Delay action to wait for user interaction: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Snippets]]
[[Category:Snippets]]


[toc align_right="yes" depth="3"]
[toc align_right="yes" depth="3"]


= Delay action to wait for more user input =
= Delay action to wait for more user input =
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== Usecase ==
== Usecase ==


Have you ever created a text filter that can be used to filter a (big) item view so users can get to their content faster? If you did, you probably simply connected <code>QLineEdit::textChanged ( const QString & text ) </code> to a <code>QSortFilterProxyModel::setFilterXXX </code> method, either via your own slot to add some wildcards or wrap the line edit's string in a regular expression or not. The problem is, now each character typed by the user triggers an update of the whole view, and the proxy model has to go through all the items in your list over and over again. That could get expensive and slow, thereby instead of improving user experience you actually annoy the user…
Have you ever created a text filter that can be used to filter a (big) item view so users can get to their content faster? If you did, you probably simply connected <code>QLineEdit::textChanged ( const QString &amp; text ) </code> to a <code>QSortFilterProxyModel::setFilterXXX </code> method, either via your own slot to add some wildcards or wrap the line edit's string in a regular expression or not. The problem is, now each character typed by the user triggers an update of the whole view, and the proxy model has to go through all the items in your list over and over again. That could get expensive and slow, thereby instead of improving user experience you actually annoy the user…


There are many such cases where events can happen in quick succession, and you'd like your application to respond to these changes. On the one hand, it makes sense to respond to as many of those events in one go as possible, but on the other hand you don't want the update to take too much time after the user is done typing his filter string (or whatever it is you are waiting for).
There are many such cases where events can happen in quick succession, and you'd like your application to respond to these changes. On the one hand, it makes sense to respond to as many of those events in one go as possible, but on the other hand you don't want the update to take too much time after the user is done typing his filter string (or whatever it is you are waiting for).
Line 15: Line 15:
One solution to this problem is to use two timers, one short enough so an update will still appear snappy but long enough that it will probably not trigger before there is more input (for instance, if the user is not done typing his filter), and one longer timer that will trigger a set time after the first event happened, so the update will not be delayed forever as more and more events happen that would otherwise delay the update.
One solution to this problem is to use two timers, one short enough so an update will still appear snappy but long enough that it will probably not trigger before there is more input (for instance, if the user is not done typing his filter), and one longer timer that will trigger a set time after the first event happened, so the update will not be delayed forever as more and more events happen that would otherwise delay the update.


The &lt;code&amp;gt;DelayedExecutionTimer&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt; class implements this approach, making it very easy to apply in all such cases without mucking about with creating, setting and resetting timers for each case where you need this. &lt;code&amp;gt;DelayedExecutionTimer&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt; basically provides one slot &lt;code&amp;gt;trigger()&lt;/code&amp;gt; and one signal &lt;code&amp;gt;triggered()&lt;/code&amp;gt;. Instead of directly connecting the event to the action (connecting the &lt;code&amp;gt;textChanged()&lt;/code&amp;gt; to the &lt;code&amp;gt;setFilter()&lt;/code&amp;gt;, for instance), you connect the &lt;code&amp;gt;QLineEdit::textChanged()&lt;/code&amp;gt; to &lt;code&amp;gt;DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger()&lt;/code&amp;gt;, and &lt;code&amp;gt;DelayedExecutionTimer::triggered()&lt;/code&amp;gt; to &lt;code&amp;gt;QSortFilterProxyModel::setFilter…()&lt;/code&amp;gt;.
The <code>DelayedExecutionTimer</code> class implements this approach, making it very easy to apply in all such cases without mucking about with creating, setting and resetting timers for each case where you need this. <code>DelayedExecutionTimer</code> basically provides one slot <code>trigger()</code> and one signal <code>triggered()</code>. Instead of directly connecting the event to the action (connecting the <code>textChanged()</code> to the <code>setFilter()</code>, for instance), you connect the <code>QLineEdit::textChanged()</code> to <code>DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger()</code>, and <code>DelayedExecutionTimer::triggered()</code> to <code>QSortFilterProxyModel::setFilter…()</code>.


&lt;code&amp;gt;DelayedExecutionTimer&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt; also provides two more versions of both the trigger() slot and the triggered() signal for convenience. These allow to pass a QString or an int as an argument. The triggered() signal will be emitted without argument, and with both a QString and with an int argument, carrying the last value that was passed in by the corresponding trigger() signal (or a default value if no such value was set). As a last convenience feature, you can set pre- and post- strings, that will be added to the string value before the signal is send. This way, connecting the line edit to the &lt;code&amp;gt;SortFilterProxy&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt; model becomes as simple as this:
<code>DelayedExecutionTimer</code> also provides two more versions of both the trigger() slot and the triggered() signal for convenience. These allow to pass a QString or an int as an argument. The triggered() signal will be emitted without argument, and with both a QString and with an int argument, carrying the last value that was passed in by the corresponding trigger() signal (or a default value if no such value was set). As a last convenience feature, you can set pre- and post- strings, that will be added to the string value before the signal is send. This way, connecting the line edit to the <code>SortFilterProxy</code> model becomes as simple as this:


<code><br />// m_proxy is a QSortFilterProxyModel pointer<br />// m_ui-&gt;leFilter is a QLineEdit representing the filter string to use
<code>
// m_proxy is a QSortFilterProxyModel pointer
// m_ui->leFilter is a QLineEdit representing the filter string to use


DelayedExecutionTimer* filterDelay = new DelayedExecutionTimer(this);<br />filterDelay-&gt;setStringPreFix(&quot;'''&quot;);<br />filterDelay-&gt;setStringPostFix(&quot;'''&quot;);<br />connect(m_ui-&gt;leFilter, SIGNAL (textChanged(QString)), filterDelay, SLOT (trigger(QString)));<br />connect(filterDelay, SIGNAL (triggered(QString)), m_proxy, SLOT (setFilterWildcard(QString)));
DelayedExecutionTimer* filterDelay = new DelayedExecutionTimer(this);
filterDelay->setStringPreFix("'''");
filterDelay->setStringPostFix("'''");
connect(m_ui->leFilter, SIGNAL (textChanged(QString)), filterDelay, SLOT (trigger(QString)));
connect(filterDelay, SIGNAL (triggered(QString)), m_proxy, SLOT (setFilterWildcard(QString)));


</code>
</code>
Line 31: Line 37:
=== delayedexecutiontimer.h ===
=== delayedexecutiontimer.h ===


<code><br />/*<br />Copyright © 2011, Andre Somers<br />All rights reserved.
<code>
/*
Copyright © 2011, Andre Somers
All rights reserved.


Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without<br />modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:<br /> * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright<br /> notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.<br /> * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright<br /> notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the<br /> documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.<br /> * Neither the name of the Rathenau Instituut, Andre Somers nor the<br /> names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products<br /> derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
* Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
* Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
* Neither the name of the Rathenau Instituut, Andre Somers nor the
names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
derived from this software without specific prior written permission.


THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS &quot;AS IS&amp;quot; AND<br />ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED<br />WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE<br />DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL ANDRE SOMERS AND/OR RATHENAU INSTITUTE BE LIABLE FOR ANY<br />DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES<br />(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;<br />LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND<br />ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT<br />(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS<br />SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.<br />'''/<br />#ifndef DELAYEDEXECUTIONTIMER_H<br />#define DELAYEDEXECUTIONTIMER_H
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
<br />#include &lt;QObject&amp;gt;<br />class QTimer;
ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
<br />/'''*<br /> Class to delay execution an action in response to events that may come in bursts<br /> '''/<br />class DelayedExecutionTimer : public QObject<br />{<br />Q_OBJECT<br />public:<br /> DelayedExecutionTimer(int maximumDelay = 1000, int minimumDelay = 250, QObject''' parent = 0);<br /> DelayedExecutionTimer(QObject* parent);
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL ANDRE SOMERS AND/OR RATHENAU INSTITUTE BE LIABLE FOR ANY
DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
*/
#ifndef DELAYEDEXECUTIONTIMER_H
#define DELAYEDEXECUTIONTIMER_H


/**<br /> The minimum delay is the time the class will wait after being triggered before<br /> emitting the triggered() signals.<br /> '''/<br /> void setMinimumDelay(int delay) {m_minimumDelay = delay;}<br /> int minimumDelay() const {return m_minimumDelay;}<br /> /'''*<br /> The maximum delay is the maximum time that will pass before a call to the trigger() slot<br /> leads to a triggered() signal.<br /> '''/<br /> void setMaximumDelay(int delay) {m_maximumDelay = delay;}<br /> int maximumDelay() const {return m_maximumDelay;}
#include <QObject>
<br /> /'''*<br /> Sets a string to be attached to the end of the last string set using trigger(QString)<br /> in the triggered(QString) signal. This is useful for, for instance, appending wildcard<br /> characters to a filter string.<br /> '''/<br /> void setStringPostfix(const QString&amp;amp; postfix) {m_postfix = postfix;}<br /> /'''*<br /> Sets a string to be prepended to the beginning of the last string set using trigger(QString)<br /> in the triggered(QString) signal. This is useful for, for instance, appending wildcard<br /> characters to a filter string.<br /> '''/<br /> void setStringPrefix(const QString&amp;amp; prefix) {m_prefix = prefix;}
class QTimer;
<br />signals:<br /> void triggered();<br /> void triggered(QString);<br /> void triggered(int);
<br />public slots:<br /> void trigger();<br /> void trigger(QString);<br /> void trigger(int);
<br />private slots:<br /> void timeout();
<br />private:<br /> int m_minimumDelay;<br /> int m_maximumDelay;
<br /> QTimer''' m_minimumTimer;<br /> QTimer* m_maximumTimer;


QString m_lastString;<br /> int m_lastInt;
/'''*
Class to delay execution an action in response to events that may come in bursts
*/
class DelayedExecutionTimer : public QObject
{
Q_OBJECT
public:
DelayedExecutionTimer(int maximumDelay = 1000, int minimumDelay = 250, QObject''' parent = 0);
DelayedExecutionTimer(QObject* parent);


QString m_prefix;<br /> QString m_postfix;<br />};
/**
The minimum delay is the time the class will wait after being triggered before
emitting the triggered() signals.
*/
void setMinimumDelay(int delay) {m_minimumDelay = delay;}
int minimumDelay() const {return m_minimumDelay;}
/'''*
The maximum delay is the maximum time that will pass before a call to the trigger() slot
leads to a triggered() signal.
*/
void setMaximumDelay(int delay) {m_maximumDelay = delay;}
int maximumDelay() const {return m_maximumDelay;}


#endif // DELAYEDEXECUTIONTIMER_H<br /></code>
/'''*
Sets a string to be attached to the end of the last string set using trigger(QString)
in the triggered(QString) signal. This is useful for, for instance, appending wildcard
characters to a filter string.
*/
void setStringPostfix(const QString&amp;amp; postfix) {m_postfix = postfix;}
/'''*
Sets a string to be prepended to the beginning of the last string set using trigger(QString)
in the triggered(QString) signal. This is useful for, for instance, appending wildcard
characters to a filter string.
*/
void setStringPrefix(const QString&amp;amp; prefix) {m_prefix = prefix;}
 
signals:
void triggered();
void triggered(QString);
void triggered(int);
 
public slots:
void trigger();
void trigger(QString);
void trigger(int);
 
private slots:
void timeout();
 
private:
int m_minimumDelay;
int m_maximumDelay;
 
QTimer''' m_minimumTimer;
QTimer* m_maximumTimer;
 
QString m_lastString;
int m_lastInt;
 
QString m_prefix;
QString m_postfix;
};
 
#endif // DELAYEDEXECUTIONTIMER_H
</code>


And here's the CPP code:
And here's the CPP code:
Line 57: Line 140:
=== delayedexecutiontimer.cpp ===
=== delayedexecutiontimer.cpp ===


<code><br />/*<br />/*<br />Copyright © 2011, Andre Somers<br />All rights reserved.
<code>
/*
/*
Copyright © 2011, Andre Somers
All rights reserved.


File licence not repeated here for space reasons. See file &quot;delayedexecutiontimer.h&amp;quot; for details of licence.<br />'''/<br />#include &quot;delayedexecutiontimer.h&amp;quot;<br />#include &lt;QTimer&amp;gt;<br />#include &lt;QStringBuilder&amp;gt;
File licence not repeated here for space reasons. See file "delayedexecutiontimer.h" for details of licence.
<br />DelayedExecutionTimer::DelayedExecutionTimer(int maximumDelay, int minimumDelay, QObject''' parent):<br /> QObject(parent),<br /> m_minimumDelay(minimumDelay),<br /> m_maximumDelay(maximumDelay),<br /> m_minimumTimer(new QTimer(this)),<br /> m_maximumTimer(new QTimer(this)),<br /> m_lastInt(0)<br />{<br /> connect(m_minimumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));<br /> connect(m_maximumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));<br />}
*/
#include "delayedexecutiontimer.h"
#include <QTimer>
#include <QStringBuilder>


DelayedExecutionTimer::DelayedExecutionTimer(QObject* parent):<br /> QObject(parent),<br /> m_minimumDelay(250),<br /> m_maximumDelay(1000),<br /> m_minimumTimer(new QTimer(this)),<br /> m_maximumTimer(new QTimer(this)),<br /> m_lastInt(0)<br />{<br /> connect(m_minimumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));<br /> connect(m_maximumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));<br />}
DelayedExecutionTimer::DelayedExecutionTimer(int maximumDelay, int minimumDelay, QObject''' parent):
QObject(parent),
m_minimumDelay(minimumDelay),
m_maximumDelay(maximumDelay),
m_minimumTimer(new QTimer(this)),
m_maximumTimer(new QTimer(this)),
m_lastInt(0)
{
connect(m_minimumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));
connect(m_maximumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));
}


void DelayedExecutionTimer::timeout()<br />{<br /> m_minimumTimer-&gt;stop();<br /> m_maximumTimer-&gt;stop();<br /> emit triggered();<br /> emit triggered(m_prefix % m_lastString % m_postfix);<br /> emit triggered(m_lastInt);<br />}
DelayedExecutionTimer::DelayedExecutionTimer(QObject* parent):
QObject(parent),
m_minimumDelay(250),
m_maximumDelay(1000),
m_minimumTimer(new QTimer(this)),
m_maximumTimer(new QTimer(this)),
m_lastInt(0)
{
connect(m_minimumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));
connect(m_maximumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));
}


void DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger()<br />{<br /> if (!m_maximumTimer-&gt;isActive()) {<br /> m_maximumTimer-&gt;start(m_maximumDelay);<br /> }<br /> m_minimumTimer-&gt;stop();<br /> m_minimumTimer-&gt;start(m_minimumDelay);<br />}
void DelayedExecutionTimer::timeout()
{
m_minimumTimer->stop();
m_maximumTimer->stop();
emit triggered();
emit triggered(m_prefix % m_lastString % m_postfix);
emit triggered(m_lastInt);
}


void DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger(QString string)<br />{<br /> m_lastString = string;<br /> trigger();<br />}
void DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger()
{
if (!m_maximumTimer->isActive()) {
m_maximumTimer->start(m_maximumDelay);
}
m_minimumTimer->stop();
m_minimumTimer->start(m_minimumDelay);
}


void DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger(int i)<br />{<br /> m_lastInt = i;<br /> trigger();<br />}<br /></code>
void DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger(QString string)
{
m_lastString = string;
trigger();
}
 
void DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger(int i)
{
m_lastInt = i;
trigger();
}
</code>

Revision as of 09:58, 25 February 2015


[toc align_right="yes" depth="3"]

Delay action to wait for more user input

Usecase

Have you ever created a text filter that can be used to filter a (big) item view so users can get to their content faster? If you did, you probably simply connected

QLineEdit::textChanged ( const QString &amp; text )

to a

QSortFilterProxyModel::setFilterXXX

method, either via your own slot to add some wildcards or wrap the line edit's string in a regular expression or not. The problem is, now each character typed by the user triggers an update of the whole view, and the proxy model has to go through all the items in your list over and over again. That could get expensive and slow, thereby instead of improving user experience you actually annoy the user…

There are many such cases where events can happen in quick succession, and you'd like your application to respond to these changes. On the one hand, it makes sense to respond to as many of those events in one go as possible, but on the other hand you don't want the update to take too much time after the user is done typing his filter string (or whatever it is you are waiting for).

Enter DelayedExecutionTimer

One solution to this problem is to use two timers, one short enough so an update will still appear snappy but long enough that it will probably not trigger before there is more input (for instance, if the user is not done typing his filter), and one longer timer that will trigger a set time after the first event happened, so the update will not be delayed forever as more and more events happen that would otherwise delay the update.

The

DelayedExecutionTimer

class implements this approach, making it very easy to apply in all such cases without mucking about with creating, setting and resetting timers for each case where you need this.

DelayedExecutionTimer

basically provides one slot

trigger()

and one signal

triggered()

. Instead of directly connecting the event to the action (connecting the

textChanged()

to the

setFilter()

, for instance), you connect the

QLineEdit::textChanged()

to

DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger()

, and

DelayedExecutionTimer::triggered()

to

QSortFilterProxyModel::setFilter()

.

DelayedExecutionTimer

also provides two more versions of both the trigger() slot and the triggered() signal for convenience. These allow to pass a QString or an int as an argument. The triggered() signal will be emitted without argument, and with both a QString and with an int argument, carrying the last value that was passed in by the corresponding trigger() signal (or a default value if no such value was set). As a last convenience feature, you can set pre- and post- strings, that will be added to the string value before the signal is send. This way, connecting the line edit to the

SortFilterProxy

model becomes as simple as this:

// m_proxy is a QSortFilterProxyModel pointer
// m_ui->leFilter is a QLineEdit representing the filter string to use

DelayedExecutionTimer* filterDelay = new DelayedExecutionTimer(this);
filterDelay->setStringPreFix("'''");
filterDelay->setStringPostFix("'''");
connect(m_ui->leFilter, SIGNAL (textChanged(QString)), filterDelay, SLOT (trigger(QString)));
connect(filterDelay, SIGNAL (triggered(QString)), m_proxy, SLOT (setFilterWildcard(QString)));

That's all. Of course, you can tweak the timings by either passing in a reasonable minimum and maximum delay in the constructor, or using the setters for these.

Code

delayedexecutiontimer.h

/*
Copyright © 2011, Andre Somers
All rights reserved.

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
 * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 * Neither the name of the Rathenau Instituut, Andre Somers nor the
 names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
 derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL ANDRE SOMERS AND/OR RATHENAU INSTITUTE BE LIABLE FOR ANY
DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
*/
#ifndef DELAYEDEXECUTIONTIMER_H
#define DELAYEDEXECUTIONTIMER_H

#include <QObject>
class QTimer;

/'''*
 Class to delay execution an action in response to events that may come in bursts
 */
class DelayedExecutionTimer : public QObject
{
Q_OBJECT
public:
 DelayedExecutionTimer(int maximumDelay = 1000, int minimumDelay = 250, QObject''' parent = 0);
 DelayedExecutionTimer(QObject* parent);

/**
 The minimum delay is the time the class will wait after being triggered before
 emitting the triggered() signals.
 */
 void setMinimumDelay(int delay) {m_minimumDelay = delay;}
 int minimumDelay() const {return m_minimumDelay;}
 /'''*
 The maximum delay is the maximum time that will pass before a call to the trigger() slot
 leads to a triggered() signal.
 */
 void setMaximumDelay(int delay) {m_maximumDelay = delay;}
 int maximumDelay() const {return m_maximumDelay;}

 /'''*
 Sets a string to be attached to the end of the last string set using trigger(QString)
 in the triggered(QString) signal. This is useful for, for instance, appending wildcard
 characters to a filter string.
 */
 void setStringPostfix(const QString&amp;amp; postfix) {m_postfix = postfix;}
 /'''*
 Sets a string to be prepended to the beginning of the last string set using trigger(QString)
 in the triggered(QString) signal. This is useful for, for instance, appending wildcard
 characters to a filter string.
 */
 void setStringPrefix(const QString&amp;amp; prefix) {m_prefix = prefix;}

signals:
 void triggered();
 void triggered(QString);
 void triggered(int);

public slots:
 void trigger();
 void trigger(QString);
 void trigger(int);

private slots:
 void timeout();

private:
 int m_minimumDelay;
 int m_maximumDelay;

 QTimer''' m_minimumTimer;
 QTimer* m_maximumTimer;

QString m_lastString;
 int m_lastInt;

QString m_prefix;
 QString m_postfix;
};

#endif // DELAYEDEXECUTIONTIMER_H

And here's the CPP code:

delayedexecutiontimer.cpp

/*
/*
Copyright © 2011, Andre Somers
All rights reserved.

File licence not repeated here for space reasons. See file "delayedexecutiontimer.h" for details of licence.
*/
#include "delayedexecutiontimer.h"
#include <QTimer>
#include <QStringBuilder>

DelayedExecutionTimer::DelayedExecutionTimer(int maximumDelay, int minimumDelay, QObject''' parent):
 QObject(parent),
 m_minimumDelay(minimumDelay),
 m_maximumDelay(maximumDelay),
 m_minimumTimer(new QTimer(this)),
 m_maximumTimer(new QTimer(this)),
 m_lastInt(0)
{
 connect(m_minimumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));
 connect(m_maximumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));
}

DelayedExecutionTimer::DelayedExecutionTimer(QObject* parent):
 QObject(parent),
 m_minimumDelay(250),
 m_maximumDelay(1000),
 m_minimumTimer(new QTimer(this)),
 m_maximumTimer(new QTimer(this)),
 m_lastInt(0)
{
 connect(m_minimumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));
 connect(m_maximumTimer, SIGNAL (timeout()), SLOT (timeout()));
}

void DelayedExecutionTimer::timeout()
{
 m_minimumTimer->stop();
 m_maximumTimer->stop();
 emit triggered();
 emit triggered(m_prefix % m_lastString % m_postfix);
 emit triggered(m_lastInt);
}

void DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger()
{
 if (!m_maximumTimer->isActive()) {
 m_maximumTimer->start(m_maximumDelay);
 }
 m_minimumTimer->stop();
 m_minimumTimer->start(m_minimumDelay);
}

void DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger(QString string)
{
 m_lastString = string;
 trigger();
}

void DelayedExecutionTimer::trigger(int i)
{
 m_lastInt = i;
 trigger();
}