Implementing a Timer on a Slide using VBA

[John Wilson]

Using API calls is not a good idea if you are not a competant programmer. I wouldn't go there. The sleep API will prevent anything else happening. You could use the SetTimer API but that is even more tricky to use properly.

Also you should credit the author (Shyam Pillai) when you post his code.

If you insist though you could try this:

#If VBA7 Then
    ' allows for 64 bit
    Public Declare PtrSafe Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
#Else
    Public Declare  Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
#End If

Sub Tmr()
    Dim TMinus As Integer
    ' Countdown in seconds
    TMinus = 10
    With ActivePresentation.Slides(1).Shapes(1)
        Do While (TMinus > -1)
            ' Suspend program execution for 1 second (1000 milliseconds)
            Sleep 1000
            TMinus = TMinus - 1
            .TextFrame.TextRange = CStr(TMinus + 1) & "Secs"
            ' Very crucial else the display won't refresh itself
            DoEvents
        Loop
    End With
End Sub

If you want a timer running across the opresentation I would search for a free windows desktop timer. Most of these will run in front of your presentation.