Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uupsi!sunic!news.funet.fi!uwasa.fi!ts
From: ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.pascal
Subject: Re: Help needed - ticking clock impl.
Message-ID: <1991Apr17.025737.27870@uwasa.fi>
Date: 17 Apr 91 02:57:37 GMT
References: <1991Apr16.124739.18124@hubcap.clemson.edu>
Organization: University of Vaasa
Lines: 35

In article <1991Apr16.124739.18124@hubcap.clemson.edu> asolima@hubcap.UUCP (abdel w soliman) writes:
:
>I am writing a program in TP 5.5 and would like to implement a clock. I can
>get the initial time by calling "GetTime" procedure, but I would like to make
>it "tick" (on the screen) as my program is running.
>
>I got a program that does this (from uwassa- Prof. Salmi's program). 
>Unfortunatelly, only the executable file was available so I am puzzled and 
>eager to get something done but I have no idea how to start.
:

If you mean writing a resident clock, you'll find much useful code
and information on this in Michael Tischer, Turbo Pascal Internals,
Abacus.  There is also another good reference.  It is Michael
Yester, Using Turbo Pascal, Que, pp.  561-.  Perhaps that is the
better starting point, since it is easier to understand.  BTW, one
does not use the GetTime procedure at all in a tick oriented TSR. 
I'm not quite sure why (perhaps a collision), but it just confuses
things up.  Also, it would seem that one has to use direct screen
writes. 

On the other hand, if you want a clock that runs within a normal
program, you just get the time with GetTime, convert the time into a
suitable, normally an 8 character (12:34:56) string, and then write
it at the desired location of the screen.  There are two cathes. 
You'll have to take care that you program flow visits the routine
often enough.  You'll also have to take care, that unless the second
is the next one, you don't write.  If you do, you'll get a very
annoying flicker effect in the clock. 

...................................................................
Prof. Timo Salmi        
Moderating at garbo.uwasa.fi anonymous ftp archives 128.214.12.37
School of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, SF-65101, Finland
Internet: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi Funet: gado::salmi Bitnet: salmi@finfun