Variable changed by comparison causing logic error.

[ivanadventure]

Here is the function causing the trouble - I am trying to clean it up and make it more efficient/easier to read. When I make a change in the conditional statement it zeros the global variable

finishTime

.

by global - I mean it is declared by the statement

var finishTime=0;

outside of any function, then set inside another function by the statement

finishTime=now.getTime()+(60*mins+secs)*1000+(cent*10);

function chrono()
{
	now=new Date();
	var timeToRun=finishTime-now.getTime();
	totalTime.setTime(timeToRun);
	
	mins=totalTime.getMinutes();
	secs=totalTime.getSeconds();
	cent=Math.floor(totalTime.getMilliseconds()/10);
	display();	// prints out mins, secs and cent - it does not change them.
	
	if(timeToRun>100)	// go round the function again - this causes the trouble
		{
		counter=setTimeout("chrono()",5);
		}
	else	// leave the loop - countdown completed - this works all the time
		{
		document.getElementById("pinger").innerHTML=pinger;
		clearTimeout(counter);
		reset();
		}
	// alternative comparison that is less efficient but works! (cent>10 || secs!=0 || mins!=0)
}

Any suggestions much appreciated.

Still thinking and still very puzzled, but putting this together has helped a little.

PS testing in Firefox3.0.5, and the full html file is attached with all the javascript code.

[ivanadventure]

Seems that although it worked with the alternative condition, the error was in not setting the finalTime variable via the play function, before running the chrono function.

All is resolved - the error was in the html! not in the javascript. Just very strange how the error shows with one condition and not the other!

Thanks if you had a look.