Multiple forms - do timers in each form run concurrently?

Question

I've got a database with a navigation form containing tabs to other forms.  Do all the timer events for all the forms all run at the same time?  Or do they only activate when the form is active?

Answer 1

They run at the same time and are independent of one another, but don't over do it with timers as they can be a performance drain. 

Also, if they are active during your development they cause headaches when coding in VBA!  So be sure such forms are close when you need to do coding.

It's easy to check, create a simple form with a timer event that increments a textbox value and set its timer interval to 100.  Copy this form and now set the timer interval of the new form to 775.  Open both forms, they will both be working based on different intervals.

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Daniel Pineault, 2010-2019 Microsoft MVP
Professional Support: http://www.cardaconsultants.com
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Answer 2

in addition to DP's input.... if you are saying you have tabs, and that the forms are subforms within tabs - then the timers are all working...  the form has to be open to have the timer running....and the fact that it is not 'active' in terms of being visible on screen (because the tab is not selected) has no bearing....

on the other hand I make my own Start screens and don't use MS' navigation forms and so if those are buttons that open these other forms then the timers are not working.....

a form is open if you can call/reference a control i.e. forms!FormName.ControlName      so if that is the case the timer is working.....

Answer 3

Access is single-threaded meaning it can only "do one thing at the time".

So, while the timers may appear to run simultaneously, if one trigs an action (like running a query or printing a report), the others will pause until the action has ended.

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Gustav Brock