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Timer Workshop

This workshop provides a tool for monitoring timers and testing timer configurations. To open this workshop, first open a procedure window and then choose Program>Timer Workshop. This workshop contains two panels, Monitor Running Timers and Create Timer.

A special thank you to Gary Yonaites for the idea of this workshop, and for writing most of the Create Timer panel.

The Monitor Running Timers Panel

This panel displays any timers that are currently running. For example, suppose you have created two timers with this code (see starttimer).

starttimer "timer one", "code",{nslog "The time is "+longtimestr(now())}
starttimer "timer two", "interval",60, "code",{nsnotify "It's "+timestr(now())}

If no other timers are running, the Timer Workshop display will look like this:

The monitor spans six columns:

The Count and Next Runtime values will update live as the timer runs. (Keep in mind, however, that a timer only runs when its scope is active. If a timer appears to be stuck, that means its scope is inactive.)

Pop-Up Context Menu

When you click on a timer (you can click anywhere on the line) a pop-up menu appears:

You can display more detail about the timer, suspend it, or stop it. (Or, if the timer is already suspended, you will have the choice to resume it.) If you stop the timer it will be removed from the list.

If you chose Timer Detail a separate window will appear:

You can view the timer code, pause/resume, or stop the timer (which closes the window). The count and next runtime values will update as the timer runs. You can open as many timer detail windows as you like (one per timer). If the timer stops on its own (for example the scope it is attached to closes) you will have to close the window manually.

Password Protected Timers

The monitor panel normally doesn’t display timers that are password protected (see starttimer). You can create your own password protected timers, but Panorama also creates these timers for its own internal use and it’s best if you don’t mess with these. But if you create your own password protected timers and want to monitor them, go to the Advanced panel in the Preferences dialog (in the PanoramaX menu) and enable the Display Password Protected Timers option. (Note: Clicking on the clock icon next to this option is another way to open the Timer Workshop.)

After a warning, the option will be enabled. At the time this screen shot was taken, there were two password protected timers running.

When you try to suspend or stop a password protected timer, Panorama will ask you for the password before proceeding. There is also an explicit Unlock option in the context menu:

Once a timer is unlocked, it will stay unlocked until it stops running. You won’t have to enter the password over and over again (for example if you are suspending then resuming).

The Create Timer Panel

This panel allows you to create and test the code for a timer mostly using pop-up menus and stepper controls. The only items you have to type in are the timer name and the code for the timer (see the starttimer page to learn more about the options on this panel). This example is an annoying timer will beep every ten seconds, no matter what Panorama window is in front (and even if Panorama is in the background).

To try out this timer you can simply press the play button.

As the timer is running, the workshop will display the run count, which will increment each time the timer runs. You can press the stop button at any time to stop the timer.

Of course you can also switch to the monitor panel to view and control your timer there:

Once you have the timer code working the way you want it to, you can copy it to your own procedure. There are three ways to do this: 1) Press the Copy Code button, 2) Drag the share icon to your procedure window, or 3) Directly select code in the window and copy it.

See Also

History

VersionStatusNotes
10.2NewNew in this version.