Timer.Interval Property

Definition

Namespace:

System.Timers

Assembly:

System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter.dll

Source:

Timer.cs

Gets or sets the interval, expressed in milliseconds, at which to raise the Elapsed event.

public:
 property double Interval { double get(); void set(double value); };

public double Interval { get; set; }

member this.Interval : double with get, set

Public Property Interval As Double

Property Value

Double

The time, in milliseconds, between Elapsed events. The value must be greater than zero, and less than or equal to Int32.MaxValue. The default is 100 milliseconds.

Exceptions

ArgumentException

The interval is less than or equal to zero.

-or-

The interval is greater than Int32.MaxValue, and the timer is currently enabled. (If the timer is not currently enabled, no exception is thrown until it becomes enabled.)

Examples

The following example instantiates a Timer object that fires its Timer.Elapsed event every two seconds (2000 milliseconds), sets up an event handler for the event, and starts the timer. The event handler displays the value of the ElapsedEventArgs.SignalTime property each time it is raised.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Timers;

public ref class Example
{
private:
    static System::Timers::Timer^ aTimer;

public:
    static void Demo()
    {
        // Create a timer and set a two second interval.
        aTimer = gcnew System::Timers::Timer();
        aTimer->Interval = 2000;

        // Hook up the Elapsed event for the timer. 
        aTimer->Elapsed += gcnew System::Timers::ElapsedEventHandler(Example::OnTimedEvent);

        // Have the timer fire repeated events (true is the default)
        aTimer->AutoReset = true;

        // Start the timer
        aTimer->Enabled = true;

        Console::WriteLine("Press the Enter key to exit the program at any time... ");
        Console::ReadLine();
    }

private:
    static void OnTimedEvent(Object^ source, System::Timers::ElapsedEventArgs^ e)
    {
        Console::WriteLine("The Elapsed event was raised at {0}", e->SignalTime);
    }
};

int main()
{
    Example::Demo();
}
// The example displays output like the following: 
//       Press the Enter key to exit the program at any time... 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:48:58 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:00 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:02 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:04 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:06 PM

using System;
using System.Timers;

public class Example
{
    private static Timer aTimer;

    public static void Main()
    {
        // Create a timer and set a two second interval.
        aTimer = new System.Timers.Timer();
        aTimer.Interval = 2000;

        // Hook up the Elapsed event for the timer. 
        aTimer.Elapsed += OnTimedEvent;

        // Have the timer fire repeated events (true is the default)
        aTimer.AutoReset = true;

        // Start the timer
        aTimer.Enabled = true;

        Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to exit the program at any time... ");
        Console.ReadLine();
    }

    private static void OnTimedEvent(Object source, System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs e)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("The Elapsed event was raised at {0}", e.SignalTime);
    }
}
// The example displays output like the following: 
//       Press the Enter key to exit the program at any time... 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:48:58 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:00 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:02 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:04 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:06 PM

open System.Timers

let onTimedEvent source (e: ElapsedEventArgs) =
    printfn $"The Elapsed event was raised at {e.SignalTime}"

// Create a timer and set a two second interval.
let aTimer = new Timer()
aTimer.Interval <- 2000

// Hook up the Elapsed event for the timer. 
aTimer.Elapsed.AddHandler onTimedEvent

// Have the timer fire repeated events (true is the default)
aTimer.AutoReset <- true

// Start the timer
aTimer.Enabled <- true

printfn "Press the Enter key to exit the program at any time... "
stdin.ReadLine() |> ignore

// The example displays output like the following: 
//       Press the Enter key to exit the program at any time... 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:48:58 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:00 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:02 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:04 PM 
//       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:06 PM

Imports System.Timers

Public Module Example
    Private aTimer As Timer

    Public Sub Main()
        ' Create a timer and set a two second interval.
        aTimer = New System.Timers.Timer()
        aTimer.Interval = 2000

        ' Hook up the Elapsed event for the timer.  
        AddHandler aTimer.Elapsed, AddressOf OnTimedEvent

        ' Have the timer fire repeated events (true is the default)
        aTimer.AutoReset = True

        ' Start the timer
        aTimer.Enabled = True

        Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to exit the program at any time... ")
        Console.ReadLine()
    End Sub

    Private Sub OnTimedEvent(source As Object, e As System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs)
        Console.WriteLine("The Elapsed event was raised at {0}", e.SignalTime)
    End Sub
End Module
' The example displays output like the following: 
'       Press the Enter key to exit the program at any time... 
'       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:48:58 PM 
'       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:00 PM 
'       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:02 PM 
'       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:04 PM 
'       The Elapsed event was raised at 5/20/2015 8:49:06 PM

Remarks

You use the Interval property to determine the frequency at which the Elapsed event is fired. Because the Timer class depends on the system clock, it has the same resolution as the system clock. This means that the Elapsed event will fire at an interval defined by the resolution of the system clock if the Interval property is less than the resolution of the system clock. The following example sets the Interval property to 5 milliseconds. When run on a Windows system whose system clock has a resolution of approximately 15 milliseconds, the event fires approximately every 15 milliseconds rather than every 5 milliseconds.

Note

The system clock that is used is the same clock used by GetTickCount, which is not affected by changes made with timeBeginPeriod and timeEndPeriod.

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Timers;

public class Example
{
   private static Timer aTimer;
   private static List<String> eventlog;
   private static int nEventsFired = 0;
   private static DateTime previousTime;
       
   public static void Main()
   {
        eventlog = new List<String>();
        
        StreamWriter sr = new StreamWriter(@".\Interval.txt");
        // Create a timer with a five millisecond interval.
        aTimer = new Timer(5);
        aTimer.Elapsed += OnTimedEvent;
        // Hook up the Elapsed event for the timer. 
        aTimer.AutoReset = true;
        sr.WriteLine("The timer should fire every {0} milliseconds.", 
                     aTimer.Interval);
        aTimer.Enabled = true;

        Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to exit the program... ");
        Console.ReadLine();
        foreach (var item in eventlog)
           sr.WriteLine(item);
        sr.Close();
        Console.WriteLine("Terminating the application...");
   }

    private static void OnTimedEvent(Object source, ElapsedEventArgs e)
    {
        eventlog.Add(String.Format("Elapsed event at {0:HH':'mm':'ss.ffffff} ({1})", 
                                   e.SignalTime, 
                                   nEventsFired++ == 0 ? 
                                      0.0 : (e.SignalTime - previousTime).TotalMilliseconds));
        previousTime = e.SignalTime;
        if (nEventsFired == 20) {
           Console.WriteLine("No more events will fire...");
           aTimer.Enabled = false;
        }
    }
}
// The example writes output like the following to a file:
//       The timer should fire every 5 milliseconds.
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.370344 (0)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.385345 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.400347 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.415348 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.430350 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.445351 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.465353 (20.002)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.480355 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.495356 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.510358 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.525359 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.540361 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.555362 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.570364 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.585365 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.605367 (20.002)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.620369 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.635370 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.650372 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.665373 (15.0015)

open System
open System.IO
open System.Timers

let aTimer = new Timer 5
let eventlog = ResizeArray()
let mutable nEventsFired = 0
let mutable previousTime = DateTime()
       
let onTimedEvent source (e: ElapsedEventArgs) =
    String.Format("Elapsed event at {0:HH':'mm':'ss.ffffff} ({1})", e.SignalTime, if nEventsFired = 0 then 0. else (e.SignalTime - previousTime).TotalMilliseconds)
    |> eventlog.Add
    nEventsFired <- nEventsFired + 1

    previousTime <- e.SignalTime

    if nEventsFired = 20 then
        printfn "No more events will fire..."
        aTimer.Enabled <- false

[<EntryPoint>]
let main _ =
    use sr = new StreamWriter(@".\Interval.txt")
    // Create a timer with a five millisecond interval.
    aTimer.Elapsed.AddHandler onTimedEvent
    // Hook up the Elapsed event for the timer. 
    aTimer.AutoReset <- true
    sr.WriteLine $"The timer should fire every {aTimer.Interval} milliseconds."
    aTimer.Enabled <- true

    printfn "Press the Enter key to exit the program... "
    stdin.ReadLine() |> ignore
    for item in eventlog do
        sr.WriteLine item
    printfn "Terminating the application..."
    0

// The example writes output like the following to a file:
//       The timer should fire every 5 milliseconds.
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.370344 (0)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.385345 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.400347 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.415348 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.430350 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.445351 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.465353 (20.002)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.480355 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.495356 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.510358 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.525359 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.540361 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.555362 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.570364 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.585365 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.605367 (20.002)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.620369 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.635370 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.650372 (15.0015)
//       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.665373 (15.0015)

Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Timers

Module Example
   Private WithEvents aTimer As Timer
   Private eventlog As List(Of String)
   Private nEventsFired As Integer = 0
   Private previousTime As Date

   Public Sub Main()
        eventlog = New List(Of String)()
        
        Dim sr As New StreamWriter(".\Interval.txt")
        ' Create a timer with a five millisecond interval.
        aTimer = New Timer(5)
        aTimer.AutoReset = True
        sr.WriteLine("The timer should fire every {0} milliseconds.", 
                     aTimer.Interval)
        aTimer.Enabled = True

        
        Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to exit the program... ")
        Console.ReadLine()
        For Each item In eventlog
           sr.WriteLine(item)
        Next
        sr.Close()
        Console.WriteLine("Terminating the application...")
   End Sub

    Private Sub OnTimedEvent(source As Object, e As ElapsedEventArgs) _
                             Handles aTimer.Elapsed
        eventlog.Add(String.Format("Elapsed event at {0:HH':'mm':'ss.ffffff} ({1})", 
                                   e.SignalTime, 
                                   If(nEventsFired = 0, 
                                      0.0, (e.SignalTime - previousTime).TotalMilliseconds)))
        nEventsFired += 1
        previousTime = e.SignalTime
        if nEventsFired = 20 Then
           Console.WriteLine("No more events will fire...")
           aTimer.Enabled = False
        End If
   End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'       The timer should fire every 5 milliseconds.
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.370344 (0)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.385345 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.400347 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.415348 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.430350 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.445351 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.465353 (20.002)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.480355 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.495356 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.510358 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.525359 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.540361 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.555362 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.570364 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.585365 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.605367 (20.002)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.620369 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.635370 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.650372 (15.0015)
'       Elapsed event at 08:42:49.665373 (15.0015)

If your app requires greater resolution than that offered by the Timer class or the system clock, use the high-resolution multimedia timers; see How to: Use the High-Resolution Timer.

If the interval is set after the Timer has started, the count is reset. For example, if you set the interval to 5 seconds and then set the Enabled property to true, the count starts at the time Enabled is set. If you reset the interval to 10 seconds when count is 3 seconds, the Elapsed event is raised for the first time 13 seconds after Enabled was set to true.

If Enabled is set to true and AutoReset is set to false, the Timer raises the Elapsed event only once, the first time the interval elapses. Enabled is then set to false.

Note

If Enabled and AutoReset are both set to false, and the timer has previously been enabled, setting the Interval property causes the Elapsed event to be raised once, as if the Enabled property had been set to true. To set the interval without raising the event, you can temporarily set the Enabled property to true, set the Interval property to the desired time interval, and then immediately set the Enabled property back to false.

See also

• AutoReset
• Enabled
• Elapsed