README.md

MZTimerLabel

###Purpose

MZTimerLabel is a UILabel subclass, which is a handy way to use UILabel as a countdown timer or stopwatch just like that in Apple Clock App with just 2 lines of code. MZTimerLabel also provides delegate method for you to define the action when the timer finished.

Author: MineS Chan and awesome contributors.

Remark: This is my first iOS plugin project on github, please accept my apologize if any bad coding.

###Requirements

• ARC
• iOS 5.0+

###Installations

####Manual

1. Download or clone MZTimerLabel, add MZTimerLabel.h and MZTimerLabel.m source files into your project.
2. #import "MZTimerLabel.h" whereever you need it.

####CocoaPods

(Unfamiliar with CocoaPods yet? It's a dependency management tool for iOS and Mac, check it out!)

1. Add pod 'MZTimerLabel' to your podfiles

####Carthage Another dependency manager is Carthage, which does not have a centralized repository.

1. Add github "mineschan/MZTimerLabel" to your Cartfile

###Easy Example

To use MZTimerLabel as a stopwatch and counter, you need only 2 lines.

   MZTimerLabel *stopwatch = [[MZTimerLabel alloc] initWithLabel:aUILabel];
   [stopwatch start];

Easy? If you are looking for a timer, things is just similar.

   MZTimerLabel *timer = [[MZTimerLabel alloc] initWithLabel:aUILabel andTimerType:MZTimerLabelTypeTimer];
   [timer setCountDownTime:60];
   [timer start];

Now the timer will start counting from 60 to 0 ;)

###Custom Appearance

As MZTimerLabel is a UILabel subclass, you can directly allocate it as a normal UILabel and customize timeLabel property just like usual.

   MZTimerLabel *redStopwatch = [[MZTimerLabel alloc] init];
   redStopwatch.frame = CGRectMake(100,50,100,20);
   redStopwatch.timeLabel.font = [UIFont systemFontOfSize:20.0f];
   redStopwatch.timeLabel.textColor = [UIColor redColor];
   [self.view addSubview:redStopwatch];
   [redStopwatch start];

MZTimerLabel uses 00:00:00 (HH:mm:ss) as time format, if you prefer using another format such as including milliseconds.Your can set your time format like below.

timerExample4.timeFormat = @"HH:mm:ss SS";

###Control the timer

You can start,pause,reset your timer with your custom control, set your control up and call these methods:

-(void)start;
-(void)pause;
-(void)reset;

Getter and Setters

You may control the time value and behaviours at the begining or during runtime with these properties and methods

@property (assign) BOOL shouldCountBeyondHHLimit;   //see example #12
@property (assign) BOOL resetTimerAfterFinish;      //see example #7

-(void)setCountDownTime:(NSTimeInterval)time;
-(void)setStopWatchTime:(NSTimeInterval)time;
-(void)setCountDownToDate:(NSDate*)date;
-(void)addTimeCountedByTime:(NSTimeInterval)timeToAdd; //see example #10, #11

And if you want to have information of the timer, here is how.

@property (assign,readonly) BOOL counting;  //see example #4-7

- (NSTimeInterval)getTimeCounted;    //see example #3
- (NSTimeInterval)getTimeRemaining;  //see example #3
- (NSTimeInterval)getCountDownTime;  

###Timer Finish Handling

Usually when you need a timer, you need to deal with it after it finished. Following are 2 examples showing how to do it using delegate and block methods.

####Delegate

First, set the delegate of the timer label.

timer.delegate = self;

And then implement MZTimerLabelDelegate protocol in your dedicated class

@interface ViewController : UIViewController<MZTimerLabelDelegate>

Finally, implement the delegate method timerLabel:finshedCountDownTimerWithTimeWithTime:

-(void)timerLabel:(MZTimerLabel*)timerLabel finshedCountDownTimerWithTime:(NSTimeInterval)countTime{
   //time is up, what should I do master?
}

####Blocks

Block is a very convenient way to handle the callbacks, MZTimerLabel makes your life even easier.

   MZTimerLabel *timer = [[MZTimerLabel alloc] initWithLabel:aUILabel andTimerType:MZTimerLabelTypeTimer];
   [timer3 setCountDownTime:60]; 
   [timer startWithEndingBlock:^(NSTimeInterval countTime) {
       //oh my gosh, it's awesome!!
   }];

Or set it seperately

   [timer3 setCountDownTime:60]; 
   timer.endedBlock = ^(NSTimeInterval countTime) {
       //oh my gosh, it's awesome!!
   };
   [timer start];

###More Examples

Please check the demo project I provided, with well explained example code inside.

###License This code is distributed under the terms and conditions of the MIT license.

What's coming up next?

1. Submit to CocaPods
2. Better performance.
3. Your suggestions!:D