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I'd like to write a function that delays the evaluation of a function (say) $5$ seconds after I hit Shift+Return. Is this possible?

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  • $\begingroup$ The tag is wrong. I'd like to use the tag clock but it is new, and I'm not allowed to create new tags. $\endgroup$
    – zab
    Commented Apr 28, 2014 at 15:38
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    $\begingroup$ Related: (473), (1565) $\endgroup$
    – Mr.Wizard
    Commented Apr 28, 2014 at 19:25

2 Answers 2

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Use the Pause function:

SetAttributes[delayedFunction, {HoldFirst}];
delayedFunction[function_] := (Pause[5]; function);
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  • $\begingroup$ More useful if defined as delayedFunction[function_, dt_] := (Pause[dt]; function) $\endgroup$
    – m_goldberg
    Commented Apr 28, 2014 at 19:35
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An alternative is to use the built in function, RunScheduledTask

Dynamic[z]
RunScheduledTask[z = 7, {5}]
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