javascript delay

[benams]

I use the following code in order to display a fake sending method that lasts 1 second:

$("#" + action + "-submit-message").text("sending...");

var startTime = new Date().getTime();
while (new Date().getTime() < startTime + 1000);

$("#" + action + "-submit-message").text("sent!");

Despite of that, I can see only the "sent!" message in the end of the function, when I expect to see the "sending..." for a second. What can be the problem?

[Graham Breach]

I guess your while loop is locking out the DOM update while it runs. Try using a timer instead:

$("#" + action + "-submit-message").text("sending...");

setTimeout(function() {
$("#" + action + "-submit-message").text("sent!");
},1000);

[benams]

I have tried something similar to:

function f(){
$("#" + action + "-submit-message").text("sending...");

setTimeout(done(),1000);
}
function done()
{
$("#" + action + "-submit-message").text("sent!");
}

but what I get is the "sending..." message permanently(the "sent!" is never displayed)

[Graham Breach]

Try removing the () from inside the setTimeout call, like this:

setTimeout(done,1000);

This means you pass the done function to setTimeout to call when the timer runs down, whereas setTimeout(done(),1000); calls done at the start and passes the result to setTimeout to run later, which is not what you want.

[benams]

I think it works, but what if I have to pass parameters to a function? Is there a way to do it?

[Graham Breach]

You should be able to pass parameters to your functions - but you might like to read up on Javascript closures first, or you could find things don't behave quite the way you expect: http://www.javascriptkit.com/javatutors/closures.shtml[^]

[Morgs Morgan]

Hi, Just inclose the done function in either double or single qouts like so:

setTimeout('done()', 1000);

that way you can even pass parameters in the call to the "done" function. Good luck, Morgs