How Do I Cancel and Restart a Timed Event in Swift? - ios

I have a sliderValueChange function which updates a UILabel's text. I want for it to have a time limit until it clears the label's text, but I also want this "timed clear" action to be cancelled & restarted or delayed whenever the UISlider is moved within the time limit before the "timed clear" action takes place.
So far this is what I have:
let task = DispatchWorkItem {
consoleLabel.text = ""
}
func volumeSliderValueChange(sender: UISlider) {
task.cancel()
let senderValue = String(format: "%.2f", sender.value)
consoleLabel.text = "Volume: \(senderValue)"
DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: DispatchTime.now() + 3, execute: task)
}
Obviously, this approach does not work, since cancel() apparently cannot be reversed.. (or at least I don't know how). I also don't know how to start a new task at the end of this function which will be cancelled if the function is recalled..
Am I going about this the wrong way? Is there something I am overlooking to make this work?

Use a timer:
weak var clearTimer: Timer?
And:
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
startClearTimer()
}
func startClearTimer() {
clearTimer = Timer.scheduledTimer(
timeInterval: 3.0,
target: self,
selector: #selector(clearLabel(_:)),
userInfo: nil,
repeats: false)
}
func clearLabel(_ timer: Timer) {
label.text = ""
}
func volumeSliderValueChange(sender: UISlider) {
clearTimer?.invalidate() //Kill the timer
//do whatever you need to do with the slider value
startClearTimer() //Start a new timer
}

The problem is that you are cancelling the wrong thing. You don't want to cancel the task; you want to cancel the countdown which you got going when you said asyncAfter.
So use a DispatchTimer or an NSTimer (now called a Timer in Swift). Those are counters-down that can be cancelled. And then you can start counting again.

Related

Cancel a timer / DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter in SwiftUI Tap gesture

I am trying to cancel a delayed execution of a function running on the main queue, in a tap gesture, I found a way to create a cancellable DispatchWorkItem, but the issue I have is that it's getting created every time while tapping, and then when I cancel the execution, I actually cancel the new delayed execution and not the first one.
Here is a simpler example with a Timer instead of a DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter:
.onTapGesture {
isDeleting.toggle()
let timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(withTimeInterval: 2.0, repeats: false) { timer in
completeTask()
}
if !isDeleting {
timer.invalidate()
}
}
completeTask:
private func completeTask() {
tasksViewModel.deleteTask(task: task) // task is declared above this func at the top level of the struct and so is tasksViewModel, etc.
guard let userID = userViewModel.id?.uuidString else { return }
Task {
//do some async stuff
}
}
As you can see if I click it once the timer fires, but if I click it again, another timer fires and straight away invalidates, but the first timer is still running.
So I have to find a way to create only one instance of that timer.
I tried putting it in the top level of the struct and not inside the var body but the issue now is that I can't use completeTask() because it uses variables that are declared at the same scope.
Also, can't use a lazy initialization because it is an immutable struct.
My goal is to eventually let the user cancel a timed task and reactivate it at will on tapping a button/view. Also, the timed task should use variables that are declared at the top level of the struct.
First of all you need to create a strong reference of timer on local context like so:
var timer: Timer?
and then, set the timer value on onTapGesture closure:
.onTapGesture {
isDeleting.toggle()
self.timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(withTimeInterval: 2.0, repeats: false) { timer in
completeTask()
}
if !isDeleting {
timer.invalidate()
}
}
and after that you can invalidate this Timer whenever you need by accessing the local variable timer like this:
func doSomething() {
timer?.invalidate()
}
that is my solution mb can help you
var timer: Timer?
private func produceWorkItem(withDelay: Double = 3) {
scrollItem?.cancel()
timer?.invalidate()
scrollItem = DispatchWorkItem.init { [weak self] in
self?.timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(withTimeInterval: withDelay, repeats: false) { [weak self] _ in
self?.goToNextPage(animated: true, completion: { [weak self] _ in self?.produceWorkItem() })
guard let currentVC = self?.viewControllers?.first,
let index = self?.pages.firstIndex(of: currentVC) else {
return
}
self?.pageControl.currentPage = index
}
}
scrollItem?.perform()
}
for stop use scrollItem?.cancel()
for start call func

How to use a timer to stop a long-running function? Swift 4

I have a function that runs for a long time, and I'd like to give it a cap of 10 seconds if possible. I'd also like to implement a Cancel button for the user to press as well.
I tried simply checking the status of a var abort while it calculates, but it just continues working. I'm not very skilled with Grand Central Dispatch and timers and don't know where to go from here.
...
var abort = false
#objc func abortCalculations() {
abort = true
}
func calculate() {
abort = false
let _ = Timer(timeInterval: 10, target: self, selector: #selector(abortCalculations), userInfo: nil, repeats: false)
dispatchGroup.enter()
DispatchQueue.global(qos: .userInteractive).async {
while !abort {
x += 1 // for example, just something that repeats
// when this actually finishes, it leaves the dispatch group
}
}
}
...
I'd like the function calculate() to finish when the timer stops it (or when a user presses a button, in the future). Instead, it continues to run and the function abortCalculations() is never called.
Instead of using a Timer, you can use a similar DispatchQueue to set your abort flag.
var abortFlagItem = DispatchWorkItem(block: {
self.abort = true
})
DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 10, execute: abortFlagItem)
At any point if you want to cancel, you can call abortFlagItem.cancel()

swift Timer not responding from method call

Something really odd is happening with my code.
I made a rather simple Timer function that is triggered by button.
The button calls a first method, then the method use another function to do the counting, then it triggers something when the time's up.
And everything works fine.
here's the code.
// This is the declaration of the launch button.
#IBAction func playLater(_ sender: Any) {
if isTimerRunning == false {
runTimer()
}
}
var seconds = 10
var timer = Timer()
var isTimerRunning = false
var resumeTapped = false
//the timer function that sets up the duration and launches the counting.
func runTimer() {
timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(timeInterval: 1, target: self, selector: (#selector(self.updateTimer)), userInfo: nil, repeats: true)
isTimerRunning = true
}
//this part is making sure that you go from 10 to 0 and when it's at 0, something happens. In this very case, it plays a song.
#objc func updateTimer() {
if seconds < 1 {
timer.invalidate()
isTimerRunning = false
playNow((Any).self)
} else {
seconds -= 1
timerLabel.text = timeString(time: TimeInterval(seconds))
timerLabel.text = String(seconds)
}
}
The thing is that I also want to be able to triger that same function from the Apple Watch.
I made a WCSession that is working well, the messages are passing, it's ok.
So I'm using this code to launch the same function when the user pushes a button on the apple Watch. That part of the code is on the same iOS swift file.
#available(iOS 9.0, *)
func session(_ session: WCSession, didReceiveMessage message: [String : Any]) {
// do something
isTimerRunning = false
playLater(Any.self)
}
As you can see, I'm not even trying to add some code, I just call the same function used with the iOS button.
But this time, it's not working. The first part of the method is responding, I saw that runTimer() is working, but it's not going to updateTimer().
Maybe I'm missing something here, but, what is the difference ? Why if it comes from the push of a button it's working, and if it's called directly from "the inside" nothing happens ?
If you have any educated guesses, or even, clues, I'd be grateful.
Thanks !

How to stop NSTimer?

I have a problem with invalidating different timers.
I have multiple timers (NSTimer) on a viewcontroller(settingsVC):
class settingsVC: UIViewController {
// I use 12 timers
var timer1 = NSTimer()
// Seconds to end the timer. Set 12 timers
let timeInterval1:NSTimeInterval = 10
var timer2 = NSTimer()
let timeInterval2:NSTimeInterval = 20
var timer3 = NSTimer()
let timeInterval3:NSTimeInterval = 30
//and so on ... 12 timers
}
With a UIButton (Start) a segue is performed. And for every different value of the variable 'picked', a different timer will be started in the same class:
class settingsVC: UIViewcontroller {
let defaults = NSUserDefaults.standardUserDefaults()
let pickerDefaultsIntegerKey = "Picker" // nsuserdefaults key
#IBAction func start(sender: AnyObject) {
// segue to another viewcontroller
performSegueWithIdentifier("timerOn", sender: self)
if picked == 1 {
defaults.setInteger(1, forKey: pickerDefaultsIntegerKey)
timer1 = NSTimer.scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval(timeInterval1,
target: self,
selector: "timerDidEnd:",
userInfo: nil,
repeats: false)
print("timer1 started")
} else if picked == 2 {
defaults.setInteger(2, forKey: pickerDefaultsIntegerKey)
timer2 = NSTimer.scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval(timeInterval2,
target: self,
selector: "timerDidEnd:",
userInfo: nil,
repeats: false)
print("timer2 started")
} else if // ....and so on{........ }
}
The method fired if timer ends, see selector:
func timerDidEnd(timer:NSTimer){
print("timer ended")
// do other stuff
}
I invalidate the timers with a button (Reset) for values from a variable ('pickerSavedSelection') which is updated by saved values in NSUserdefaults:
#IBAction func reset(sender: AnyObject) {
if let pickerSavedSelection = defaults.integerForKey(pickerDefaultsIntegerKey) as Int?
{
if pickerSavedSelection == 1 {
timer1.invalidate()
} else if pickerSavedSelection == 2 {
timer2.invalidate()
} else if //...and so on{....}
}
All goes well, if I outcomment the perform segue line and just let the user stay on this viewcontroller.The timers get invalidated correctly then:
In the console I read 'timer1 started' and I do NOT read 'timer ended' when the resetButton is pressed.
But staying on this viewcontroller(settingsVC) is NOT the flow of my app.
When the perform segue line is executed and the user 'comes back' to the viewcontroller (settingsVC), the timers are not invalidated when user presses the resetButton:
In the console I read 'timer1 started' and I DO read 'timer ended' when the resetButton is pressed.
How should I stop the timers, when users will 'exit' the viewcontroller and come back to reset the timers?
Help is much appreciated! Thanks in advance
If I am not mistaken at any given point in time, you are only triggering one NSTimer. All your different timers are differentiated only in time intervals. So, my suggestion would be to keep only one NSTimer and have your time interval differentiated. With different value picked you should first invalidate the timer and then restart it with new time interval. That said, your reset will then be much simplified and you do not need to save pickerSavedSelection in NSUserDefaults. This is how I would re-write this code:
class settingsVC: UIViewController {
var timer = NSTimer()
#IBAction func start(sender: AnyObject) {
// segue to another viewcontroller
performSegueWithIdentifier("timerOn", sender: self)
if picked == 1 {
self.timer.invalidate()
self.timer = NSTimer.scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval(10,
target: self,
selector: "timerDidEnd:",
userInfo: nil,
repeats: false)
print("timer1 started")
} else if picked == 2 {
self.timer.invalidate()
self.timer = NSTimer.scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval(20,
target: self,
selector: "timerDidEnd:",
userInfo: nil,
repeats: false)
print("timer2 started")
} else if // ....and so on{........ }
}
#IBAction func reset(sender: AnyObject) {
self.timer.invalidate()
}
}
PS: As a side note, I would advise your NSTimer to start & stop from main thread. Use GCD for that.
It is because your selector is not called when your timer is invalidated, it is called everytime your timer is fired. Since the timer is non-repeat, the selector get called only once. When your press reset button, timer is actually invalidated, you just didn't know because you misunderstood scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval:target:selector:userInfo:repeats: method.

Make a service call at regular interval of time in swift

I am new to swift programming and I don't know how to call a method at regular interval of time. I have a demo app for service call but i don't know how can i call it at regular interval of time.
You can create an object of NSTimer() and call a function on definite time interval like this:
var updateTimer = NSTimer.scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval(15.0, target: self, selector: "callFunction", userInfo: nil, repeats: true)
this will call callFunction() every 15 sec.
func callFunction(){
print("function called")
}
Here is a simple example with start and stop functions:
private let kTimeoutInSeconds:NSTimeInterval = 60
private var timer: NSTimer?
func startFetching() {
self.timer = NSTimer.scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval(kTimeoutInSeconds,
target:self,
selector:Selector("fetch"),
userInfo:nil,
repeats:true)
}
func stopFetching() {
self.timer!.invalidate()
}
func fetch() {
println("Fetch called!")
}
If you get an unrecognized selector exception, make sure your class inherits from NSObject or else the timer's selector won't find the function!
Timer variant with a block (iOS 10, Swift 4)
let timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(withTimeInterval: 5, repeats: true) { (timer) in
print("I am called every 5 seconds")
}
Do not forget call invalidate method
timer.invalidate()
GCD approach (will tend to drift a bit late over time)
func repeatMeWithGCD() {
DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: DispatchTime.now() + 5) {
print("I am called every 5 seconds")
self.repeatMeWithGCD()//recursive call
}
}
Do not forget to create a return condition to prevent stackoverflow error

Resources