FireMonkey controls do not animate smoothly

Question

Background

I\'ve created a GUI using some FireMonkey controls.

• Some controls are animated and their appearance updates automatically.

Answer 1

I've created a timer based repaint method as Arnaud Bouchez suggested in the comments above. So far it seems to work.

Code

unit FmxInvalidateHack;

interface

uses
  Fmx.Types;

procedure InvalidateControl(aControl : TControl);


implementation

uses
  Contnrs;

type
  TInvalidator = class
  private
  protected
    Timer : TTimer;
    List  : TObjectList;
    procedure Step(Sender : TObject);
  public
    constructor Create;
    destructor Destroy; override;

    procedure AddToQueue(aControl : TControl);
  end;

var
  GlobalInvalidator : TInvalidator;

procedure InvalidateControl(aControl : TControl);
begin
  if not assigned(GlobalInvalidator) then
  begin
    GlobalInvalidator := TInvalidator.Create;
  end;
  GlobalInvalidator.AddToQueue(aControl);
end;


{ TInvalidator }

constructor TInvalidator.Create;
const
  FrameRate = 30;
begin
  List  := TObjectList.Create;
  List.OwnsObjects := false;

  Timer := TTimer.Create(nil);
  Timer.OnTimer  := Step;
  Timer.Interval := round(1000 / FrameRate);
  Timer.Enabled  := true;
end;

destructor TInvalidator.Destroy;
begin
  Timer.Free;
  List.Free;
  inherited;
end;

procedure TInvalidator.AddToQueue(aControl: TControl);
begin
  if List.IndexOf(aControl) = -1 then
  begin
    List.Add(aControl);
  end;
end;

procedure TInvalidator.Step(Sender: TObject);
var
  c1: Integer;
begin
  for c1 := 0 to List.Count-1 do
  begin
    (List[c1] as TControl).Repaint;
  end;
  List.Clear;
end;


initialization

finalization
  if assigned(GlobalInvalidator) then GlobalInvalidator.Free;

end.

==

Usage

A control can be repainted by calling:

InvalidateControl(MyControl);

The InvalidateControl() procedure doesn't repaint the control immediately. Instead it adds the control to a list. A global timer later checks the list, calls Repaint() and removes the control from the list. Using this method, a control can be invalidated as needed but will not block other controls from being updated, as rapid Repaint() calls do.