Switch function problem

Below is the code for my clock.

The 2nd switch function doesn't operate properly. After it goes through all the cases from 1-5, it doesn't loop back. I think I've misunderstood the purpose of default. I thought it switches into default whenever it doesn't match the case.

I've tried inserting my countersec2=0; at the end of the 2nd switch function but it doesn't work. any ideas?

Well to be more precise, it doesn't display 1-5 again on the hardware im using, but it still counts up. So its reaching countersec2++; but i don't have a way of resetting the countersec2 to be able to loop the 2nd switch function. btw i haven't put the countersec2=0; in the code below..

Code:

while(1)
        {
            //if(IORD_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(TICK_PIO_BASE) ^ 1)
            //{/*this checks to see if you have pressed hte button or not IORD_ALTER... is the button*/
                countersec++;
            
                switch (countersec)
                {  
                case 1:
                    led = hex_num[1];
                    IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS_PIO_BASE, led);
                    break;
                case 2:
                    led = hex_num[2];
                    IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS_PIO_BASE, led);
                    break;
                case 3:
                    led = hex_num[3];
                    IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS_PIO_BASE, led);
                    break;
                case 4:
                    led = hex_num[4];
                    IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS_PIO_BASE, led);
                    break;
                case 5:
                    led = hex_num[5];
                    IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS_PIO_BASE, led);
                    break;
                case 6:
                    led = hex_num[6];
                    IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS_PIO_BASE, led);
                    break;
                case 7:
                    led = hex_num[7];
                    IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS_PIO_BASE, led);
                    break;
                case 8:
                    led = hex_num[8];
                    IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS_PIO_BASE, led);
                    break;
                case 9:
                    led = hex_num[9];
                    IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS_PIO_BASE, led);
                    break;
                default: 
                    led = hex_num[0];
                    IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS_PIO_BASE, led);
                    countersec2++;
                    printf("countersec2:\n%d\n", countersec2);
                    switch (countersec2)
                        {
                            case 1:
                                led = hex_num[1];
                                IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS2_PIO_BASE, led);
                                break;
                            case 2:
                                led = hex_num[2];
                                IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS2_PIO_BASE, led);
                                break;
                            case 3:
                                led = hex_num[3];
                                IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS2_PIO_BASE, led);
                                break;
                            case 4:
                                led = hex_num[4];
                                IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS2_PIO_BASE, led);
                                break;
                            case 5:
                                led = hex_num[5];
                                IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS2_PIO_BASE, led);
                                break;
                            default:
                                led = hex_num[0];
                                IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(LED_10HRS2_PIO_BASE, led);
                                break;
                        }//second switch case ends.
                     
                        
                        printf("countersec:\n%d\n", countersec);
                        countersec=0;
                
               
                
                }//switch case ends.        
            
                //while(IORD_ALTERA_AVALON_PIO_DATA(TICK_PIO_BASE) ^ 1)
                //    {
                //        random++;
                //    } /*this makes it pause after you press the button*/ 
            
                
        i =0;
        while(i<300000)
        i++;
           
        }

oops nevermind i just did it lol. i put the countersec2=0; at the end of default.

though when i tried that for the 1st switch case it didn't work.

I think I've misunderstood the purpose of default. I thought it switches into default whenever it doesn't match the case.

That's true, though in this case a switch does not look appropriate. You could simplify by checking that countersec is within a range using if and else and assign to led accordingly. The same applies to countersec2.

Code:

while(i<300000)
        i++;

Don't ever do this.
It's a horrible way to burn processor time and a very inefficient one. Sleep-type APIs is what you want to use. For Windows, it's called Sleep.

If you're trying to output to two different sets of LEDs, then you need both switches to happen all the time (one after the other), not make one dependent on the default inside the other.

> Don't ever do this.
I think they're on a PIC or something, without an operating system.