Timer Max interval

Question

Using System.Windows.Form.Timer the interval is an int, which gives a maximum interval limit of around 25 days. I know I could create some arbitrary algorithm to start another timer once the limit is reached, but that's just daft.

MISLEADING-IGNORE-->So if I want to set it to around 29 days (2619609112.7228003) milliseconds?<--MISLEADING-IGNORE

EDIT:

The real question here is how can I set System.Windows.Form.Timer to a value higher than maxInt?

The purpose is that I need to set an interval from whenever to the first day of the next month, so it could be 28,29,30 or 31 days, and when that interval expires, calculate the interval to the next first day of the month.

(Basically a Crystal Report is to be run on the 1st day of the month and printed (around 500 pages), because of the length of the reports it is to be run out of hours so it doesn't tie up the printer.)

e.g. run it today (today is 1/12/15), 1/1/16 is next 'first day of the month' so set the interval to the milliseconds between now and then.

1/1/16 comes around so the timer ticks, then calculate and set the interval for 1/2/2016 (the next first day of the month).

@SeeSharp - I did see that question, but I am working on a legacy app and am unsure of the implications of changing the timer, but if I can't get this timer to work I may look at the threading one, thanks.

EDIT2: Thanks for all of your suggestions, I've opted for a 3rd party plugin called FluentScheduler

Answer 1

Set the timer interval to one day (say) and use it to count the number of days up to 29.

Edit

Set the timer to half a day (say) and use it to check that the date is the first of the month.

Answer 2

How about a Month timer - This will fire close to midnight when the month changes. May be that suits your requirement better ? If we have to consider day-light saving too, then perhaps the timer should fire at 2:00 AM on the 1st day of month so I'll make it configurable.

Here is a code to explain my idea -

   public class MonthTimer : IDisposable
{

    public event EventHandler<MonthChangedEventArgs> MonthChanged;

    DateTime mLastTimerDate;
    Timer mTimer;

    public MonthTimer(TimeSpan timeOfFirstDay)
        : this(DateTime.Now, timeOfFirstDay)
    {
    }

    public MonthTimer(DateTime currentDate, TimeSpan timeOfFirstDay)
    {
        mLastTimerDate = currentDate.Date;
        var milliSecondsInDay = new TimeSpan(1, 0, 0, 0).TotalMilliseconds;

        Contract.Assert(timeOfFirstDay.TotalMilliseconds <= milliSecondsInDay); // time within 1st day of month            
        DateTime currentDateLastSecond = currentDate.Date.AddDays(1).AddTicks(-1);  // one tick before midnight 
        TimeSpan timeSpanInCurrentDate = currentDateLastSecond.Subtract(currentDate); // remaining time till today ends

        // I want the timer to check every day at specifed time (as in timeOfFirstDay) if the month has changed 
        // therefore at first I would like timer's timeout to be until the same time, following day
        var milliSecondsTillTomorrow = (timeSpanInCurrentDate + timeOfFirstDay).TotalMilliseconds;
        // since out milliseconds will never exceed - . Its okay to convert them to int32
        mTimer = new Timer(TimerTick, null, Convert.ToInt32(milliSecondsTillTomorrow), Convert.ToInt32(milliSecondsInDay));
    }

    private void TimerTick(object state)
    {
        if(DateTime.Now.Month != mLastTimerDate.Month)
        {
            if (MonthChanged != null)
                MonthChanged(this, new MonthChangedEventArgs(mLastTimerDate, DateTime.Now.Date));
        }
        mLastTimerDate = DateTime.Now.Date;
    }


    public void Dispose()
    {
        mTimer.Dispose();
    }
}

public class MonthChangedEventArgs : EventArgs
{
   public MonthChangedEventArgs(DateTime previousMonth, DateTime currentMonth)
    {
        CurrentMonth = currentMonth;
        PreviousMonth = previousMonth;
    }

   public DateTime CurrentMonth
    {
        get;
        private set;
    }

   public DateTime PreviousMonth
   {
       get;
       private set;
   }
}

client code

    // Check the new month around 2 AM on 1st day
        mMonthTimer = new MonthTimer(new TimeSpan(2, 0, 0));
        mMonthTimer.MonthChanged += mMonthTimer_MonthChanged;

One thing I'm not using System.Threading.Timer, therefor the even handler will be called on a separate thread & not UI thread as incase of System.Windows.Forms.Timer if this is an issue in yr case do let me know.

Also do write me a comment if it serves yr purpose or any if any issues

Answer 3

Try Microsoft's Reactive Framework (NuGet "Rx-Main").

You can write this:

Observable
    .Timer(DateTimeOffset.Now.AddDays(29.0))
    .Subscribe(x =>
    {
        /* 29 Days Later */
    });