>Can the timer be used as a counter? I would like to know if I could set it on to count in seconds and then turn it off and calculate the time between start and stop and record that to a database

---

You do not need to use a Timer.

Add two properties to your form, this can be done from the Form menu item on the VFP menu, or programmatically in the Form's INIT() event using something like:

This.AddProperty( "tStart", DateTime() )
This.AddProperty( "iElapsed", 0 )

Then in a command button CLICK() event, add:

If This.Caption == "Start" Then
   This.Caption = "Stop"
   ThisForm.tStart = DateTime()
Else
   This.Caption = "Start"
   ThisForm.iElapsed = DateTime() - ThisForm.tStart
   MessageBox( "Interval = " ;
		+ Transform( ThisForm.iElapsed, "9,999.99" ) ;
		+ " seconds." )
Endif
Return .T.