.net - Use of Timer in Windows Service

Question

I have a windows service where in I want to create a file every 10 seconds.

I got many reviews that Timer in Windows service would be the best option.

How can I achieve this?

Answer 1

Firstly, pick the right kind of timer. You want either System.Timers.Timer or System.Threading.Timer - don't use one associated with a UI framework (e.g. System.Windows.Forms.Timer or DispatcherTimer).

Timers are generally simple

1. set the tick interval
2. Add a handler to the Elapsed event (or pass it a callback on construction),
3. Start the timer if necessary (different classes work differently)

and all will be well.

Samples:

// System.Threading.Timer sample
using System;
using System.Threading;

class Test
{
    static void Main() 
    {
        TimerCallback callback = PerformTimerOperation;
        Timer timer = new Timer(callback);
        timer.Change(TimeSpan.Zero, TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1));
        // Let the timer run for 10 seconds before the main
        // thread exits and the process terminates
        Thread.Sleep(10000);
    }

    static void PerformTimerOperation(object state)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Timer ticked...");
    }
}

// System.Timers.Timer example
using System;
using System.Threading;
using System.Timers;
// Disambiguate the meaning of "Timer"
using Timer = System.Timers.Timer;

class Test
{
    static void Main() 
    {
        Timer timer = new Timer();
        timer.Elapsed += PerformTimerOperation;
        timer.Interval = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1).TotalMilliseconds;
        timer.Start();
        // Let the timer run for 10 seconds before the main
        // thread exits and the process terminates
        Thread.Sleep(10000);
    }

    static void PerformTimerOperation(object sender,
                                      ElapsedEventArgs e)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Timer ticked...");
    }
}

I have a bit more information on this page, although I haven't updated that for a long time.