Create Array Timer

[tokneneng]

Hi, Please help. I have this current problem I created user control with timer and use it on my form. My problem is how can I create array timer bound to user control.

example my user control name is uc_project my timer g_tmr

On my main form

uc_project.g_tmr.Enabled = true working fine

But how to make uc_project.g_tmr(index).enabled = true to create multiple timer.

[jmcilhinney]

Public Class SomeClass
 
    Private _timers As New List(Of Timer)
 
    Public ReadOnly Timers() As List(Of Timer)
        Get
            Return _timers
        End Get
    End Property
 
End Class

That pattern is used throughout the .NET Framework, e.g. Control.Controls, DataSet.Tables, DataTable.Rows, DataTable.Columns, ComboBox.Items, ListBox.Items, ListView.Items, DataGridView.Rows, DataGridView.Columns, DataGridViewRow.Cells, etc, etc.

[tokneneng]

Thank you, I will check on this...

[tokneneng]

I get and error Get syntax error, End Property must be preceded by matching property

[jmcilhinney]

Sorry. That's what I get for not using an IDE.

Public Class SomeClass
 
    Private _timers As New List(Of Timer)
 
    Public ReadOnly Property Timers() As List(Of Timer)
        Get
            Return _timers
        End Get
    End Property
 
End Class

[Evil_Giraffe]

It's a good practice to expose the collection as an IList, rather than just a List:

Public Class SomeClass
 
    Private _timers As New List(Of Timer)
 
    Public ReadOnly Property Timers() As IList(Of Timer)
        Get
            Return _timers
        End Get
    End Property
 
End Class

You may not be at the level of programming where the benefits of this approach are of any value to you, but it's a good habit to get into IMO.

[Niya]

Actually, I think its better to have return types be concrete types. IList is better suited for passing in parameters because you get the ability to pass all types of lists including arrays. With IList as a return type you don't really get such a flexibility. I used to use this practice of returning ILists until I realized it introduced no additional flexibility.

[tokneneng]

Hi guys thank you so much for all your help, Due to still on stage of learning vb.net 2010 I'm having hard time creating above example. I write another code to create timers at runtime however I'm having trouble to stop specific timer. Below is the new code workin fine generating timer. For example i created 10 timers how to stop timer 5 or timer 7 without affecting other timer?

Public Class Form1
    Private dict As New Dictionary(Of Timer, Label)()
    Private Sub CreateTimers()
        Dim input As String = TextBox2.Text
        Dim n As Integer = Convert.ToInt32(input)
        For i As Integer = 1 To n

            Dim timer As New Timer()
            AddHandler timer.Tick, New EventHandler(AddressOf timer_Tick)
            timer.Interval = (1000) * (i)

            Dim label As New Label()
            label.Name = "label" & i
            label.Location = New Point(100, 100 + i * 30)
            label.TabIndex = i
            label.Visible = True

            Me.Controls.Add(label)

            dict(timer) = label

            timer.Enabled = True
            timer.Start()
        Next
    End Sub

    Private Sub timer_Tick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
        Dim t As Timer = DirectCast(sender, Timer)
        Dim current As DateTime = DateTime.Now
        dict(t).Text = String.Format("{0:00}:{1:00}:{2:00}", current.Hour, current.Minute, current.Second)
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button1_Click_1(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        CreateTimers()
    End Sub


End Class

[jmcilhinney]

The Keys property of the Dictionary is a collection of just the Keys, i.e. the Timers in your case. You can index that collection to access a specific Timer.

By the way, please give your variables descriptive names. How about 'labelsByTimer' rather than 'dict', to describe what the value is actually for?

[tokneneng]

jmcilhinney thanks for the reply can you show me some code on how to stop/start specific timer base on index?