Timer in Jass?

[Rheiko]

I just started to learn Jass recently. Could someone help me to use timer?
are timer in Jass and periodic timer the same? how to make something with timer? for example knockback spell?
i tried to learn this from tutorial but there is no tutorial about this (well, i couldn't find it)
if there is and you know it, please give me the link

 

[Daffa]

I recommend reading this : http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/...80/converting-gui-into-efficient-jass-233227/

 

[FUJI]

@Rheiko I have a impact spell Pure JASS in the spell section so maybe you can use it as a reference

How to use timer in jass?
Simple.

local timer myTimer = CreateTimer()
call TimerStart( myTimer, 0.03125, true, function onPeriodic )

You need to create a variable for a timer.
How to create?: to create timer you must write this:CreateTimer()
then start the timer:
What is the arguments of the timer?:
call TimerStart( myTimer, 0.03125, true, function onPeriodic )

TimerStart = this is the function in JASS that you need to write to start the timer.

myTimer = this is timer, this is our variable that we create: local timer myTimer = CreateTimer()

0.03125 = this is real, this is the periodic_interval seconds of the timer

true = this is boolean, if you want to periodic the timer then set this to true, if you want time elapsed then set this to false

function onPeriodic = this is function or codefunc, this is the function that we can call from the timer so the timer will loop to this function call onPeriodic. onPeriodic must be always on the top when you call it.
Example:

function OnPeriodic takes nothing returns nothing
    local timer t = GetExpiredTimer() // Get the starting timer that we create.
    call BJDebugMsg(" bla bla timer is looping to this function yahoo!" )
    call PauseTimer( t ) // Pause the timer before destroying it.
    call DestroyTimer( t ) // Destroy like destroying groups
    set t = null // null it of course
endfunction

function ExecutionOfTheSpell takes nothing returns nothing
    local timer t = CreateTimer( t ) // Create timer
    call TimerStart( t, 0.03125, true, function OnPeriodic ) // Starting the timer
endfunction

 

[Rheiko]

okay then, will try your suggestions
thanks for both of you

 

[Daffa]

Also, if you interested in touching VJass, then CTL or Timer32 are nice tools for timers. Take that note when you're going to use Vjass in later future.

 

[Arhowk]

please dont use white colored text, different themes can't see it.

Basically (If you dont want to get started with stuff such as CTL or T32) all vJass timers rely on this function
(0.03125 and true might be swapped around, not sure)

call TimerStart(CreateTimer(), true, 0.03125, function onLoop)

This will call the function onLoop 32 times every second (this is the recommended speed for something like knockback or jump because its the most accurate of 1loop/frame)

You can also attach timer data (again, if you dont want to use AttachTimerData) through a hashtable if needed

local timer t = CreateTimer()
call SaveInteger(hash, 0, GetHandleId(t), 1337)
call TimerStart(t...
set t = null

than retrieve it through

local integer int = LoadInteger(hash, 0, GetHandleId(GetExpiredTimer()))

Also, if your going to use false as the parameter for timer start, dont forget

call DestroyTimer(GetExpiredTimer())

 

[FUJI]

@Rheiko
I edited my post that how to create timer.

@Arhowk

He wants Pure JASS not vJASS lol .

 

[Rheiko]

please dont use white colored text, different themes can't see it.

Basically (If you dont want to get started with stuff such as CTL or T32) all vJass timers rely on this function
(0.03125 and true might be swapped around, not sure)

call TimerStart(CreateTimer(), true, 0.03125, function onLoop)

This will call the function onLoop 32 times every second (this is the recommended speed for something like knockback or jump because its the most accurate of 1loop/frame)

You can also attach timer data (again, if you dont want to use AttachTimerData) through a hashtable if needed

local timer t = CreateTimer()
call SaveInteger(hash, 0, GetHandleId(t), 1337)
call TimerStart(t...
set t = null

than retrieve it through

local integer int = LoadInteger(hash, 0, GetHandleId(GetExpiredTimer()))

Also, if your going to use false as the parameter for timer start, dont forget

call DestroyTimer(GetExpiredTimer())

first of all, sorry for the white text.. just too familiar with it
second, as jakeZinc said.. i want Jass, but still.. thanks

@Rheiko
I edited my post that how to create timer.

@Arhowk

He wants Pure JASS not vJASS lol .

Thanks jake

 

[Maker]

You don't have to null local timer variable if you don't destroy the timer.

For example

function something takes...
    local timer t = GetExpiredTimer()
    local integer i = LoadInteger(hash, GetHandleId(t), 0)
    // No need to null t here
endfunction

 

[FUJI]

^ Oh I didn't knew about that xD, but I've learned something new ^^ thanks!

 

[chobibo]

Arhowk gave a jass example, not vjass...
@Maker, you still need to null a local timer variable when exiting a local function, that would leak a reference, and the handle id won't be recycled.

Read this again, carefully this time:

Basically (If you dont want to get started with stuff such as CTL or T32) all vJass timers rely on this function
(0.03125 and true might be swapped around, not sure)

 

[Rheiko]

sorry then, i don't know how to distinguish which one is Jass and which one is vJass

 

[chobibo]

No need to apologize, I was merely informing jake that he assumed wrongly.

 

[FUJI]

@chobibo
Oh sorry, I thought it is vJASS because on this words: (If you dont want to get started with stuff such as CTL or T32)

 

[Arhowk]

@chobibo
Oh sorry, I thought it is vJASS because on this words: (If you dont want to get started with stuff such as CTL or T32)

My code was JASS. -_- CTL and T32 are in vJass, but as i explicitly stated, that example is without the use of CTL or T32

E/ Even though i did say vJass timers (which was a typo, ive been coding in vJass alone for three years so its second nature)

@Maker: I dont think so. "local timer t" will still have a handle reference to the timer, even though nothing's there. (bench test anybody?)

 

[Maker]

There is no memory consumption increase with this

library leakTest initializer onInit
    private function leaks takes nothing returns nothing
        local timer t = GetExpiredTimer()
    endfunction
    
    private function start takes nothing returns nothing
        call TimerStart(CreateTimer(), 0.001, true, function leaks)
    endfunction

    private function onInit takes nothing returns nothing
        local trigger t = CreateTrigger()
        call TriggerRegisterPlayerEvent(t, Player(0), EVENT_PLAYER_END_CINEMATIC)
        call TriggerAddAction(t, function start)
    endfunction
endlibrary

 

[chobibo]

EDIT: Okay got it.

Made my own tests:

No nulling of local timer variable

library TimerTest initializer onInit

    globals
        constant timer T=CreateTimer()
    endglobals
    
    function B takes nothing returns nothing
        call DestroyTimer(GetExpiredTimer())
    endfunction

    function A takes nothing returns nothing
        local timer t=CreateTimer()
        call TimerStart(t,1.00,false,function B)
        call DisplayTimedTextToPlayer(GetLocalPlayer(),0,0,50.00,I2S(GetHandleId(t)))
    endfunction
    
    function onInit takes nothing returns nothing
        call TimerStart(T,2.0,true,function A)
    endfunction
endlibrary

The result was:

IMG

Nulled local timer variable

library TimerTest initializer onInit

    globals
        constant timer T=CreateTimer()
    endglobals
    
    function B takes nothing returns nothing
        call DestroyTimer(GetExpiredTimer())
    endfunction

    function A takes nothing returns nothing
        local timer t=CreateTimer()
        call TimerStart(t,1.00,false,function B)
        call DisplayTimedTextToPlayer(GetLocalPlayer(),0,0,50.00,I2S(GetHandleId(t)))
    endfunction
    
    function C takes nothing returns nothing
        local timer t=CreateTimer()
        call TimerStart(t,1.00,false,function B)
        call DisplayTimedTextToPlayer(GetLocalPlayer(),0,0,50.00,I2S(GetHandleId(t)))
        set t=null
    endfunction
    
    function onInit takes nothing returns nothing
        call TimerStart(T,2.0,true,function C)
    endfunction
endlibrary

IMG

It leaks references.
I attached the the map.

 

[Maker]

Remember that I spesifically said that nulling is not needed if the timer is not destroyed.

 

[chobibo]

But the reference is still lost, even if you don't destroy the timer. And the example you supplied does indeed use memory, you created a timer. I just wanted to clear that up, so just ignore my post.

jass

library leakTest initializer onInit
    private function leaks takes nothing returns nothing
        local timer t = GetExpiredTimer()
    endfunction
   
    private function start takes nothing returns nothing
        call TimerStart(CreateTimer(), 0.001, true, function leaks)
    endfunction

    private function onInit takes nothing returns nothing
        local trigger t = CreateTrigger()
        call TriggerRegisterPlayerEvent(t, Player(0), EVENT_PLAYER_END_CINEMATIC)
        call TriggerAddAction(t, function start)
    endfunction
endlibrary

 

[Maker]

And the example you supplied does indeed use memory, you created a timer.

 

[chobibo]

Okay lol, sorry I stand corrected xD