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Published On:
Apr 11, 2013
Last Updated:
Apr 11, 2013

The System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherTimer dispatch timer is used when you only want a single event. It fires of an event, and DOES NOT create a new thread. However, this means that the timer function will not run while other code in the same thread is executing.

The System.Timers.Timer timer creates a new thread for the timer expired event. This can be a useful way of creating a multi-threaded application without going into the hassle of creating the thread yourself.

// Timer is used for main control loop
private System.Timers.Timer _timer;
public void SetupTimer() {
// Create a new timer
_timer = new System.Timers.Timer();
_timer.Elapsed += new System.Timers.ElapsedEventHandler(Timer_Run);
_timer.Interval = 100;
// This is so the thread is only run once at a time,
// timer is restarted in event handler.
_timer.AutoReset = false;
}
public void Timer_Run() {
// Code to run when timer expires. This code
// will be run in a seperate thread to the one which
// called SetupTimer()
// Code here
// Start the timer again, as AutoReset = false
// _timer.Start();
}