How to use a timer

Question

can anyone tell me how to implement a timer in my program
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class Sudoku extends JApplet implements ActionListener{
JButton button [][] = new JButton [9][9] ;
public void init()
Container container = getContentPane() ;
container.setLayout(new GridLayout(9,9));
for ( int count = 0 ; count <=8 ; count++)
for (int count1 = 0 ; count1 <=8 ; count1++ )
button [count][count1] = new JButton() ;
button [count][count1].addActionListener (this) ;
container.add(button [count][count1]);
public void actionPerformed ( ActionEvent event )
String output = "" ;
output =JOptionPane.showInputDialog ( "Enter a number between 1-9" );
if ( output.indexOf ('.') != -1 )
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog (null, "Please enter an integer between 1-9 " ) ;
else
int num = Integer.parseInt ( output ) ;
if ( num > 9 || num <1 )
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog ( null, "Re-enter an integer between 1-9" );
else
((JButton)event.getSource()).setText(output) ;
}

Answer 1

It can be done with Treads, in the example below 3 buttons Start , Pause\Resume and Stop manipulate the timer.
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
          if(e.getSource() == buttonStart) {
               counterLabel.setText("0 : 0");
               thread = new Thread(this);
               thread.start();
               buttonStart.setEnabled(false);
          if(e.getSource() == buttonStop) {
               thread.stop();
               buttonStart.setEnabled(true);
          if(e.getSource() == pauseButton) {
               if(!isPaused) {
                    thread.suspend();
                    pauseButton.setLabel("Resume");
                    isPaused = true;
               else {
                    thread.resume();
                    pauseButton.setLabel("Pause");
                    isPaused = false;
     public void run(){
          int secondCounter = 0;
          int minuteCounter = 0;
          while(true) {
               try {
                    thread.sleep(1000);
               catch(InterruptedException e) {}
               secondCounter++;
               if (secondCounter == 60) {
                    minuteCounter++;
                    secondCounter = 0;
               counterLabel.setText(String.valueOf(minuteCounter) + " : " +
                    String.valueOf(secondCounter));
}Hope i've been of some assistance!