# Allowing the user to extend the default time limit

ID: FLASH24

Technology: flash

Type: Technique

## When to Use

- Adobe Flash Professional version MX and higher
- Adobe Flex

## Description

The objective of this technique is to allow the user to extend the default time limit by providing a mechanism to extend the time when scripts provide functionality that has default time limits. In order to allow the user to request a longer time limit, the script can provide a form (for example) allowing the user to enter a larger time limit or indicating that more time is needed.

## Examples

### Changing timeout with a dropdown list

This is a basic AS2 example where the timeout duration can be changed by the user through a dropdown list. In this example there is a combobox with the instance name sessionLimitDuration.

    import mx.controls.Alert;
    import mx.accessibility.AlertAccImpl;
    import mx.accessibility.ComboBoxAccImpl;

    ComboBoxAccImpl.enableAccessibility();
    AlertAccImpl.enableAccessibility();

    var sessionTimeout;
    var sessionNotificationTimeout;
    var timeLimit: Number;
    var sessionAlert: Alert;

    adjustTimeoutDuration();
    // reset the timeout when interaction occurs
    testField.addEventListener("change", resetTimeout);

    //
    //update limit duration when the combobox value changes
    //
    sessionLimitDuration.addEventListener("change", adjustTimeoutDuration);

    function adjustTimeoutDuration(e) {
      timeLimit = sessionLimitDuration.value * 1000;
      resetTimeout();
      timeoutDescription.text = "A session timeout will be simulated after " +
        sessionLimitDuration.selectedLabel + " without interaction in the form field below."
    }

    function resetTimeout() {
      clearTimeout(sessionTimeout);
      sessionTimeout = setTimeout(endSession, timeLimit);
    }

    function endSession() {
      sessionAlert.deletePopUp();
      Alert.show("please log in again",
      "Your session has expired");
    }

For a demonstration, see the working version of Changing timeout with a dropdown list. The source of Changing timeout with a dropdown list is available. Please note that the session times are purposefully short for demonstration purposes, developers will want to provide durations that are sufficient to meet the requirements of Success Criterion 2.2.1 (Timing Adjustable) .

## Tests

### Procedure

For Flash content that include a time limit:

1. Check that there is a control to adjust the time limit near the top of the page that allows the user to adjust the time to at least ten times longer than the default.
2. Verify that the default time limit for the page is long enough that a user can easily navigate to the control even if they are 10 times slower than most users.

### Expected Results

The above is true

## Related Techniques

- SCR1
- G133
- G198
- G180