Use of Timer in Windows Service

Question

I have a windows service where in I want to create a file every 10 seconds.

I got many reviews that Timer in Windows service would be the best option.

How can I achieve this?

Answer 1

Firstly, pick the right kind of timer. You want either System.Timers.Timer or System.Threading.Timer - don't use one associated with a UI framework (e.g. System.Windows.Forms.Timer or DispatcherTimer).

Timers are generally simple

1. set the tick interval
2. Add a handler to the Elapsed event (or pass it a callback on construction),
3. Start the timer if necessary (different classes work differently)

and all will be well.

Samples:

// System.Threading.Timer sample
using System;
using System.Threading;

class Test
{
    static void Main() 
    {
        TimerCallback callback = PerformTimerOperation;
        Timer timer = new Timer(callback);
        timer.Change(TimeSpan.Zero, TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1));
        // Let the timer run for 10 seconds before the main
        // thread exits and the process terminates
        Thread.Sleep(10000);
    }

    static void PerformTimerOperation(object state)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Timer ticked...");
    }
}

// System.Timers.Timer example
using System;
using System.Threading;
using System.Timers;
// Disambiguate the meaning of "Timer"
using Timer = System.Timers.Timer;

class Test
{
    static void Main() 
    {
        Timer timer = new Timer();
        timer.Elapsed += PerformTimerOperation;
        timer.Interval = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1).TotalMilliseconds;
        timer.Start();
        // Let the timer run for 10 seconds before the main
        // thread exits and the process terminates
        Thread.Sleep(10000);
    }

    static void PerformTimerOperation(object sender,
                                      ElapsedEventArgs e)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Timer ticked...");
    }
}

I have a bit more information on this page, although I haven't updated that for a long time.

Answer 2

I would not recommend System.Timers.Timer since it silently eats unhandled exceptions and therefore hides errors that you should fix. imho better that your code blows up in your face if you do not handle exceptions properly.

As for System.Threading.Timer I tend to use the Change method to start/stop the timer in a pattern like this:

public class MyCoolService
{
    Timer _timer;

    public MyCoolService()
    {
        _timer = new Timer(MyWorkerMethod, Timeout.Infinite, Timeout.Infinite);
    }

    protected void OnStart()
    {
        _timer.Change(15000, Timeout.Infinte);
    }

    protected void MyWorkerMethod()
    {
        //pause timer during processing so it
        // wont be run twice if the processing takes longer
        // than the interval for some reason
        _timer.Change(Timeout.Infinite, Timeout.Infinite); 

        try
        {
            DoSomeWork();
        }
        catch (Exception err)
        {
            // report the error to your manager if you dare
        }

        // launch again in 15 seconds
        _timer.Change(15000, Timeout.Infinite);
    }

}