C# DispatcherTimer in DLL application never triggered

Question

I want to use C# Timer in DLL application

DispatcherTimer dispatcherTimer = new DispatcherTimer();
dispatcherTimer.Tick += new EventHandler(dispatcherTimer_Tick);
TimeSpan interval = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5);
dispatcherTimer.Interval = interval;
dispatcherTimer.Start();

but the problem is that is never triggered. Method dispatcherTimer_Tick is never triggered even if time is 5 minutes. There is no error nothing.

Any idea why? I am using .net 4.0

What do you mean by "DLL application"? A DLL doesn't run by itself, it can only be used by an executable. What kind of executable is it? Is it an app with a UI? — Thomas Levesque, Jan 10 '14 at 10:12
This code will only work if it runs on the *main thread* of a WPF or Store app. — Hans Passant, Jan 10 '14 at 12:10

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 10 '14 at 10:23

Use System.Timers.Timer instead,

    System.Timers.Timer myTimer = new System.Timers.Timer(5 * 60 * 1000);            
    myTimer.Elapsed += new ElapsedEventHandler(myTimer_Elapsed);            
    myTimer.Enabled = true;
    myTimer.Start();

This works in all the application type, whether app is web, console, WPF etc and you do not need to worry about the environment or application it is been used.

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 10 '14 at 10:22

For DispatcherTimer to work, your app must be running a message pump. If it's a console application or web application, there isn't a message pump, so DispatcherTimer can't work.

DispatcherTimer is designed for use in WPF applications. If you need a timer in an application with no UI, use System.Threading.Timer or System.Timers.Timer.

C# DispatcherTimer in DLL application never triggered

2 Answers2