Timer
Fire a backend event after a delay with the start_timer frontend event. Handy for dashboards, status monitors, or any case that needs a delayed or periodic update without user interaction.
Pass the event name to fire and the delay in milliseconds:
client->follow_up_action(
val = client->cs_event-start_timer
t_arg = VALUE #( ( `REFRESH` ) ( `2000` ) ) ).After 2 seconds the browser triggers a backend roundtrip with the event name REFRESH, which you handle via check_on_event like any other event.
Periodic Refresh
To get a repeating timer, simply re-arm it at the end of each handler:
CLASS z2ui5_cl_sample_timer DEFINITION PUBLIC.
PUBLIC SECTION.
INTERFACES z2ui5_if_app.
DATA counter TYPE i.
PROTECTED SECTION.
PRIVATE SECTION.
ENDCLASS.
CLASS z2ui5_cl_sample_timer IMPLEMENTATION.
METHOD z2ui5_if_app~main.
CASE abap_true.
WHEN client->check_on_init( ).
DATA(view) = z2ui5_cl_ui5_view_builder=>factory(
)->ele( n = `View` ns = `mvc`
)->a( n = `xmlns` v = `sap.m`
)->a( n = `xmlns:mvc` v = `sap.ui.core.mvc`
)->ele( `Page`
)->a( n = `title` v = `abap2UI5 - Timer`
)->tag( `Text`
)->a( n = `text` v = client->_bind( counter ) ).
client->view_display( view->stringify( ) ).
client->follow_up_action( val = client->cs_event-start_timer
t_arg = VALUE #( ( `TICK` ) ( `2000` ) ) ).
WHEN client->check_on_event( `TICK` ).
counter = counter + 1.
client->follow_up_action( val = client->cs_event-start_timer
t_arg = VALUE #( ( `TICK` ) ( `2000` ) ) ).
ENDCASE.
ENDMETHOD.
ENDCLASS.The counter increments every 2 seconds. To stop the loop, simply don't re-arm the timer in the handler.
One-Shot Timer
A single start_timer call fires once — perfect for a deferred action like opening a new tab after a short delay:
WHEN client->check_on_event( `BUTTON_OPEN_NEW_TAB` ).
client->follow_up_action( val = client->cs_event-start_timer
t_arg = VALUE #( ( `FIRE_OPEN_TAB` ) ( `500` ) ) ).
WHEN client->check_on_event( `FIRE_OPEN_TAB` ).
client->follow_up_action( val = client->cs_event-open_new_tab
t_arg = VALUE #( ( `https://www.google.com/search?q=abap2ui5` ) ) ).Replacing a Pending Timer
There is one timer at a time. Calling start_timer again before the previous one fires replaces it — useful for a debounce, e.g. auto-saving an input field 500 ms after the last keystroke.
WARNING
Each timer tick causes a full backend roundtrip. Use sensible intervals (e.g. 2000 ms or more) to avoid heavy server load.
Working Samples
Complete apps from the sample catalog
that use what this page describes. Each is a single class — pull the repository with
abapGit and start it with ?app_start=<class>.
| Sample | Class |
|---|---|
| Progress Indicator during a Backend Call (A) | Z2UI5_CL_SMP_APP_064 |
| Refresh the View Every n Seconds (A) | Z2UI5_CL_SMP_APP_028 |