Question

real Javascript Sleep

Asked by: tuchfeld

Hi.
It looks that my solution works only for IE6.
it is javascript code that use invisible showModalDialog.
but it is not supported in IE7 :-(
can you suggest an alternative solution?
note: solution only for IE is acceptable.
Thanks, Aryeh.

var Retry_MS = 100;
var MAX_retries = 50; // wait max 5 seconds.
function wait_until(cond) {
  for (var i=0; i<MAX_retries; i++)
  {
    var res = false;
    try {res=eval(cond);} catch(e){}
    if (res) return true;
    var dialogScript = 
       'window.setTimeout(' +
       ' function () { window.close(); }, ' + Retry_MS + ');';
    var result = 
     window.showModalDialog(
       'javascript:document.writeln(' +
        '"<script>' + dialogScript + '<' + '/script>")');
  }
  return false;
}

                                  
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Asked On
2009-08-01 at 14:32:25ID24619231
Tags

javascript

,

IE

Topics

JavaScript

,

Operating Systems Miscellaneous

Participating Experts
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: ZylochPosted on 2009-08-01 at 15:04:46ID: 24996885

What is the context of this problem? There is no real JavaScript sleep() for a good reason, because it is almost never needed and it freezes up the browser.

If you really need the user to be blocked on your page, you can contemplate trying out this plugin for jQuery: http://malsup.com/jquery/block/

 

by: tuchfeldPosted on 2009-08-01 at 15:16:40ID: 24996919

for example I use Frames.
each can run different JS code.
I need to wait until a frame is loaded and then access it from another Frame.

 

by: ZylochPosted on 2009-08-01 at 15:53:53ID: 24997003

One way around this is to set a global variable in each frame when that frame is loaded. Your code in each frame would then keep running either setTimeout() or setInterval() loops until both frames are loaded before proceeding. Naturally, this isn't too beautiful, but you wouldn't expect anything else from trying to coordinate two frame loads.

 

by: tuchfeldPosted on 2009-08-01 at 16:15:36ID: 24997039

I need this Sleep function to BLOCK the JS code execution.
when calling setTimeout() the execution continues...

 

by: tuchfeldPosted on 2009-08-01 at 16:30:42ID: 24997069

There is a good article that explains the problem
http://www.faqts.com/knowledge_base/view.phtml/aid/1602/fid/53
But it suggests the same solution I choose that is obsolete for IE7.

 

by: ZylochPosted on 2009-08-01 at 16:45:04ID: 24997089

As I said, run your code periodically inside setTimeout() or setInterval(). As in:

function mycode() {
   if ( /* do check for other frame's loaded variable */ ) {
       // Code you need blocked
   } else {
       setTimeout('mycode()', 200);
   }
}
mycode();

This mimics blocking and has the advantage of being cross-browser.

 

by: tuchfeldPosted on 2009-08-01 at 17:02:11ID: 24997131

again, your code is NOT BLOCKING.
real sleep IS blocking.
i.e. if you run this JS code:
setTimeout('alert()', 5000);
alert("Im here");
You will get the "Im ready" alert first.
I need to BLOCK execution.
I guess a more "sofisticated trick" is needed here.

 

by: ZylochPosted on 2009-08-01 at 17:09:26ID: 24997160

I know my code is not blocking in the strictest sense. That's why I said, "This MIMICS blocking." I also explained why "real blocking," as you call it, is not desirable on the web. If you must, go ahead and run you while loop to block until both frames are loaded, testing against the global variables on each, but it's also possible a browser will detect and prompt to stop such a script.

 

by: tuchfeldPosted on 2009-08-01 at 19:26:45ID: 24997525

I think I found it.
change the code to:
     window.showModalDialog(
     "Sleep.htm?ms=" + Retry_MS);
and let Sleep.htm be as folows:
(note that Sleep.htm does not require Server request/response on each use).

<HTML>
<HEAD><TITLE>Empty Window</TITLE></HEAD>
<BODY></BODY>
<SCRIPT>
var delay_ms = location.href.substring(location.href.lastIndexOf("ms=")+3);
window.setTimeout(function () { window.close(); }, delay_ms);
</SCRIPT>
</HTML>

                                              
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by: tuchfeldPosted on 2009-08-01 at 19:35:05ID: 24997538

Obviousely, a window will apear for the sleep amount of time
(that will be automatically closed when Sleep is finished).
but I see no other way now to do it.
and I can make it a "Please Wait" window ;-)

 

by: ZylochPosted on 2009-08-01 at 19:41:35ID: 24997545

Ok. You do it however way you want as long as it works :-)

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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