How do I automate a traffic light cycle in C#?

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Hi, im currently learning C# at school. Were supposed to create a working traffic light system. You can already zap through the phases but I want to add another button, which runs the whole thing with a delay between actions. My question now is: How do I setup such a timer?

My code until now:

void Button1Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
		{
			if (panel3.BackColor == Color.Green) 
			{
				panel2.BackColor = Color.Yellow;
				panel3.BackColor = Color.Black;
				panel5.BackColor = Color.Yellow;
			}
			
			else if (panel2.BackColor == Color.Yellow && panel1.BackColor == Color.Black) 
			{
				panel1.BackColor = Color.Red;
				panel2.BackColor = Color.Black;
				panel4.BackColor = Color.Black;
				panel5.BackColor = Color.Black;
				panel6.BackColor = Color.Green;
			}
			
			else if (panel1.BackColor == Color.Red && panel2.BackColor == Color.Black) 
			{
				panel2.BackColor = Color.Yellow;
				panel5.BackColor = Color.Yellow;
				panel6.BackColor = Color.Black;
			}
			
			else if (panel1.BackColor == Color.Red && panel2.BackColor == Color.Yellow) 
			{
				panel1.BackColor = Color.Black;
				panel2.BackColor = Color.Black;
				panel3.BackColor = Color.Green;
				panel5.BackColor = Color.Black;
				panel4.BackColor = Color.Red;

What I have tried:

I already googled of course but I couldn't seem to find somebody that explains it for SharpDevelop. I saw many people using VisualStudio, but I want to do it in SharpDevelop.

Posted 26-Nov-22 4:28am

crizzli

Updated 26-Nov-22 7:47am

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Richard MacCutchan · Answer 1 · 2022-11-26T04:48:00

Solution 1

The simplest way would be to use the Thread.Sleep Method (System.Threading) | Microsoft Learn[^]

Posted 26-Nov-22 4:48am

Richard MacCutchan

Comments

crizzli 26-Nov-22 11:03am

I added Thread.Sleep(2000) in between lines. However when I press the button, the programm freezes for a few seconds but nothing changed.

void Button2Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (panel3.BackColor == Color.Green)
{
panel2.BackColor = Color.Yellow;
panel3.BackColor = Color.Black;
panel5.BackColor = Color.Yellow;
}

Thread.Sleep(1000);

if (panel2.BackColor == Color.Yellow && panel1.BackColor == Color.Black)
{
panel1.BackColor = Color.Red;
panel2.BackColor = Color.Black;
panel4.BackColor = Color.Black;
panel5.BackColor = Color.Black;
panel6.BackColor = Color.Green;
}

Thread.Sleep(1000);

if (panel1.BackColor == Color.Red && panel2.BackColor == Color.Black)
{
panel2.BackColor = Color.Yellow;
panel5.BackColor = Color.Yellow;
panel6.BackColor = Color.Black;
}

Thread.Sleep(1000);

if (panel1.BackColor == Color.Red && panel2.BackColor == Color.Yellow)
{
panel1.BackColor = Color.Black;
panel2.BackColor = Color.Black;
panel3.BackColor = Color.Green;
panel5.BackColor = Color.Black;
panel4.BackColor = Color.Red;
}

Richard MacCutchan 26-Nov-22 11:34am

Yes, that is a problem with sleep, it stops the screen from being updated. The way round this is to use timers and delegates or background workers. But those are somewhat advanced subjects.

peterkmx · Answer 2 · 2022-11-26T07:47:00

A possible solution is to use async-await (in .NET Framework above 4.5).
I created this quick example in .NET Framework 4.6.1
In this case, the winform does not freeze when waiting for "Say Hello" after button click, and you can move the GUI freely when it waits. Perhaps this async-await pattern is suitable in your case. I suggest to try it,
BR

// .NET Framework 4.6.1
//-------------------------------
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace WindowsFormsApp1
{
  public partial class Form1 : Form
  {
    public Form1()
    {
      InitializeComponent();
    }

    private async void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
      await Task.Delay(15000);
      MessageBox.Show("Say Hello");
    }
  }
}