CountDown (Page 1 of 2)

Thanks a lot nrmuduli but thats not exactly what I was looking for.

Hi Derek,

Thank you very much...........................
It was nice touch to add elapsed time. Truly appreciated....................

I have tried to apply your script to my version but I got  not valid integer error loop and I couldn't correct it.
Please see the attached sample project.

------------------------------
Edit:
Main issue seems to be with comboboxes. Tried various things without any success.

Still get same "" not valid integer error at my end

Hi Adam, Nrmuduli,
Not had time to go through the script but I imagine a 'not valid integer' error message would occur when you run it without having selected a time from the comboboxes (ie blank hours, blank minutes and blank seconds) which should be easy enough to trap. 
Running it with 00 hours, 00 minutes and 00 seconds (rather than blanks) stops the 'not valid integer' message but then takes your counter into negative (again, should be easy enough to trap).
Regards,
Derek.

Hi Adam,
In your Form1_onshow, I'd probably go with
  form1.cbhours.itemindex   := 0;
  form1.cbminutes.ItemIndex := 0;
  form1.cbseconds.itemindex := 0;
You could also set form1.cbseconds.itemindex := 1; and use the same code to prevent the clock going negative (it wouldn't stop the user from deliberately doing it - for whatever reason - but would prevent it accidently happening).  Please see attached.
Derek.

I have tried to apply EHW's settings code (changing display colors) but I get couple of errors.
♦ "" not valid integer error under frmSettings_OnShow event starting at line 301, commented out.
♦ I couldn't understand the code between
   begin
   ....
   end.
   fully. It crashes the app on compile. Commented out.

I'm hoping that EHW is around and have some free time finish settings fully (Sound and Display tabs settings items)...
Or any other kind person who can do it...
It has been great learning exercise, at least for me.

Please see the attached latest CountDown project:

Hi EHW.

GREAT Stuff !!!
Thank you very much.............................
Truly appreciated...........................

Knowledge shortage at my part. I was thinking those text fields as combo items value holder but now after your pointing out there is no need to save them in this situation.

Extra thank you for trimming the script in respect of combo items and color dialog. More learning references for me.

I couldn't understand how you get/define values (numbers and "") in line below? If you could explain id'd be appreciated.

If SqlExecute('Select Count(id) From Settings') = 0 then SqlExecute('Insert Into Settings Values (1,65280,0,65280,65280,0,0,0,0,0,16776960,16776960,16776960,"")');

I wanted replace system error/info dialog messages below wit a user friendly versions on settings form:
Clicking on Play button when play sound checkbox is checked and sound file edit field has no sound file
"Cannot determine the device type from the given filename extention."
and stop button
"No MCI device open."

I tried Dmitry's code for foreign key retraints but didn't work. I suspect function is incorrect:

function OnSQLException(Sender: TObject; Msg: string; SQL: string): boolean;
begin
if Sender = frmSettings.btnPlay then
   begin
   if Pos('Cannot determine the device type from the given filename extention.', Msg)=1 then
      begin
      result := True;
      MessageBox('No sound file was selected. Please select a .mp3 or .wav sound file first by clicking on Sound File button.', 'Error', MB_OK+MB_ICONWARNING);
      end;
   end;
end;

I ended up disabling/enabling play and stop buttons, which may not be a proper solution:

procedure frmSettings_cBoxPlaySound_OnClick (Sender: TObject);
If (frmSettings.cBoxPlaySound.Checked = True) and (frmSettings.edSoundFile.Text <>'') then
   begin
   frmSettings.btnPlay.Enabled := True;
   frmSettings.btnStop.Enabled := True;
   end else;

If (frmSettings.cBoxPlaySound.Checked = True) and (frmSettings.edSoundFile.Text = '') then
   begin
   frmSettings.btnPlay.Enabled := False;
   frmSettings.btnStop.Enabled := False;
   end;
end;

procedure frmSettings_edSoundFile_OnChange (Sender: TObject);
begin
If (frmSettings.cBoxPlaySound.Checked = True) and (frmSettings.edSoundFile.Text <>'') then
   begin
   frmSettings.btnPlay.Enabled := True;
   frmSettings.btnStop.Enabled := True;
   end else;

If (frmSettings.cBoxPlaySound.Checked = True) and (frmSettings.edSoundFile.Text = '') then
   begin
   frmSettings.btnPlay.Enabled := False;
   frmSettings.btnStop.Enabled := False;
   end;
end;

Once again thank you so much for your kind help...............................

Thank you very much for the explanation EHW. As always truly appreciated.....

I like to add couple more features to countdow timer for learning purposes.

1. Progress bar.
Tried to follow Dmitry's code but couldn't get it working.

2. Currently single message displayed when countdown finishes.
Could we get it display some hard coded or db table lookup style random messages. Different one per countdown? Such as:
form1.LabelFinished.caption := 'Eagle has landed';
//form1.LabelFinished.caption := 'Godot has arrived';
//form1.LabelFinished.caption := 'Finished spinning wheel';
//form1.LabelFinished.caption := 'Mercury is conquered';
If done via db table lookup style using form settings with new tab sheet, where user can enter their own finished messages; may present some extra work in respect of limiting message characters counts so that they fit in message panel on form1

3. Flashing text effect for finished caption text
Nothing fancy. Just a repeating two color changes with short intervals so that it gives flashing effect.

Latest version of the CountDown project I have is attached:

Hi Derek,

Thank you very much....

Unless I'm missing something you worked on item 2.
That's not what I meant. Most likely my explanation was not clear.
I would like to display random message in random order, every time countdown finishes. In this respect we don't need a use column as messages displayed randomly.

Say we have 10 messages entered to tGrid
First countdown 1st message
Second countdown 2nd message
....
Tenth countdown 10th message

Eleventh countdown starts with 5th message (this time it starts somewhere middle)
uses 5 + messages upto available 10 messages then 5 minus up to and including message 1

21st countdown starts with i.e. 8th message then count up or down until available messages used

31st countdown starts with i.e. 4th message count up or down until available messages used

an so on....

In order to reduce predictability in certain degree.

Hi Derek,

Thank you very much..............
I also added your line

form1.labelfinished.caption := sqlexecute('select message from messages order by random()'); 

under Form1_btnReset_OnClick

Only thing remains for item 2 is limiting message characters. It's fine using table header as info flag but as you know user will overlook and type longer messages. As you said "... but, you could do the job more thoroughly and trap for input greater than NN characters and display an error message."
Unfortunately, I don't know how to code trapping input.

Thank you very much Derek.................
Truly appreciated.............

Thanks to Derek item 2 is done.

Now remaining items are:
1. Progress bar.
Tried to follow Dmitry's code but couldn't get it working.

3. Flashing text effect for finished caption text
Nothing fancy. Just a repeating two color changes with short intervals so that it gives flashing effect.