Wait Function, Code Stopping Unexpectedly

[FracinDean]

I'm trying to use the wait function to make a picture rotate slowly. When I run the code, the macro pauses unexpectedly until I hit the "Esc" key, and then after that, it runs as expected. Any ideas how to avoid the initial unexpected pause? Code below, and thank you for taking a look.

    Dim i As Integer, delay As Double, waitTime As Double
    ActiveSheet.Shapes.Range(Array("Picture 4")).Select
    For i = 1 To 12
        Selection.ShapeRange.ThreeD.RotationZ = -i * 30
        delay = 0.002                                       'in seconds
        waitTime = TimeSerial(Hour(Now()), Minute(Now()), Second(Now()) + delay)
        Application.Wait waitTime
    Next i

 

[JLGWhiz]

I never liked the Wait method. Jim Ogilvy showed me this method years ago and I have found it very reliable.

Dim i As Integer, w As Double
    ActiveSheet.Shapes.Range(Array("Picture 4")).Select
    For i = 1 To 12
        Selection.ShapeRange.ThreeD.RotationZ = -i * 30
        w = Counter + 0.002
        Do While Counter < w
            DoEvents
        Loop
    Next i

 

[FracinDean]

I never liked the Wait method. Jim Ogilvy showed me this method years ago and I have found it very reliable.

Dim i As Integer, w As Double
    ActiveSheet.Shapes.Range(Array("Picture 4")).Select
    For i = 1 To 12
        Selection.ShapeRange.ThreeD.RotationZ = -i * 30
        w = Counter + 0.002
        Do While Counter < w
            DoEvents
        Loop
    Next i

Thanks JLGWHiz. I don't understand how Counter is getting initialized or changed. What is the value of Counter?

 

[JLGWhiz]

The counter is a built in feature of the OS. It is a timing function that allows you to set your values in seconds or decimal parts of seconds. and I am not sure just how many decimal places it will measure, but it seems to work fine with miliseconds. When you initialize the variable 'w' with the 'Counter + 0.002' value, it simply adds 0.002 to whatever the counter is (makes no difference if it starts a 0 or 451.008) then the 'DoEvents' will loop for 0.002 seconds at which point it yields back to the procedure and resumes running.

 

[FracinDean]

Very clear and thanks for the help.

 

[JLGWhiz]

OOPS! It has been a long time since I used that. It should be Timer, not Counter. But it works like I described.

Dim i As Integer, w As Double
    ActiveSheet.Shapes.Range(Array("Picture 4")).Select
    For i = 1 To 12
        Selection.ShapeRange.ThreeD.RotationZ = -i * 30
        w = Timer + 0.002
        Do While Timer < w
            DoEvents
        Loop
    Next i

 

[FracinDean]

Well I didn’t want to split hairs but when I tried it and Counter didn’t work, I found another way using the Serial time function. Thanks for explaining that it should have been Timer. Now I know two ways to do it, but yours is better. Thanks again.

 

[JLGWhiz]

Well I didn’t want to split hairs but when I tried it and Counter didn’t work, I found another way using the Serial time function. Thanks for explaining that it should have been Timer. Now I know two ways to do it, but yours is better. Thanks again.

Yeah, the senility slips in there once in a while, but in my more lucid moments I can come up with some fairly good code.
Regards, JLG