Provided by: tcllib_1.17-dfsg-1_all 
NAME
counter - Procedures for counters and histograms
SYNOPSIS
package require Tcl 8
package require counter ?2.0.4?
::counter::init tag args
::counter::count tag ?delta? ?instance?
::counter::start tag instance
::counter::stop tag instance
::counter::get tag args
::counter::exists tag
::counter::names
::counter::histHtmlDisplay tag args
::counter::reset tag args
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DESCRIPTION
The counter package provides a counter facility and can compute statistics and histograms
over the collected data.
::counter::init tag args
This defines a counter with the name tag. The args determines the characteristics
of the counter. The args are
-group name
Keep a grouped counter where the name of the histogram bucket is passed into
::counter::count.
-hist bucketsize
Accumulate the counter into histogram buckets of size bucketsize. For
example, if the samples are millisecond time values and bucketsize is 10,
then each histogram bucket represents time values of 0 to 10 msec, 10 to 20
msec, 20 to 30 msec, and so on.
-hist2x bucketsize
Accumulate the statistic into histogram buckets. The size of the first
bucket is bucketsize, each other bucket holds values 2 times the size of the
previous bucket. For example, if bucketsize is 10, then each histogram
bucket represents time values of 0 to 10 msec, 10 to 20 msec, 20 to 40 msec,
40 to 80 msec, and so on.
-hist10x bucketsize
Accumulate the statistic into histogram buckets. The size of the first
bucket is bucketsize, each other bucket holds values 10 times the size of
the previous bucket. For example, if bucketsize is 10, then each histogram
bucket represents time values of 0 to 10 msec, 10 to 100 msec, 100 to 1000
msec, and so on.
-lastn N
Save the last N values of the counter to maintain a "running average" over
the last N values.
-timehist secsPerMinute
Keep a time-based histogram. The counter is summed into a histogram bucket
based on the current time. There are 60 per-minute buckets that have a size
determined by secsPerMinute, which is normally 60, but for testing purposes
can be less. Every "hour" (i.e., 60 "minutes") the contents of the per-
minute buckets are summed into the next hourly bucket. Every 24 "hours" the
contents of the per-hour buckets are summed into the next daily bucket. The
counter package keeps all time-based histograms in sync, so the first
secsPerMinute value seen by the package is used for all subsequent time-
based histograms.
::counter::count tag ?delta? ?instance?
Increment the counter identified by tag. The default increment is 1, although you
can increment by any value, integer or real, by specifying delta. You must declare
each counter with ::counter::init to define the characteristics of counter before
you start to use it. If the counter type is -group, then the counter identified by
instance is incremented.
::counter::start tag instance
Record the starting time of an interval. The tag is the name of the counter
defined as a -hist value-based histogram. The instance is used to distinguish this
interval from any other intervals that might be overlapping this one.
::counter::stop tag instance
Record the ending time of an interval. The delta time since the corresponding
::counter::start call for instance is recorded in the histogram identified by tag.
::counter::get tag args
Return statistics about a counter identified by tag. The args determine what value
to return:
-total Return the total value of the counter. This is the default if args is not
specified.
-totalVar
Return the name of the total variable. Useful for specifying with
-textvariable in a Tk widget.
-N Return the number of samples accumulated into the counter.
-avg Return the average of samples accumulated into the counter.
-avgn Return the average over the last N samples taken. The N value is set in the
::counter::init call.
-hist bucket
If bucket is specified, then the value in that bucket of the histogram is
returned. Otherwise the complete histogram is returned in array get format
sorted by bucket.
-histVar
Return the name of the histogram array variable.
-histHour
Return the complete hourly histogram in array get format sorted by bucket.
-histHourVar
Return the name of the hourly histogram array variable.
-histDay
Return the complete daily histogram in array get format sorted by bucket.
-histDayVar
Return the name of the daily histogram array variable.
-resetDate
Return the clock seconds value recorded when the counter was last reset.
-all Return an array get of the array used to store the counter. This includes
the total, the number of samples (N), and any type-specific information.
This does not include the histogram array.
::counter::exists tag
Returns 1 if the counter is defined.
::counter::names
Returns a list of all counters defined.
::counter::histHtmlDisplay tag args
Generate HTML to display a histogram for a counter. The args control the format of
the display. They are:
-title string
Label to display above bar chart
-unit unit
Specify minutes, hours, or days for the time-base histograms. For value-
based histograms, the unit is used in the title.
-images url
URL of /images directory.
-gif filename
Image for normal histogram bars. The filename is relative to the -images
directory.
-ongif filename
Image for the active histogram bar. The filename is relative to the -images
directory.
-max N Maximum number of value-based buckets to display.
-height N
Pixel height of the highest bar.
-width N
Pixel width of each bar.
-skip N
Buckets to skip when labeling value-based histograms.
-format string
Format used to display labels of buckets.
-text boolean
If 1, a text version of the histogram is dumped, otherwise a graphical one
is generated.
::counter::reset tag args
Resets the counter with the name tag to an initial state. The args determine the
new characteristics of the counter. They have the same meaning as described for
::counter::init.
BUGS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK
This document, and the package it describes, will undoubtedly contain bugs and other
problems. Please report such in the category counter of the Tcllib Trackers
[http://core.tcl.tk/tcllib/reportlist]. Please also report any ideas for enhancements you
may have for either package and/or documentation.
KEYWORDS
counting, histogram, statistics, tallying
CATEGORY
Data structures