 seconds

after than, System.out.println("out of time");

Other than that, I think only mcshen can tell us what else needs to be done

-Laura

Looking_Lost · 03-30-2004, 01:18 AM

You should be able to use a timer. Set the timer up to run every 100 secs, start the timer. do what every you want after 100 secs the messages gets output and you exit the program or do what ever it is you want to do. You can also cancel a timer to stop it running for ever.

rose_bud4201 · 03-30-2004, 08:11 AM

Alright, cool.
In that case, this is purely for my information: how to you "time the timer" to tell it when to stop? The way it looked to me was you could give the timer a delay, but no time limit. So in this instance, would he sort of be using it in reverse? i.e. when the timer starts, end the program?
Which sort of leads to my next question: how do you detect when it starts?

Looking_Lost · 03-30-2004, 10:20 AM

Yah, in reverse - using it just like an Alarm Clock I guess. You don't as such have to detect when it starts, it'll start - if it's Simply exit the program after 100 seconds set the timer to run every 100 seconds, in the timer's body of code put whatever you want in it.

mcshen · 03-30-2004, 02:47 PM

all i wanted it to do this:

i am making a game. the time limit for that game is, say 1000msec. When 1000msec is gone, program terminates (dispose() or System.exit(0))

Thanks for the help guys/gals..

Looking_Lost · 03-30-2004, 04:07 PM

Here is a very simple example of using a Timer that uses a common variable to flag time is up, just for show, of course, and it's only a suggestion:

Code:

import java.util.*;

public class TimeMan{
	
	static boolean stillTimeLeft=true;
        static int	count=0;
        
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
	 Timer tTimer=new Timer();
         
	 TimerTask tTask=new TimerTask(){
	    public void run(){
	        stillTimeLeft=false;
	        // System.exit(0); //or just exit the program      
                      }
		 };
	     
	  
	  tTimer.schedule(tTask,10000); //start the timer running
	 
          do   //do something for heavens sake :)
	   {
	      try{
	     	
		   Thread.sleep(1000);
            	   System.out.println(""+ (++count));  
	       
		 }catch(Exception e){ };   
	   
	   }while(stillTimeLeft);
 
         tTimer.cancel(); //stops the scheduled task or we'll be here for ever or the next      	
	                          //power cut at least
	}
}