Input while continually running

[greenleaf800073]

I am making a timer but I want to have an input while it is running. Here is my code.

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdio>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <time.h>
using namespace std;

class timer
{
	private:
		unsigned long begTime;
	public:
		void start()
		{
			begTime = clock();
		}

		double elapsedTime()
		{
			return ((unsigned long) clock() - begTime) / CLOCKS_PER_SEC;
		}

		bool isTimeout(unsigned long seconds)
		{
			return seconds >= elapsedTime();
		}
};
void timermech(int seconds, int input, double timecounter);
int main(int nNumberofArgs, char* pszArgs[])
{
    int input = 1;
    int input2 = 1;
    double timecounter = 0;
    unsigned long seconds = 5;
    // 1 = nothing, 2 = open, 3 = close
    // 5 = setup, 1 = no setup
    for (;;)
    {
        cout << "Enter status: ";
        cin >> input;
        cout << endl << "Enter status 2: ";
        cin >> input2;
        cout << endl;
        if(input2 == 5)
        {
            cout << "Set timer: ";
            cin >> seconds;
            continue;
        }
        switch(input)
        {
            case 1:
            break;
            case 2:
            timermech(seconds, input, timecounter);
            break;
            case 3:
            break;
            default:
            continue;
        }
    }
}
void timermech(int seconds, int input, double timecounter)
{
    timer t;
    t.start();
    cout << "Timer started . . ." << endl;
    if(input != 1)
    {
        for(;;)
        {
            if(t.elapsedTime() >= seconds)
            {
                break;
            }
            timecounter = t.elapsedTime();
            while(t.elapsedTime() <= timecounter + 0.5)
            {
                cin >> input;
            }
            if(input == 3)
            {
                input = 1;
                break;
            }
        }
    }
    if(input != 3)
    {
        cout << t.elapsedTime() <<  " seconds elapsed" << endl;
    }
    cout << "Timer reset" << endl;
}

The bolded part is my attempt at trying to put in an input while the timer is running without having the other timer functions stop.

[greenleaf800073]

Bump?

[Smac89]

Here is a method I have used before in the past. Some people might say that CLOCKS_PER_SEC is not accurate, but unless you are timing something down the nanosecond, I don't think this will affect your results greatly.

double checkTime = 0;
    
    clock_t NewTime = clock();
    clock_t PrevTime = NewTime;
    
    while (1)
    {
        NewTime = clock();
        checkTime += (double)(NewTime - PrevTime);
        PrevTime = NewTime;
        
        if (checkTime > (double)(CLOCKS_PER_SEC))//Multiply CLOCK_PER_SEC by how often you want race to update
        {
            //Code you want to run in here
            
            checkTime -= (double)(CLOCKS_PER_SEC);
        }
    }

[greenleaf800073]

Thanks but how do I make an input while the clock is still running?

If I put cin<<... then it'll pause the clock and stuff

[Smac89]

Line 14, you can do whatever you want in there

Because on line 16, it resets the clock again.

[MrHutch]

The only way I can think of doing it properly would be threading.

However, I feel that's a whole can of worms you don't want to open right now.

[greenleaf800073]

Sorry, I'm new, what's threading?

[Smac89]

multi threading in the most basic terms is like having more than one main function running at once - parallel programming. Trust me, you don't wanna go there because the problem you are trying to solve is not that complicated as to start threading it.

mul·ti·thread·ing
/ˈməltiˈTHrediNG/
Noun
A technique by which a single set of code can be used by several processors at different stages of execution.

[greenleaf800073]

:( but I just want to know how to put input in.... Your solution, if I don't input anything, It'll keep going past time limit until I do...

Wait, where does your little snipet of program go anyway?

[Smac89]

It goes no where, it is an infinite loop; you terminate it when you have achieved the result you were looking for.

[greenleaf800073]

I'm going to do some work...