How to get UIButtons title in an array to be shown each one by one in a timed sequence - iphone

Question

In my program, I have a series of UIButtons in an array that I would like its title to be shown each one at a time one by one in a timed sequence after executing a function that has a while loop.
I have an IBAction attached to the buttons and when touched will call another function that will do some operation and in the end, will change the UIButtons title in that array.
The problem is that it changed the whole buttons title simultaneously after executing that method but I want the title to be shown one by one in a timed sequence.
To illustrate clearly, here are my codes:
-(IBAction)touchedButton1:(id)sender
{
[self calculateSteps:0];
}
-(void)calculateSteps:(NSUInteger)hole_index2
{
index = hole_index2;
NSNumber *tempNumber = [marblesArray objectAtIndex:index];
stones = [tempNumber intValue];
[marblesArray replaceObjectAtIndex:index withObject:[NSNumber numberWithInt:0]];
[[buttonsArray objectAtIndex:index] setTitle:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"%d", [NSNumber numberWithInt:0].intValue] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
while(stones > 0) {
if (player == PLAYER_A && stones >= 1 && index == 6) {
NSNumber *tempNumber3 = [storeArray objectAtIndex:0];
NSUInteger tempInt3 = [tempNumber3 intValue];
tempInt3++;
[storeArray replaceObjectAtIndex:0 withObject:[NSNumber numberWithInt:tempInt3]];
[buttonPlayerA setTitle:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"%d", [NSNumber numberWithInt:tempInt3].intValue] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
stones--;
if (stones == 0) { // end in PLAYER A's store
NSLog(#"end in big hole player A");
return;
}
}
if (player == PLAYER_B && stones >= 1 && index == 12) {
NSNumber *tempNumber4 = [storeArray objectAtIndex:1];
NSUInteger tempInt4 = [tempNumber4 intValue];
tempInt4++;
[storeArray replaceObjectAtIndex:1 withObject:[NSNumber numberWithInt:tempInt4]];
[buttonPlayerB setTitle:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"%d", [NSNumber numberWithInt:tempInt4].intValue] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
stones--;
if (stones == 0) { // end in PLAYER B's store
NSLog(#"end in big hole player B");
return;
}
}
index++;
if (index >= NUM_HOLES) index = 0;
NSNumber *tempNumber2 = [marblesArray objectAtIndex:index];
tempInt2 = [tempNumber2 intValue];
tempInt2++;
[marblesArray replaceObjectAtIndex:index withObject:[NSNumber numberWithInt:tempInt2]];
NSLog(#"Number in marblesArray index: %d", [NSNumber numberWithInt:tempInt2].intValue);
[[buttonsArray objectAtIndex:index] setTitle:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"%d", [NSNumber numberWithInt:tempInt2].intValue] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
stones--;
}
}
So, I have tried to put NSTimer in the calculateSteps method and also in that while loop but couldn't get to work. I guess maybe the while loop function fast enough that it didn't get the chance to get NSTimer to work in time.
I know it could work if I use if timer == 1, or else if timer == 2, etc as the timer increase, each button associated with it will change after that interval. However, when I tried to use for (timer == 1; timer < stones; timer++) , it doesn't show the buttons title each one by one but simultaneously after it is done with the loop. Am I wrong with my logic?
Also, I've tried to put sleep(2) in the while loop also, it works for the NSLog(#"Number in marblesArray index:...") appearing each 2 seconds but still the buttons array title still shown simultaneously after while loop completed.
I'm not sure how can I get the buttons title in that array to be shown each one by one in a timed sequence. Have been trying for 2 days but couldn't get it to work.
Appreciate if anyone out there who can help me. I don't know if it's my logic or if there's other function that can be used to solve this issue.
Thank you very much in advance.

Answer 1

Yes, you could used :
NSTimer
or just performSelector:withObject:afterDelay: of any NSObject subclass.
You can not use sleep or loop in main thread. It will block the HMI.
But I don't really understand your code and your explanation...
In the target selector of the timer, you could have a static int to count the number of ticks
example (very simple):
[NSTimer scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval:1.0 target:self selector:#selector(onTimer) userInfo:nil repeats:NO];
-(void)onTimer{
static int ticks = 0;
ticks++;
if (ticks==1) {
//TODO
} else if (ticks==2) {
//TODO
} else if (ticks==3) {
//TODO
} else {
//TODO
ticks=0;
}
}