Call a function in a regular time interval

The most obvious thing is run the work the function does inside another thread (eg. backgroundworker)

If the work to be done does NOT involve the user interface in any way, then use System.Threading.Timer instead.  Otherwise use a BackgroundWorker() as AndyAinscow suggests.

Thank you very much for your response. Can u please give me some code how to do it?

Thank u for your reply. But I am having hard time understanding those examples. Can u please write some simple code for me. you can use any simple function.

Thanks.

>>you can use any simple function.

Not really.  Have you looked up in the help files what a backgroundworker is, specifically what it can NOT do.  (Hint, it does not support any user interface objects - form, messagebox....).
What does this 'problem' function do that takes so long?  Also is it performing it's work inside a loop - there might be an alternative that would be simple to implement (a line of code) but good enough.

Thank you for your reply. But I am sorry, I could not understand what you mean to say.

A backgroundworker is of type of thread, easy to use BUT not suitable for everything.  It is pointless giving an detailed example if it is not suitable for you.
What are you doing in this function you call regularly that takes so much time up?

I am working on a store inventory. There are 200 racks. I have to display the status of all the racks. So I am displaying them using command buttons. Command button displays the name of the rack and its status. When I click on it, it displays the details of the rack. I need to update the rack in every 20/30 sec. So I need to call the program in a regular interval. I am not sure which is the best way to do it. When I call the function inside a timer, no other program works when this particular function is called.

Thank u.

The updating of the interface you would be best keeping as it currently is.
I assume the thing taking the time is querying the database for the latest information.  That you could put into a background worker thread.
There is a complete example in the help files, with description.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.componentmodel.backgroundworker%28v=vs.110%29.aspx

Thank you for your time. I tried the first example and it is working fine. But I am confused how to call a function say "UpdateStatus" using that code.

Do you want the UpdateStatus to be run a number of times as the worker is running or to be run once when the worker completes?

Both of those are shown in the second example.

What does the Function UpdateStatus do? Can you post it here please.

Sorry. The name of the function is Display_Rack1()

Public Sub Display_Rack1()
        Dim arraybutt As New Button
        Dim connection As New SqlConnection(sqlConnectionString)
        Dim cmd As New Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand
        Dim sql As String = ""
        Dim Proc_Status As String = "'"
        Dim Stock_Bay As String
        Dim Stock_Lev As String
        Try
            sql = "SELECT * FROM  BLKSTKMST WHERE STM_ROW = '01' ORDER BY STM_LEV ,STM_BAY"
            Dim i As Integer = 209  'I am created 209 command buttons
            connection.Open()
            cmd = New SqlCommand(sql, connection)
            Dim Reader As SqlDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader

            While Reader.Read
                While i <= 209
                    Stock_Bay = Reader.Item("STM_LEV")
                    Stock_Lev = Reader.Item("STM_BAY")
                    Dim bay As Integer = Convert.ToInt32(Stock_Bay)
                    Dim lev As Integer = Convert.ToInt32(Stock_Lev)
                    Dim BayLev As String = bay & "," & lev

                    plRack1.Controls(i).Text = BayLev
                    plRack1.Controls(i).Visible = True
                    Proc_Status = Reader.Item("STM_STAT")

                    Select Case Proc_Status
                        Case 0 'Normal
                            plRack1.Controls(i).BackColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromOle(&HC000)
                            plRack1.Controls(i).ForeColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromOle(&H0)

                        Case 1 'Storing
                            plRack1.Controls(i).BackColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromOle(&H80C0FF)
                            plRack1.Controls(i).ForeColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromOle(&H0)

                        Case 2 'Retrieving
                            plRack1.Controls(i).BackColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromOle(&HFF0000)
                            plRack1.Controls(i).ForeColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromOle(&H0)

                        Case 9 'Abnormal

                            plRack1.Controls(i).BackColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromOle(&HC0)
                            plRack1.Controls(i).ForeColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromOle(&H0)

                        Case Else '7 'Empty cell
                            plRack1.Controls(i).BackColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromOle(&HC0FFFF)
                            plRack1.Controls(i).ForeColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromOle(&H0)
                    End Select

                    AddHandler plRack1.Controls(i).Click, AddressOf ClickHandler

                    i = i - 1
                    Exit While
                End While
            End While
            connection.Close()

        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox("Error in display_rack function : " + ex.Message)
        End Try

Finally I found the answer how to do it. I created a thread and called the function
       Dim t1 As System.Threading.Thread
       If  t1.IsAlive = False Then
            t1 = New System.Threading.Thread(AddressOf display_rack1)
            t1.Start()
        End If

Thanks for all the help.

Be careful - that could result in a cross thread error as you attempt to access the controls in the main thread from the other thread.
Ideally just collect the data in one thread and instruct the main (UI) thread to update the control itself with the data.  (You can turn cross thread warnings off BUT it does that - turns all warnings about cross thread accessing of objects off, with possibly dire consequences if you code something wrong somewhere).

Thank you for your reply. Can u please tell me where do I have to make the changes in the code.

Thank you for your help.