Inside Macintosh: Processes

Chapter 3 - Time Manager

This chapter describes how you can use the Time Manager to schedule execution of a routine after a specified amount of time has elapsed. It includes information about the original Time Manager, as well as information about the revised Time Manager introduced in system software version 6.0.3 and the extended Time Manager introduced in system software version 7.0.

Because different versions of the Time Manager are available under different system software versions, your application may need to determine which version is available in its current environment. To do so, use the Gestalt function explained in the chapter "Gestalt Manager" in Inside Macintosh: Operating System Utilities.

To use this chapter, you should be familiar with the Vertical Retrace Manager because it provides an alternative (and sometimes preferable) method for scheduling routines for future or periodic execution. For details on the Vertical Retrace Manager, see the chapter "Vertical Retrace Manager" in this book.

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Chapter Contents

About the Time Manager

The Original Time Manager

The Revised Time Manager

The Extended Time Manager

Using the Time Manager

Installing and Activating Tasks

Using Application Global Variables in Tasks

Performing Periodic Tasks

Computing Elapsed Time

Time Manager Reference

Data Structures

Time Manager Routines

Application-Defined Routine

Time Manager Tasks

Summary of the Time Manager

Pascal Summary

Constants

Data Types

Original and Revised Time Manager Task Record

Extended Time Manager Task Record

Time Manager Routines

Application-Defined Routine

C Summary

Constants

Data Types

Original and Revised Time Manager Task Record

Extended Time Manager Task Record

Time Manager Routines

Application-Defined Routine

Assembly-Language Summary

Data Structures

Structure of Original and Revised Time Manager Queue Entry

Structure of Extended Time Manager Queue Entry

Result Codes