Delayed infinte loop

[Colton.Wagner]

I am trying to make a script that changes data in a div container every 6000 milliseconds. The php code is correct and I will have no problems fixing that if there are any tweaks needed. So far this is what I have.

function variation(str){
		var xmlhttp;
		if (str.length==0){
		  document.getElementById("variation").innerHTML="";
		  return;
		  }
		if (window.XMLHttpRequest){ // code for IE7+, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari
		  xmlhttp=new XMLHttpRequest();
			 }
		else{ // code for IE6, IE5
		  xmlhttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
		  }
		xmlhttp.onreadystatechange=function(){
			 if (xmlhttp.readyState==4 && xmlhttp.status==200){
		    document.getElementById("variation").innerHTML=xmlhttp.responseText;
		    }
		  }
		xmlhttp.open("GET","./includes/variation.php?id="+str,true);
		xmlhttp.send();
		}
		function variationTimer(){
			for(i=1;i<4;i++){
				variation(i);
				i++;
				if (i>=3){
					i = 1;
				}
				setTimeout("variationTimer()",6000);
			}
		}

I am very aware that it is an infinite loop however I want this to be endless so I do not want it to stop after so many revolutions. Any help would be much appreciated thank you!

[trq]

What is your question?

[Colton.Wagner]

Sorry,

Why when I run this script or call the function does it cause latency and freeze the browser? Is there a better way to delay an infinite loop? As of right now it looks like I just programmed a processing nightmare.

Thanks again for any help.

[DavidAM]

function variationTimer(){
for(i=1;i<4;i++){
	variation(i);
	i++;
	if (i>=3){
		i = 1;
	}
	setTimeout("variationTimer()",6000);
}
}

 

This function is running an infinite FOR loop which is calling setTimeout ON EVERY PASS THROUGH THE LOOP. In very short order you have set hundreds of timers. And as those timers fire, they are each starting ANOTHER infinite FOR loop and setting more timers, which are starting more infinite FOR loops and setting more timers, which are starting more infinite FOR loops and setting more timers, which are starting more infinite FOR loops and setting more timers --- ad infinitum

 

Well, I think that's the case. I'm no JavaScript expert

[Colton.Wagner]

That's what I figured I just am not aware of a pause is javascript that doesn't require you to call a new function. Sorry for the confusion. I guess a more appropriate question to ask would be. Is there a way to delay by a set time in javascript then continue from where the pause ended? Thanks again both of you are very helpful.

[DavidAM]

So you want to

call variation(1);
pause a while
call variation(2);
pause a while
call variation(3);
pause a while
and so forth?

 

You would need to make the variable i static so it will maintain its value when the function exits.

 

Like I said, I'm no JS expert, but I would do something like this:

 

var i = 1;

function variationTimer(){
variation(i);
i++;
if (i>=3){
	i = 1;
}
setTimeout("variationTimer()",6000);
}

// Kickoff the timer
variationTimer();

[Colton.Wagner]

Correct for the most part it would be possible so long as I did not have to call another function to do so.