Computer Programming - Seneca Polytechnic College•8mo ago

Timer Control ticking slower than real life in C#

I am making a simple Timer application in windows forms using C#. The problem is when I start the timer, it ticks slightly slower than a real timer. Anyone knows why and how I can solve this?

3 Replies

Alex•8mo ago

Here is my code if anyone wants to see it

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.IO;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Timers;
using System.Windows.Forms;

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.IO;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Timers;
using System.Windows.Forms;

in the contructor of my form:

Timer1.Interval = 1000;
Timer1.Elapsed += Timer1_Tick;

Timer1.Interval = 1000;
Timer1.Elapsed += Timer1_Tick;

Then there is the event:

private void Timer1_Tick(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
    try
    {
        Invoke(new Action(() =>
        {
            Seconds1++;
            if (Seconds1 == 60)
            {
                Seconds1 = 0;
                Minutes1++;
            }
            if (Minutes1 == 60)
            {
                Minutes1 = 0;
                Hours1++;
            }
            if (Hours1 > 0) grpMainTimer.Text = $"{Hours1}h {Minutes1}m {Seconds1}s";
            else if (Minutes1 > 0) grpMainTimer.Text = $"{Minutes1}m {Seconds1}s";
            else grpMainTimer.Text = $"{Seconds1}s";
        }));
    }
    catch { Application.Exit(); }
}

private void Timer1_Tick(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
    try
    {
        Invoke(new Action(() =>
        {
            Seconds1++;
            if (Seconds1 == 60)
            {
                Seconds1 = 0;
                Minutes1++;
            }
            if (Minutes1 == 60)
            {
                Minutes1 = 0;
                Hours1++;
            }
            if (Hours1 > 0) grpMainTimer.Text = $"{Hours1}h {Minutes1}m {Seconds1}s";
            else if (Minutes1 > 0) grpMainTimer.Text = $"{Minutes1}m {Seconds1}s";
            else grpMainTimer.Text = $"{Seconds1}s";
        }));
    }
    catch { Application.Exit(); }
}

sigma•8mo ago

When you say that it ticks slower than real life, you measured it with another timer? So, when you used another timer, and that timer counted 1 sec, your timer was still counting? One thing I would recommend is to not use string interpolation, as you may be allocating a new string every time, although I may be wrong, since I don't remember the specifics in .net Also, in Windows Forms, is there a way to separate your UI code and your Timer code in different threads?

Alex•8mo ago

yes i make them both run at the sane starting point, and after over 10m I saw a difference yes i am pretty sure, but i dont know how as I am not familoar with threads

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Timer Control ticking slower than real life in C#