Timer question (step seq)

Programming Questions

aaron m

in Programming Questions • 2 years ago

I've got this timer in draw():

if (play == true) {
int j;
if (millis() - starttime < delaytime) {
count_up = (millis() - starttime);
//count_down = delaytime - count_up;
steptimer = floor(10 / (delaytime / count_up));
fill(0);
textSize(12);
text(steptimer, mouseX, mouseY);
text(count_up, mouseX-30, mouseY-30);
for (j = 0; j < rows; j++) {
grid[steptimer][j].display(120);
grid[steptimer][j].cellTrigger(steptimer,j);
}
} else {
starttime = millis();
j = 0;
}
}

The problem I'm having is that the for(j =0......) loop is being called every millisecond while the timer loop is alive. I really only want to update those values once for each time steptimer increments, otherwise those cells are being redrawn constantly until it does.

How do I do that? I'm totally lost on this after trying a million things..

I don't think its nessicary so I didn't paste the whole thing, but If you want to look at the full sketch it's here:

http://pastebin.com/ArRbtmen

There's also a working embed/demo of the sketch with the minim stuff removed (everything else is the same) here:

http://www.openprocessing.org/visuals/?visualID=30818

Replies(4)

tfguy44

Re: Timer question (step seq)

2 years ago

Looks to me like you might be updating starttimer in the wrong place.

If the difference between the start time and the current time is less than the delaytime, that block executes.

If not, then it updates the current start time to the current time! This will probably cause the block to execute the next time draw is run!

Try setting the start time to 0 in setup(), and then only updating it to the current time at the end of the executing block that it controls. Remove the else block.

aaron m

Re: Timer question (step seq)

2 years ago

Hey, thanks for the reply.

I initially setup the starttime in a mousePressed(); event. The else keeps the loop going, otherwise the animation stops. That might not be the best way to keep the animation looping, but its the not problem I'm dealing with.. that part works fine for now.

steptimer reduces the timer/countdown to 0-9 to match the # of columns/rows in the grid. If I could limit it so that the events (the for loop) only fire based on the steptimer, I'd have a solution.. I just can't think of how to implement that statement. Surely I don't need to create a second timer within the one that already exists..

David Wil..

Re: Timer question (step seq)

2 years ago

When it comes to timing, you might consider using System.nanoTime() a bit further down the line. This thread was really useful to me, maybe it will help you too.

aaron m

Re: Timer question (step seq)

2 years ago

David, .. yeah I've got that thread bookmarked for later when I start messing with the actual bpm and timing, heh ;]

edit: actually.. theres some inadvertant code in there that will help me. I'll just go forward with working on the bpm/timing/threads now then go back and implement the seq/trigger.

Top Reply