clock() in C++

[valkyrie]

I wanted to know,,,clock(); functioning in C++,,,actually I am making a program based on IQ analysis and It has certain time limit in each question for answering,,,but as I don't know how to use clock(),,,,,that's why it's creating a problem for me.....plzzz help me out.....I would be very thankful...

[alaa sam]

try this link

[Ancient Dragon]

Your link appears to be broken -- I get an IE error that the page can not be displayed.

[Fbody]

Try this one:
http://cplusplus.com/reference/clibrary/ctime/difftime/
I think it was the intended destination.

[Ancient Dragon]

That link works ok, but it does not sole the OPs question.

@valkyrie: You will want to ask the question(s) in another thead so that the main thread can cancel it out when the time has expired. Something on this order (assuming MS-Windows operating system). Note that you don't have to use clock() at all.

int questionThread(void* ptr)
{
   // display and ask a question here
}

int main()
{
   for each question
   {
     create thread using questionThread()
     wait for thread to finish normally or timeout expires.  WaitForSingleObject() will do that for you.
   }
}

[alaa sam]

<<I think it was the intended destination.
yes it was

[pseudorandom21]

You could use instead: http://cplusplus.com/reference/clibrary/ctime/time/

[valkyrie]

thanks for your...response...I have got to know how to implement clock();......but here's the real problem......whenever I launch my program,,,it works properly...all the questions are working within time limit...but it seems like they are taking much more time than expected....I guess perhaps...this clock() works on CPU time...isn't??

[valkyrie]

have a look at my program....

#include<iostream.h>
#include<conio.h>
#include<time.h>
#include<stdio.h>
#include<process.h>
void main()
{	clrscr();
	char name[20],choice;
	int score=0,user;
	clock_t t1,t2;
	double dif;
	cout<<"\t\t\t\tNt$ MULTIBAY\n\n\n";
	cout<<"ENTER YOUR NAME:";
	cin.getline(name,20);
	cout<<"\nBONJOUR"<<" "<<name<<" "<<"THIS PROGRAM IS NOW GOING TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH SOME UNUSUAL"<<"\n MENTAL TACTICS.\n";
	cout<<"\n\t\t\t**INSTRUCTIONS**\n";
	cout<<"*\nTHERE ARE SOME SIMPLE OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS.\n"<<"\n*QUESTIONS ARE BASED ON"<<"\nMENTAL ABILITIES AND CREATIVITY.\n"<<"\n*THERE IS CERTAIN TIME LIMIT FOR EACH SUCCESSIVE QUESTION,WHICH IS MENTIONED"<<"\n BESIDE IT. If you fall in out of time, then program exits automatically.\n"<<"\n*THERE IS CERTAIN KIND OF MARKING SCHEME ALSO,WHICH WILL BE SHOWN AFTER THE"<<"\n COMPLETION OF USER TEST.\n"<<"\n*USE OF DIGITAL GADGETS (calculator,mobile etc.) FOR ANSWERING IS NOT ALLOWED.";
	cout<<"\nSO BE READY FOR ANALYSIS !!! ";
	cout<<"\n\nEnter key code for beginning test.";
	cin>>user;
	if(user==007)
	{       unsigned long MAX_TIME_LIMIT=7000/CLOCKS_PER_SEC;
		t1=clock();
		cout<<"\n\n\nQUE 01> A farmer had 20 hens. All but 2 died.How many hens are still alive?"<<" "<<"\nT=20seconds";
		cout<<"\n\na)20 hens"<<"\nb)18 hens"<<"\nc)2 hens"<<"\nd)0 hens"<<"\ne)none of these"<<"\n\nEnter your choice:";
		cin>>choice;
		t2=clock();
		dif=difftime(t2,t1);
		if(dif>MAX_TIME_LIMIT)
		{	cout<<"\nOUT OF TIME.";
			exit(0);
		}
		switch(choice)
		{	case 'a': score=1;
			break;
			case 'b': score=2;
			break;
			case 'c': score=10;
			break;
			case 'd': score=4;
			break;
			case 'e': score=0;
			break;
			default: cout<<"wrong choice.";
		}
	t1=clock();
	cout<<"\n\nQUE 2> Divide 60 by half and deduce 20 from it. What do you get?"<<"\nT=20 seconds";
	cout<<"\n\na)10"<<"\nb)60"<<"\nc)100"<<"\nd)120"<<"\ne)none of these"<<"\n\nEnter your choice:";
	cin>>choice;
	t2=clock();
	dif=difftime(t2,t1);
		if(dif>MAX_TIME_LIMIT)
		{	cout<<"\nOUT OF TIME.";
			exit(0);
		}
	switch(choice)
		{	case 'a': score+=1;
			break;
			case 'b': score+=2;
			break;
			case 'c': score+=10;
			break;
			case 'd': score+=4;
			break;
			case 'e': score+=0;
			break;
			default: cout<<"wrong choice.";
		}
	t1=clock();
	cout<<"\n\nQUE 3> The hour hand of an analog clock moves 1/60th of a"<<endl;
	cout<<"degree every minute. Then how many degrees will the hour hand move"<<endl;
	cout<<"in one hour?"<<"\nT=20 seconds"<<"\n\na)120 degree"<<"\nb)360 degree"<<"\nc)1 degree"<<"\nd)240 degree"<<"\ne)none of these"<<"\n\nEnter your choice:";
	cin>>choice;
	t2=clock();
	dif=difftime(t2,t1);
		if(dif>MAX_TIME_LIMIT)
		{	cout<<"\nOUT OF TIME.";
			exit(0);
		}
	switch(choice)
		{	case 'a': score+=1;
			break;
			case 'b': score+=2;
			break;
			case 'c': score+=10;
			break;
			case 'd': score+=4;
			break;
			case 'e': score+=0;
			break;
			default: cout<<"wrong choice.";
		}
	t1=clock();
	cout<<"\n\nQUE 4> If 5+3+2 = 151012, 9+2+4 = 183662, 8+6+3 = 482466, 5+4+5 = 202504 then"<<"\nwhat will be the answer of 7+2+5?"<<"\nT=20 seconds"<<"\n\na)198264"<<"\nb)138416"<<"\nc)143542"<<"\nd)156824"<<"\ne)none of these"<<"\n\nEnter your choice:";
	cin>>choice;
	t2=clock();
	dif=difftime(t2,t1);
		if(dif>MAX_TIME_LIMIT)
		{	cout<<"\nOUT OF TIME.";
			exit(0);
		}
	switch(choice)
		{	case 'a': score+=1;
			break;
			case 'b': score+=2;
			break;
			case 'c': score+=10;
			break;
			case 'd': score+=4;
			break;
			case 'e': score+=0;
			break;
			default: cout<<"wrong choice.";
		}
	t1=clock();
	cout<<"\n\nQUE 5> Five men were eating apples. A finished before B, but behind C."<<"\nD finished before E,but behind B. What was the finishing order?"<<"\nT=20 seconds"<<"\n\na)A.B.C.D.E"<<"\nb)A.C.B.D.E"<<"\nc)C.A.B.D.E"<<"\nd)D.A.C.B.E"<<"\ne)none of these"<<"\n\nEnter your choice:";
	cin>>choice;
	t2=clock();
	dif=difftime(t2,t1);
		if(dif>MAX_TIME_LIMIT)
		{	cout<<"\nOUT OF TIME.";
			exit(0);
		}
	switch(choice)
		{	case 'a': score+=1;
			break;
			case 'b': score+=2;
			break;
			case 'c': score+=10;
			break;
			case 'd': score+=4;
			break;
			case 'e': score+=0;
			break;
			default: cout<<"wrong choice.";
		}
	t1=clock();
	cout<<"\n\nQUE 6> Some pencils are erasers. All erasers are papers. Some papers are"<<"\npens and some pens are erasers. So pencils are obviously pens?"<<"\nT=20 seconds"<<"\n\na) It doesn't matter"<<"\nb)Can't say"<<"\nc)False"<<"\nd)True"<<"\ne)none of these"<<"\n\nEnter your choice:";
	cin>>choice;
	t2=clock();
	dif=difftime(t2,t1);
		if(dif>MAX_TIME_LIMIT)
		{	cout<<"\nOUT OF TIME.";
			exit(0);
		}
	switch(choice)
		{	case 'a': score+=1;
			break;
			case 'b': score+=2;
			break;
			case 'c': score+=10;
			break;
			case 'd': score+=4;
			break;
			case 'e': score+=0;
			break;
			default: cout<<"wrong choice.";
		}
	t1=clock();
	cout<<"\n\nQUE 7>Arnold bought a brand new car with one extra tyre. Each tyre can sustain"<<"\nfor maximum of 1200 kms."<<"\nIf all the tyres were used equally, how far can the car travel?"<<"\nT=20 seconds"<<"\n\na)900 kms"<<"\nb)1000 kms"<<"\nc)1500 kms"<<"\nd)1200 kms"<<"\ne)none of these"<<"\n\nEnter your choice:";
	cin>>choice;
	t2=clock();
	dif=difftime(t2,t1);
		if(dif>MAX_TIME_LIMIT)
		{	cout<<"\nOUT OF TIME.";
			exit(0);
		}
	switch(choice)
		{	case 'a': score+=1;
			break;
			case 'b': score+=2;
			break;
			case 'c': score+=10;
			break;
			case 'd': score+=4;
			break;
			case 'e': score+=0;
			break;
			default: cout<<"wrong choice.";
		}

	t1=clock();
	cout<<"\n\nQUE 8>Santa Express is one kilometer long and always travels at the speed of 60 kilometers per hour."<<
"\nIt passes through a tunnel which is one kilometer long. How long the Express"<<"\n will take to pass completely through the tunnel?"<<"\nT=20 seconds"<<"\n\na)60 minutes"<<"\nb)0.5 minute"<<"\nc)2 minutes"<<"\nd)1 minute"<<"\ne)none of these"<<"\n\nEnter your choice:";
	cin>>choice;
	t2=clock();
	dif=difftime(t2,t1);
		if(dif>MAX_TIME_LIMIT)
		{	cout<<"\nOUT OF TIME.";
			exit(0);
		}
	switch(choice)
		{	case 'a': score+=1;
			break;
			case 'b': score+=2;
			break;
			case 'c': score+=10;
			break;
			case 'd': score+=4;
			break;
			case 'e': score+=0;
			break;
			default: cout<<"wrong choice.";
		}


	t1=clock();
	cout<<"\n\nQUE 9>The game of Tic-Tac-Toe is being played between two players. Only the last"<<"\n mark to be placed in the game as shown.Who will win the game, O or X?"<<"\nAssume that both the players are intelligent enough."<<"\nT=20 seconds"<<"\n\na)X will win"<<"\nb)O will win"<<"\nc)Both have the same probablity"<<"\nd)Tie breaker"<<"\ne)How do you get such questions";
	cout<<"\n\n\tX"<<"\tO"<<"\n\tX"<<"\n\tO"<<"\tO"<<"\tX"<<"\n\n\nEnter your choice:";
	cin>>choice;
	t2=clock();
	dif=difftime(t2,t1);
		if(dif>MAX_TIME_LIMIT)
		{	cout<<"\nOUT OF TIME.";
			exit(0);
		}
	switch(choice)
		{	case 'a': score+=1;
			break;
			case 'b': score+=2;
			break;
			case 'c': score+=10;
			break;
			case 'd': score+=4;
			break;
			case 'e': score+=0;
			break;
			default: cout<<"wrong choice.";
		}
	t1=clock();
	cout<<"\n\nQUE 10>What would be the seventh rung of the following pyramid?"<<"\n\t1"<<"\n\t11"<<"\n\t21"<<"\n\t1211"<<"\n\t111221"<<"\n\t312211"<<"\n\t13112221"<<"\n\t________?"<<"\nT=40 seconds"<<"\n\na)1313513416"<<"\nb)5817251412"<<"\nc)1113213211"<<"\nd)4567214213"<<"\ne)none of these"<<"\n\nEnter your choice:";
	cin>>choice;
	t2=clock();
	dif=difftime(t2,t1);
		if(dif>MAX_TIME_LIMIT)
		{	cout<<"\nOUT OF TIME.";
			exit(0);
		}
	switch(choice)
		{	case 'a': score+=1;
			break;
			case 'b': score+=2;
			break;
			case 'c': score+=10;
			break;
			case 'd': score+=4;
			break;
			case 'e': score+=0;
			break;
			default: cout<<"wrong choice.";
		}
	t1=clock();
	cout<<"\n\nQUE 11>Count down the numbers of '#' from the given figure:"<<"\nT=40 seconds"<<"\n\n\t****#*#*###*@@@#****"<<"\n\t**#@#@@*@##**@@"<<"\n\t#*@*@**@@#"<<"\n\t@*@*#"<<"\n\t#"<<"\n\t#"<<"\n\t#*@*@"<<"\n\t#*@*@**@@#"<<"\n\t**#@#@@*@##**@@"<<"\n\t****#*#*###*@@@#****";
	cout<<"\na)26"<<"\nb)27"<<"\nc)28"<<"\nd)29"<<"\ne)none of these"<<"\n\nEnter your choice:";
	cin>>choice;
	t2=clock();
	dif=difftime(t2,t1);
		if(dif>MAX_TIME_LIMIT)
		{	cout<<"\nOUT OF TIME.";
			exit(0);
		}
	switch(choice)
		{	case 'a': score+=1;
			break;
			case 'b': score+=2;
			break;
			case 'c': score+=10;
			break;
			case 'd': score+=4;
			break;
			case 'e': score+=0;
			break;
			default: cout<<"wrong choice.";
		}
                cout<<"your total score:"<<" "<<score;
	}
	else
	cout<<"\nINVALID KEYCODE.PROGRAM IS NOW TERMINATING.";
	getch();
}

[valkyrie]

and yah..is there any way to add images to the output screen of my C++??(m using borland!!!)....images may be of extensions like..bitmap..jpeg etc..

[template<>]

Do you know how to use classes yet?

It would be cleaner to model your problem using classes.

[pseudorandom21]

Your teachers don't care what technologies you use for that? That seems ood...

[valkyrie]

nope,,,we haven't reach to "classes" yet....

[template<>]

If you must use clock then you problably do'nt want to use difftime since difftime is expecting time_t as input rather than clock_t. Note the function signature. double difftime ( time_t time2, time_t time1 );

Sample code show what happens when you pass clock_t into difftime rather than using time_t. You get a much larger delay.

1 #include <iostream>
  2 #include <time.h>
  3 
  4 
  5 int main()
  6 {
  7     clock_t c1 = clock();
  8     time_t t1 = time(0);
  9     
 10     sleep(1); 
 11     
 12     time_t t2 = time(0);
 13     clock_t c2 = clock();
 14     
 15     size_t cdiff = difftime(c2,c1);
 16     size_t tdiff = difftime(t2,t1);
 17     
 18     std::cout << "clock diff=[" << cdiff << "]" << std::endl;
 19     std::cout << "time diff=[" << tdiff << "]" << std::endl;
 20     
 21     return 0;
 22 }