Timer without a form

[matbrophy]

What is the best way to simulate a Timer without using a form.

There are many example on psc, but most are said to have some kind of downfall.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[cyborg]

try this:

Option Explicit
Private Declare Function GetTickCount Lib "kernel32" () As Long
 
Dim Pause As Boolean                                        'check if game is paused
Dim Running As Boolean                                      'check if game is started
Dim Fps As Double                                           'current fps
Dim FrameCount As Long                                      'count frames between fps update
 
Private Sub Form_Load()
    Me.Show                                                 'show the window
    Running = True                                          'no the game is on
    Main                                                    'start main loop
End Sub
 
Private Sub Main()                                          'the main loop
    Dim TempTime As Long                                    'to keep track of time
    
    While Running                                           'is the game running?
        If TempTime <= GetTickCount Then                    'is it time to calc next frame?
            TempTime = GetTickCount + 10                    'set next tick time
            
            While Pause                                     'is the game paused?
                DoEvents                                    'infinit loop
            Wend
            
            'Code goes here.
            
            FrameCount = FrameCount + 1                     'fps counter
            If Fps + 1000 <= GetTickCount Then
                Me.Caption = "Fps: " & Round(1000 / ((GetTickCount - Fps + 0.00001) / FrameCount), 0)
                Fps = GetTickCount
                FrameCount = 0
            End If
        End If
        DoEvents                                            'handle win msgs
    Wend
    
End Sub
 
Private Sub Form_QueryUnload(Cancel As Integer, UnloadMode As Integer)
    Running = False                                         'game over
End Sub
 
Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
    If KeyCode = vbKeyP Then                                'pause code
        If Pause = False Then
            Pause = True
            Me.Caption = "Paused"
        ElseIf Pause = True Then
            Pause = False
        End If
    End If
End Sub

[matbrophy]

Looks like it would do the job, but i wonder if there is a way to do it without keep looping like that, must be a little memory hogging (just what i would expect to happen, haven't tried it though).

Any comments?

[cyborg]

its much faster than the timer control...

try this code...its smaller:

Option Explicit
Private Declare Function GetTickCount Lib "kernel32" () As Long
Dim Running As Boolean                                      'check if game is started
 
Private Sub Form_Load()
    Me.Show                                                 'show the window
    Running = True                                          'no the game is on
    Main                                                    'start main loop
End Sub
Private Sub Main()                                          'the main loop
    Dim TempTime As Long                                    'to keep track of time
    
    While Running                                           'is the game running?
        If TempTime <= GetTickCount Then                    'is it time to calc next frame?
            TempTime = GetTickCount + 10                    'set next tick time
            
            'Code goes here.
 
        End If
        DoEvents                                            'handle win msgs
    Wend
End Sub
Private Sub Form_QueryUnload(Cancel As Integer, UnloadMode As Integer)
    Running = False                                         'game over
End Sub

[Lightning]

In this thread wokawidget answers the question. Still thanking him....

[matbrophy]

Thanks, that code looks good.