Microsoft Visual Basic Tutorials

	Tick Counter

Introduction

The Win32 library provides a special function used to count a specific number of lapses that have occurred since you started your computer. This information or counter is available through the GetTickCount() function. Its syntax is:

DWORD GetTickCount(VOID);

This function takes no argument. If it succeeds in performing its operation, which it usually does, it provides the number of milliseconds that have elapsed since you started your computer. Just like the timer control, what you do with the result of this function is up to you and it can be used in various circumstances. For example, computer games and simulations make great use of this function.

After retrieving the value that this function provides, you can display it in a text-based control.

Start Microsoft Visual Basic and create a Standard EXE application
Save the application in a new folder named Computer Time
Save the form as frmMain and save the project as TickCounter

Design the form as follows

Control	Properties
Form	Name: frmMain Border Style: 3 - FixedDialog Caption: Tick Counter
Label	Name: lblAppTime
Label	Name: txtCompTime
Timer	Interval: 20

Double-click an unoccupied area on the form to launch its OnLoad event
Also, initiate the OnTimer event of the Timer control

Implement the file as follows:

Private Declare Function Win32GetTickCounter Lib "Kernel32" Alias "GetTickCount" () As Long
Private CompTime As Long
Private Sub Form_Load()
    CompTime = Win32GetTickCounter
End Sub

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
    Dim TickValue  As Long
    Dim Difference As Long
    
    TickValue = Win32GetTickCounter
    Difference = TickValue - CompTime
    
    Dim ComputerHours As Long
    Dim ComputerMinutes As Long
    Dim ComputerSeconds As Long
    Dim ApplicationHours, ApplicationMinutes, ApplicationSeconds As Long

    ComputerHours = (TickValue \ 3596400) Mod 24
    ComputerMinutes = (TickValue \ 59940) Mod 60
    ComputerSeconds = (TickValue \ 999) Mod 60
    ApplicationHours = (Difference \ 3596400) Mod 24
    ApplicationMinutes = (Difference \ 59940) Mod 60
    ApplicationSeconds = (Difference \ 999) Mod 60
    
    lblAppTime.Caption = "This application has been ON for " & _
                     CStr(ApplicationHours) & " hours, " & _
                     CStr(ApplicationMinutes) & " minutes, and " & _
                     CStr(ApplicationSeconds) & " seconds"
    
    lblCompTime.Caption = "This computer has been on for " & _
                     CStr(ComputerHours) & " hours, " & _
                     CStr(ComputerMinutes) & " mnutes, and " & _
                     CStr(ComputerSeconds) & " seconds"
End Sub

Test the application


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