How to change delay time on timer during run time.

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

Hi, I am a newbie and this is my first time here so please go easy on me,lol.
On to my question. I have a timer that calls a function that throws balloons every 3 seconds forever,how do I shorten the delay time so the balloons are thrown faster?
I tried replacing the delay time with a variable so i can change it if conditions are met in the balloon throwing function, but i does not work.
I know the value changes as I want it because I output it. But the timer ignores it. Can the timer parameters be defined only before run time?

Example:

local count = 0
local delayTime = 3000

local function balloonFunction()

if(count > 5)then
delayTime = 2000
end

throwBallon()
count = count + 1

end

local throwBalloonLoop = timer.performWithDelay(delayTime, balloonFunction, 0)

#2

You have to cancel the timer, and then restart it with the new value. In order to do that you need to save the reference to the timer, in a scope where it can be seen by the function that needs to amend it.

[lua]

local myTimer =timer.performWithDelay(myDelay, myFunction)

– later on…

timer.cancel(myTimer)

myTimer = nil

myTimer =timer.performWithDelay(myDelay, myFunction)

[/lua]

How I usually do it is to roll my own timer.

[lua]

local myDelay = 3000

local time = system.getTimer()

local myTimedFunction ()

 – do my timed stuff here

end

local gameLoop = function ()

 local t = system.getTimer()

if t - time >= myDelay then

  myTimedFunction()

  time = system.getTimer()

  myDelay = myDelay - 100

end

end

Runtime:addEventListener(“enterFrame”, gameLoop)

[/lua]

#3

Thanks, that was quick. I will try this immediately.

#4

Thanks a million, it works!!!

#5

Hello,

Just change the event._delay parameter on the function.

Sincerely,
Yvan.

#6

You have to cancel the timer, and then restart it with the new value. In order to do that you need to save the reference to the timer, in a scope where it can be seen by the function that needs to amend it.

[lua]

local myTimer =timer.performWithDelay(myDelay, myFunction)

– later on…

timer.cancel(myTimer)

myTimer = nil

myTimer =timer.performWithDelay(myDelay, myFunction)

[/lua]

How I usually do it is to roll my own timer.

[lua]

local myDelay = 3000

local time = system.getTimer()

local myTimedFunction ()

 – do my timed stuff here

end

local gameLoop = function ()

 local t = system.getTimer()

if t - time >= myDelay then

  myTimedFunction()

  time = system.getTimer()

  myDelay = myDelay - 100

end

end

Runtime:addEventListener(“enterFrame”, gameLoop)

[/lua]

#7

Thanks, that was quick. I will try this immediately.

#8

Thanks a million, it works!!!

#9

Hello,

Just change the event._delay parameter on the function.

Sincerely,
Yvan.