.. _timer:

Timer
-----



.. class:: Timer


    Syntax:
        ``timer = h.Timer(python_func)``


    Description:
        Execute a Python function at the end of each interval specified by timer.seconds(interval). 
        The timer must be started and can be stopped. 
        A Timer is used to implement the :menuselection:`NEURON Main Menu --> Tools --> MovieRun` in 
        :file:`nrn/lib/hoc/movierun.hoc`

    .. warning::
        This code must be run with `nrniv -python` and not directly via `python`.
        The better solution is to `use Python's threading module <https://docs.python.org/2/library/threading.html>`_
        which works regardless of how NEURON is launched.
            


    Example:

        .. code-block::
            python

            from neuron import h

            def foo():
                print 'Hello'

            timer = h.Timer(foo)
            timer.seconds(1)
            timer.start()
            # type timer.end() to end timer


         

----



.. method:: Timer.seconds


    Syntax:
        ``interval = timer.seconds()``

        ``interval = timer.seconds(interval)``


    Description:
        Specify the timer interval. Timer resolution is system dependent but is probably 
        around 10 ms. 
        The time it takes to execute the Python function is part of the interval. 

         

----



.. method:: Timer.start


    Syntax:
        ``timer.start()``


    Description:
        Start the timer. The Python function will be called at the end of each interval defined 
        by the argument to timer.seconds(interval). 

         

----



.. method:: Timer.end


    Syntax:
        ``timer.end()``


    Description:
        Stop calling the Python function. At least on Linux, this will prevent the calling 
        of the function at the end of the current interval.