Trigger event using timer on a specific day and time

Question

I am using System.Timer to trigger an event. Currently I trigger it every 1 hour and check if it matches the configured value (day,time).

But it is possible to trigger this at a specific time? like suppose on Sunday at 12Am.

Windows Task Scheduler would be more appropriate but its not an option.

Thanks in advance

score 9 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 24 '11 at 20:29

9

It isn't clear why you just wouldn't set the timer's Interval to the target date/time. There's a limit on the number of milliseconds, you can time up to 2^31 milliseconds, 27 days. You'll be good as long as you can stay in that range.

    private static void SetTimer(Timer timer, DateTime due) {
        var ts = due - DateTime.Now;
        timer.Interval = ts.TotalMilliseconds;
        timer.AutoReset = false;
        timer.Start();
    }

answered Jan 24 '11 at 20:29

Hans Passant

922,412
146
1,693
2,536

would it be possible to set timer on DayOfWeek rather than the Date? Like Sunday at 12 Am or Tuesday at 1 Am? Thanks – fireBand Jan 25 '11 at 15:40
1

Sure, just use AddDays() to add the number of days between DayOfWeek and Now.DayOfWeek, casted to int. Add 7 if the value is negative. – Hans Passant Jan 25 '11 at 15:47

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 24 '11 at 20:07

0

The timer doesn't support this kind of interval but you could check every 20 seconds for the current day and time.

Edit Sorry you are doing that already... why not make the interval half the time left each time you check (A Zeno timer)?

answered Jan 24 '11 at 20:07

Emond

50,210
11
84
115

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 24 '11 at 20:27

In a similar situation, I'm using System.Threading.Timer to achieve this. Basically I set its due time to desiredDateTime - DateTime.Now, so that it will tick at desiredDateTime.
If you get another date meanwhile, you can user Timer.Change() to change the tick time to the new date. Don't forget to Dispose() the Timer when you no longer need it!

Trigger event using timer on a specific day and time

3 Answers3