Server-Client Program help

[samvb]

I am using sockets to send message between computers. I send the messages alright. What I want is when the message "x0x" comes, the client must be closed within 5 minutes. Teh admin can cancel the request by sending message "-xx" as well. The routine that checks for incoming connections and accepts messages uses WHILE TRUE...END WHILE since it must always listen. Once I get a message, I need to fire a timer control or other that fires within 5 minutes. But the program cant leave the WHILE TRUE at all. If i exit it early, the timer fires and the program does get exit. How do I fire the timer or other routine while still the WHILE TRUE routine checks for incomin connections and messages?

[Joseph Martell]

Start the timer and have the timer's elapsed event handler set a flag that tells your main loop to quit. Then, in your main while loop check the state of the flag. When the flag is set, it is time to quit.

Example code follows (this is UNTESTED, so there may be bugs still):

Public Class Main
    Private _quitFlag As Boolean
    Private Sub TimeToQuit(ByVal o As Object, ByVal e As Timers.ElapsedEventArgs)
        _quitFlag = True
    End Sub

    Private quitTimer As Timers.Timer

    Public Sub Main()
        _quitFlag = False

        While True
            If (_quitFlag) Then
                Exit While
            End If
            'look for condition that causes quitTimer to start
            StartQuitTimer()

        End While

    End Sub

    Private Sub StartQuitTimer()
        quitTimer = New Timers.Timer(5 * 60 * 1000)
        AddHandler quitTimer.Elapsed, AddressOf TimeToQuit
        quitTimer.Start()
    End Sub
End Class

[samvb]

Thats the thing...if I exit it, then there won't be a way to check for incoming messages. What if the admin wants to cancel the previous command (.e. to exit the application). The while true must be active always, you know. Isnt it possible to have a timer or other function for that matter to work while the while loop contines as well?

I tired the code below which avoids calling timer or so but after first message has arrived, the boolean check at the bottom dont increase the value of inttime variable.

Sorry for my english...

Try

            While True
                Me.Text = (blnautocloseapp) & " " & TimeOfDay

                Dim clientListener As New TcpListener(ipAddress, 8505)
                clientListener.Start()
                mySocket = clientListener.AcceptSocket()
                mySocket.Receive(recieveBuff, recieveBuff.Length, SocketFlags.None)
                str = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetString(recieveBuff, 0, recieveBuff.Length).Trim(Microsoft.VisualBasic.ChrW(0))
                If str <> "" Then
                    str = understandSentMessage(str)
                    NotifyIcon1.Text = "DoubleS Library Manager Notification Window"
                    NotifyIcon1.ShowBalloonTip(1000, "DoubleS Library Manager: Administrator Message", str, ToolTipIcon.Info)
                    'close app or what?

                    If blnautocloseapp = False Then 'auto end program.

                        inttime = 0
                    End If
                End If

                mySocket.Close()
                mySocket.Dispose()

                


                clientListener.Stop()

                If blnautocloseapp = True Then

                    inttime = inttime + 1
                    MsgBox(inttime)
                    If inttime = 2 Then
                        MsgBox("Good bye!")
                        End
                    End If

                End If
            End While
          





        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox(ex.Message)

        End Try

[samvb]

Thats the thing...if I exit it, then there won't be a way to check for incoming messages. What if the admin wants to cancel the previous command (.e. to exit the application). The while true must be active always, you know. Isnt it possible to have a timer or other function for that matter to work while the while loop contines as well?

I tired the code below which avoids calling timer or so but after first message has arrived, the boolean check at the bottom dont increase the value of inttime variable.

Sorry for my english...

Try

            While True
                Me.Text = (blnautocloseapp) & " " & TimeOfDay

                Dim clientListener As New TcpListener(ipAddress, 8505)
                clientListener.Start()
                mySocket = clientListener.AcceptSocket()
                mySocket.Receive(recieveBuff, recieveBuff.Length, SocketFlags.None)
                str = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetString(recieveBuff, 0, recieveBuff.Length).Trim(Microsoft.VisualBasic.ChrW(0))
                If str <> "" Then
                    str = understandSentMessage(str)
                    NotifyIcon1.Text = "DoubleS Library Manager Notification Window"
                    NotifyIcon1.ShowBalloonTip(1000, "DoubleS Library Manager: Administrator Message", str, ToolTipIcon.Info)
                    'close app or what?

                    If blnautocloseapp = False Then 'auto end program.

                        inttime = 0
                    End If
                End If

                mySocket.Close()
                mySocket.Dispose()

                


                clientListener.Stop()

                If blnautocloseapp = True Then

                    inttime = inttime + 1
                    MsgBox(inttime)
                    If inttime = 2 Then
                        MsgBox("Good bye!")
                        End
                    End If

                End If
            End While
          





        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox(ex.Message)

        End Try

[Joseph Martell]

So even after your program receives the "exit" code and 5 minutes has elapsed, you still want to continue listening for more commands?

[samvb]

hey...i managed to solve it with multi-threading, thank you so much for ur help.