Calling two methods alternately after every 5 minutes.

Question

I want to call two methods alternately after every 5 minutes, how can I do this?

public class Program
{
   static void Main(string[] args)
   {
      Console.WriteLine(" calling Method1 ");
      /* After Next 5 minute call Method2 */ 
      Console.WriteLine(" calling Method2 ");
      Console.ReadLine();
   }    
   private Method1()
   {
     Console.WriteLine("Method1 is executed at {0}", DateTime.Now);
     Console.ReadLine();
   }
   private Method2()
   {
     Console.WriteLine("Method2 is executed at {0}", DateTime.Now);
     Console.ReadLine();
   }
}

Appreciate any Help. Thanks..!

You need a Timer https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.timers.timer(v=vs.110).aspx — Steve, Jun 08 '16 at 08:17
@RahulHendawe Create an exe and call it using Task Scheduler in Windows. Or create a Windows service and timer inside of it with 5 minute intervals. — Alex, Jun 08 '16 at 08:21
@Alex: Thanks, any sample example to call a method alternately like `first 5 min call method1 next 5 min call method2` and so on from windows service using timer. — Rahul Hendawe, Jun 08 '16 at 08:29
@Alex .exe with task scheduler will not accomplish the desired result (specifically, alternating method calls). Windows Service seems overkill, and will not have access to `System.Console`, or any UI thread interaction. OP just needs a `Timer` — CoolBots, Jun 08 '16 at 08:35

Jeroen van Langen · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-09T07:50:07.543

You could use a Timer. Just create a Timer and construct it with the time needed. (1000*5*60) for 5 minutes. When the time elapsed, the Timer_Elapsed method is called. Use a boolean to switch between two methods. Reminder: The Timer_Elapsed will be called on a different thread.

Here is an example:

using System.Timers;  // <-- this timer.. Not the Windows.Forms.Timer, because that one works on the messagequeue (to receive the timer_elapsed event on the gui thread), but you don't have a messagequeue/forms

static class Program
{
    private static bool _executeFirstMethod = true;

    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        using (Timer timer = new Timer(5000))  // 5 seconds instead of 5 minutes (for testing)
        {
            timer.Elapsed += Timer_Elapsed;
            timer.Start();
            Console.WriteLine("Timer is started");

            Console.ReadLine();
        }
    }

    private static void Timer_Elapsed(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
    {
        if (_executeFirstMethod)
            Method1();
        else
            Method2();

        _executeFirstMethod = !_executeFirstMethod;
    }

    private static void Method1()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Method1 is executed at {0}", DateTime.Now);
    }

    private static void Method2()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Method2 is executed at {0}", DateTime.Now);
    }
}

Result:

Timer is started
Method1 is executed at 09-Jun-16 09:49:14
Method2 is executed at 09-Jun-16 09:49:19
Method1 is executed at 09-Jun-16 09:49:24
Method2 is executed at 09-Jun-16 09:49:29
Method1 is executed at 09-Jun-16 09:49:34
Method2 is executed at 09-Jun-16 09:49:39

I think the essence of question (run each 5 minutes) is captured in this answer. — Edgars Pivovarenoks, Jun 08 '16 at 08:35
@Edgars: Yes I want to call methods alternate after every 5 minutes. — Rahul Hendawe, Jun 08 '16 at 09:11
@Jeroen van Langgen : Thanks, But what after 5 min once `_executeFirstMethod` is set to `false` , Does it call `Method1` again after next 5 minute? — Rahul Hendawe, Jun 08 '16 at 09:15
Yep, `_executeFirstMethod = !_executeFirstMethod;` will flip the boolean and the next call it will call the other method, _(tested)_ — Jeroen van Langen, Jun 08 '16 at 09:17

Sean · Answer 2 · 2016-06-08T09:01:18.763

1

If your program follows the basic structure in your question then you don't even need a timer, just Thread.Sleep:

public class Program
{
   static void Main(string[] args)
   {
      while(true)
      {
        Method1();
        System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5));

        Method2();
        System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5));
      }
   }    
   private Method1()
   {
     Console.WriteLine("Method1 is executed at {0}", DateTime.Now);
   }
   private Method2()
   {
     Console.WriteLine("Method2 is executed at {0}", DateTime.Now);
   }
}

edited Jun 08 '16 at 09:01

answered Jun 08 '16 at 08:57

Sean

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Is there any advantage to using `Thread.Sleep()` over a `Timer`? I see quite a few disadvantages as a general approach (for instance, if any other checking needs to happen between calls, such as a Windows Service restart/stop commands), but perhaps I am missing some significant advantage? – CoolBots Jun 08 '16 at 19:20
@CoolBots - I've just adapted his example to show one way of solving his problem. There's a number of ways to do this which don't require a timer, and this is just one. – Sean Jun 08 '16 at 20:04

Calling two methods alternately after every 5 minutes.

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