Q141736: How to Create a Clock Class to Show Time in AM/PM Format

Article: Q141736
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0b
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbcode
Last Modified: 10-FEB-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0b 
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SUMMARY
=======

The TIME() function in Visual FoxPro returns the time as a character string in
the format of hh:mm:ss. With this format, 1:35:30 PM displays as 13:35:30 and
9:45:30 AM displays as 09:45:30. In certain situations, you may prefer the
standard time display with the AM/PM format. This article shows you how to do
it.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The following steps create a Visual FoxPro Class that displays the current time
in the standard AM/PM format when you place it on a form.

Steps to Create Clock Class
---------------------------

1. Type the following command in the Command window:

     CREATE CLASS.

2. In the dialog box, enter oClock in the Class Name field, Container in the
  Based On field, and a name for the .VCX file in the Store in field.

3. Add a Timer control to the container, and give the Timer control the
  following property values and event codes:

     Name: Clock
     Interval: 1000

     Timer event method:

        This.Parent.tdisplay.Refresh

4. Add a text box to the container, and give the text box the following property
  values and event code:

     Name: tdisplay
     DisabledBackColor: 255,255,255
     DisabledForeColor: 0,0,0
     Enabled: .F.
     FontName: Arial
     FontSize: 10
     Height: 24
     Width: 85

     Init event:

        This.Top=0
        This.Left=0

     Refresh method:

        This.Value=IIF(BETWEEN(VAL(LEFT(Time(),2)),12,23), ;
           ALLTRIM(STR(VAL(LEFT(Time(),2))-12))+ SUBSTR(Time(),3,6)+' PM', ;
           IIF(BETWEEN(VAL(LEFT(Time(),2)),1,11), ;
           ALLTRIM(STR(VAL(LEFT(Time(),2))))+ SUBSTR(Time(),3,6)+' AM', ;
           '12'+ SUBSTR(Time(),3,6)+ ' AM'))

5. Add the following code to the Init event of Oclock:

     This.Width=This.tdisplay.Width
     This.Height=This.tdisplay.Height

6. Save the container class. Then type the following in the Command window:

     CREATE FORM seeclock

7. On the Form Controls toolbar, click the Visual Class tool.

8. On the Visual Class menu, click Add. Locate the .vcx file where you saved the
  oClock class. Select the oClock object from the Form Controls toolbar and
  drop it on the form.

9. Save and run the form. The system time will display on the form in the
  standard AM/PM format.

To add functionality to the clock to allows toggling between both the standard
AM/PM and military (24 hour) formats, make the following modifications to the
Class:

Steps to Add Format-Toggling Functionality
------------------------------------------

1. While the oClock container is open in design mode, click New Property on the
  Class menu. In the New Property dialog box, enter lttoggle as the Name, and
  click OK.

2. In the Init event of oClock, add the following line of code:

     This.lttoggle=.t.

3. In the Refresh method of tdisplay, the followings lines of code replace the
  lines of code for the Refresh method as shown in Step 4 in the previous
  section:

     IF This.Parent.lttoggle
        This.Value=IIF(BETWEEN(VAL(LEFT(Time(),2)),12,23), ;
           ALLTRIM(STR(VAL(LEFT(Time(),2))-12))+ SUBSTR(Time(),3,6)+' PM', ;
           IIF(BETWEEN(VAL(LEFT(Time(),2)),1,11), ;
           ALLTRIM(STR(VAL(LEFT(Time(),2))))+ SUBSTR(Time(),3,6)+' AM', ;
           '12'+ SUBSTR(Time(),3,6)+ ' AM'))
        This.Width=85
        This.Parent.Width=85
     ELSE
        This.Value = Time()
        This.Width=60
        This.Parent.Width=60
     ENDIF

4. In the oClock DblClick event, enter the following two lines of code:

     This.lttoggle= !This.lttoggle
     This.tdisplay.Refresh

5. Save the container class.

6. Run the previously saved seeclock form. When the form initially loads, the
  time is displayed in standard AM/PM format. Double-click the oClock object,
  and note that the time now toggles to military format. Then double-click the
  Clock object to toggle the time display between the two formats.

Additional query words: VFoxWin normal switch

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Keywords          : kbcode 
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP300 kbVFP300b
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0b

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