Develop Reference

Check if the countdown timer is 0

I have a script based on the countdown timer. I want that when the time reaches 0, the timer stop and a message appear. The code id this:
public partial class simulare : Form
{
private admin admin;
Timer timer = new Timer();
public simulare(admin admin)
{
InitializeComponent();
this.admin=admin;
label2.Text = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(0.1).ToString();
}
private void simulare_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
var startTime = DateTime.Now;
timer = new Timer() { Interval = 1000 };
timer.Tick += (obj, args) =>
label2.Text = (TimeSpan.FromMinutes(0.1) - (DateTime.Now - startTime)).ToString("hh\\:mm\\:ss");
timer.Enabled = true;
timer.Start();
if (condition)
{
timer.Stop();
MessageBox.Show("Done!");
}
}
}
I tried those conditions, but unsuccessful:
if (timer.ToString() == TimeSpan.Zero.ToString())
if (label2.Text.ToString() == TimeSpan.Zero.ToString())
if (label2.Text == TimeSpan.Zero)

You could extract the calculation and assign the result to a TimeSpan variable, then check if the Seconds in that TimeSpan variable are equals to zero
void simulare_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
var startTime = DateTime.Now;
timer = new System.Windows.Forms.Timer() { Interval = 1000 };
timer.Tick += (obj, args) =>
{
TimeSpan ts = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(0.1) - (DateTime.Now - startTime);
label1.Text = ts.ToString("hh\\:mm\\:ss");
if (ts.Seconds == 0)
{
timer.Stop();
MessageBox.Show("Done!");
}
};
timer.Start();
}

First off, checking anything in the Load event isn't going to work. That code only runs once (on form load).
So you need a more complex tick event, which I would put into an actual function instead of a lambda:
private int countDown = 50; //Or initialize at load time, or whatever
public void TimerTick(...)
{
label2.Text = (TimeSpan.FromMinutes(0.1) - (DateTime.Now - startTime)).ToString("hh\\:mm\\:ss");
countDown--;
if (countDown <= 0)
timer.Stop();
}
I use an int counter here since checking against a view property (the text in this case) isn't a very good design/practice. If you really want a TimeSpan, I would still save it off instead of checking directly against the Text property or a string.

Running the windows service for every one minute

I have tried to run the service every 1 minute and i have succeeded in doing so but the problem is its starting every minute regardless of the completion of the program. I have written it like this
private Timer _timer;
private DateTime _lastRun = DateTime.Now.AddDays(-1);
public SpotlessService()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
_timer = new Timer(1 * 60 * 1000); // every 1 hour
_timer.Elapsed += new System.Timers.ElapsedEventHandler(timer_Elapsed);
_timer.Start();
}
public void Start()
{
OnStart(new string[0]);
}
void timer_Elapsed(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Util.LogError("Started at" + DateTime.Now + "");
FileDownload objdwn = new FileDownload();
}
I have hosted it as a service and FileDownload class constructor will download some files from server and will copy the data into the database which will take like 10-15 minutes. So what i need to do is i should stop the timer till these fifteen minutes and the service should start again and should wait for the next minute and do the same thing. is this possible or should i just increase the timer value to greater extent

Stop() the timer at the beginning of the Elapse event and Start() the timer at the end. Also ensure your timer object does not get garbage collected.
private Timer _timer;
private DateTime _lastRun = DateTime.Now.AddDays(-1);
public SpotlessService()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
_timer = new Timer(1 * 60 * 1000); // every 1 minute
_timer.Elapsed += new System.Timers.ElapsedEventHandler(timer_Elapsed);
_timer.Start();
}
public void Start()
{
OnStart(new string[0]);
}
void timer_Elapsed(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
_timer.Stop();
Util.LogError("Started at" + DateTime.Now + "");
FileDownload objdwn = new FileDownload();
_timer.Start()
}

My suggestion is to use Task to perform download and call the main method again as soon as it is finished.
public void mainMethod()
{
Thread.Sleep(60000);
doDownload();
}
public void doDownload()
{
Task.Factory.StartNew(() => {
// Background download
}).ContinueWith(task => mainMethod());
}
This will allow you to perform any additional operations in the main thread if needed while the download is in progress.
OR
You can just stop the timer and run again as soon as the download is done
void timer_Elapsed(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
_timer.Stop();
Util.LogError("Started at" + DateTime.Now + "");
FileDownload objdwn = new FileDownload();
_timer.Start();
}

How to set timer to execute at specific time in c#

I have a requirement where i need to execute timer at 00:01:00 A.M every day...But i am not getting how to achieve this ..If i am taking Systems time,it can be in different format..
Here is my timer code..
static System.Timers.Timer timer;
timer = new System.Timers.Timer();
timer.Interval = 1000 * 60 * 60 * 24;//set interval of one day
timer.Elapsed += new ElapsedEventHandler(timer_Elapsed);
start_timer();
static void timer_Elapsed(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
// Add timer code here
}
private static void start_timer()
{
timer.Start();
}

If you want to start a timer at exactly 00:01:00am do some processing time and then restart the timer you just need to calculate the difference between Now and the next 00:01:00am time slot such as.
static Timer timer;
static void Main(string[] args)
{
setup_Timer();
}
static void setup_Timer()
{
DateTime nowTime = DateTime.Now;
DateTime oneAmTime = new DateTime(nowTime.Year, nowTime.Month, nowTime.Day, 0, 1, 0, 0);
if (nowTime > oneAmTime)
oneAmTime = oneAmTime.AddDays(1);
double tickTime = (oneAmTime - nowTime).TotalMilliseconds;
timer = new Timer(tickTime);
timer.Elapsed += timer_Elapsed;
timer.Start();
}
static void timer_Elapsed(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
timer.Stop();
//process code..
setup_Timer();
}

What you should do is write your program that does whatever you need it to do, and then use your OS's built-in task scheduler to fire it off. That'd be the most reliable. Windows's Task Scheduler, for instance, can start your app before the user logs in, handle restarting the app if necessary, log errors and send notifications, etc.
Otherwise, you'll have to run your app 24/7, and have it poll for the time at regular intervals.
For instance, you could change the interval every minute:
timer.Interval = 1000 * 60;
And inside your Elapsed event, check the current time:
static void timer_Elapsed(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
if (DateTime.Now.Hour == 1 && DateTime.Now.Minute == 0)
{
// do whatever
}
}
But this is really unreliable. Your app may crash. And dealing with DateTime's can be tricky.

You could always calculate it:
static void timer_Elapsed(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
// Do stuff
start_timer();
}
private static void start_timer()
{
timer.Interval = CalculateInterval();
timer.Start();
}
private static double CalculateInterval()
{
// 1 AM the next day
return (DateTime.Now.AddDays(1).Date.AddHours(1) - DateTime.Now).TotalMilliseconds;
}

Here is a timer implementation which takes an Interval (just like any other timer) and fires exactly when that interval expires, even the machine goes to sleep mode in between.
public delegate void TimerCallbackDelegate(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e);
public class TimerAbsolute : System.Timers.Timer
{
private DateTime m_dueTime;
private TimerCallbackDelegate callback;
public TimerAbsolute(TimerCallbackDelegate cb) : base()
{
if (cb == null)
{
throw new Exception("Call back is NULL");
}
callback = cb;
this.Elapsed += this.ElapsedAction;
this.AutoReset = true;
}
protected new void Dispose()
{
this.Elapsed -= this.ElapsedAction;
base.Dispose();
}
public double TimeLeft
{
get
{
return (this.m_dueTime - DateTime.Now).TotalMilliseconds;
}
}
public int TimeLeftSeconds
{
get
{
return (int)(this.m_dueTime - DateTime.Now).TotalSeconds;
}
}
public void Start(double interval)
{
if (interval < 10)
{
throw new Exception($"Interval ({interval}) is too small");
}
DateTime dueTime = DateTime.Now.AddMilliseconds(interval);
if (dueTime <= DateTime.Now)
{
throw new Exception($"Due time ({dueTime}) should be in future. Interval ({interval})");
}
this.m_dueTime = dueTime;
// Timer tick is 1 second
this.Interval = 1 * 1000;
base.Start();
}
private void ElapsedAction(object sender, System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
if (DateTime.Now >= m_dueTime)
{
// This means Timer expired
callback(sender, e);
base.Stop();
}
}
}

Windows Service - How to make task run at several specific times?

I have a windows service running. Within it the task runs currently at 7pm every day.
What is the best way to have it run say fir example at 9.45am, 11.45am, 2pm, 3.45pm, 5pm and 5.45pm.
I know i can have scheduled task to run the function but i would like to know how to do this within my windows service. Current code below:
private Timer _timer;
private DateTime _lastRun = DateTime.Now;
private static readonly log4net.ILog log = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger
(System.Reflection.MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType);
protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
// SmartImportService.WebService.WebServiceSoapClient test = new WebService.WebServiceSoapClient();
// test.Import();
log.Info("Info - Service Started");
_timer = new Timer(10 * 60 * 1000); // every 10 minutes??
_timer.Elapsed += new System.Timers.ElapsedEventHandler(timer_Elapsed);
_timer.Start();
}
private void timer_Elapsed(object sender, System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
log.Info("Info - Check time");
DateTime startAt = DateTime.Today.AddHours(19);
if (_lastRun < startAt && DateTime.Now >= startAt)
{
// stop the timer
_timer.Stop();
try
{
log.Info("Info - Import");
SmartImportService.WebService.WebServiceSoapClient test = new WebService.WebServiceSoapClient();
test.Import();
}
catch (Exception ex) {
log.Error("This is my error - ", ex);
}
_lastRun = DateTime.Now;
_timer.Start();
}
}

In case you dont want to go for cron or quartz, write a function to find time interval between now and next run and reset the timer accordingly, call this function on service start and timeelapsed event. You may do something like this (code is not tested)
System.Timers.Timer _timer;
List<TimeSpan> timeToRun = new List<TimeSpan>();
public void OnStart(string[] args)
{
string timeToRunStr = "20:45;20:46;20:47;20:48;20:49";
var timeStrArray = timeToRunStr.Split(';');
CultureInfo provider = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture;
foreach (var strTime in timeStrArray)
{
timeToRun.Add(TimeSpan.ParseExact(strTime, "g", provider));
}
_timer = new System.Timers.Timer(60*100*1000);
_timer.Elapsed += new System.Timers.ElapsedEventHandler(timer_Elapsed);
ResetTimer();
}
void ResetTimer()
{
TimeSpan currentTime = DateTime.Now.TimeOfDay;
TimeSpan? nextRunTime = null;
foreach (TimeSpan runTime in timeToRun)
{
if (currentTime < runTime)
{
nextRunTime = runTime;
break;
}
}
if (!nextRunTime.HasValue)
{
nextRunTime = timeToRun[0].Add(new TimeSpan(24, 0, 0));
}
_timer.Interval = (nextRunTime.Value - currentTime).TotalMilliseconds;
_timer.Enabled = true;
}
private void timer_Elapsed(object sender, System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
_timer.Enabled = false;
Console.WriteLine("Hello at " + DateTime.Now.ToString());
ResetTimer();
}

Consider using Quartz.net and CronTrigger.

If u are clear abt what schedule it should run..then change time interval for timer in the timeelapsed event so that it runs according to schedule..i've never tried though

I would use a background thread and make it execute an infinite loop which does your work and sleeps for 15 minutes. It would be a lot cleaner and more simple for service code than using a timer.
See this article on MSDN.

how to have a function run inside a service every 10 minutes?

I have a windows service running, inside this i want to run a function every then minutes.
I have found some code but it doesn't seem to work?
I have a logger and it does not seem to go into the timer_Elapsed function ever?
protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
// SmartImportService.WebService.WebServiceSoapClient test = new WebService.WebServiceSoapClient();
// test.Import();
log.Info("Info - Service Started");
_timer = new Timer(10 * 60 * 1000); // every 10 minutes??
_timer.Elapsed += new System.Timers.ElapsedEventHandler(timer_Elapsed);
}
private void timer_Elapsed(object sender, System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
log.Info("Info - Check time");
DateTime startAt = DateTime.Today.AddHours(9).AddMinutes(48);
if (_lastRun < startAt && DateTime.Now >= startAt)
{
// stop the timer
_timer.Stop();
try
{
log.Info("Info - Import");
SmartImportService.WebService.WebServiceSoapClient test = new WebService.WebServiceSoapClient();
test.Import();
}
catch (Exception ex) {
log.Error("This is my error - ", ex);
}
_lastRun = DateTime.Now;
_timer.Start();
}
}

You need to start the timer:
protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
log.Info("Info - Service Started");
_timer = new Timer(10 * 60 * 1000); // every 10 minutes
_timer.Elapsed += new System.Timers.ElapsedEventHandler(timer_Elapsed);
_timer.Start(); // <- important
}

I don't see _timer.Start(), that should be your problem.

Daniel Hilgarth is correct - the main issue is that you never call Start on the timer.
That being said, you might want to also consider using the Windows Task Scheduler instead of a service with a timer. This allows you to schedule the task to run every 10 minutes, but also change the schedule whenever desired without a compilation change.

I need this functionality also. That is, my C# windows service must check email every 10 minutes. I stripped down some logic to make the code more effective, as follows :
private void timer_Elapsed(object sender, System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
_timer.Stop();
try
{
EventLog.WriteEntry(Program.EventLogName, "Checking emails " + _count++);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
EventLog.WriteEntry(Program.EventLogName, "This is my error " + ex.Message);
}
_timer.Start();
}
The timer_elapsed method indeed will be call every 10 minutes, starting from the first _timer.start(), which you miss it by the way. I haven't done any checking of the _lastRun and startAt. I don't think we need it

Try starting the timer,
protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
// SmartImportService.WebService.WebServiceSoapClient test = new WebService.WebServiceSoapClient();
// test.Import();
log.Info("Info - Service Started");
_timer = new Timer(10 * 60 * 1000); // every 10 minutes??
_timer.Elapsed += new System.Timers.ElapsedEventHandler(timer_Elapsed);
_timer.Start();
}
private void timer_Elapsed(object sender, System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
log.Info("Info - Check time");
DateTime startAt = DateTime.Today.AddHours(9).AddMinutes(48);
if (_lastRun < startAt && DateTime.Now >= startAt)
{
// stop the timer
_timer.Stop();
try
{
log.Info("Info - Import");
SmartImportService.WebService.WebServiceSoapClient test = new WebService.WebServiceSoapClient();
test.Import();
}
catch (Exception ex) {
log.Error("This is my error - ", ex);
}
_lastRun = DateTime.Now;
_timer.Start();
}
}