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Process Reference  
Process Designer
Getting Started
Workflow Properties
Steps
  Add a step
  Move steps
  Specify step properties
  Delete a step or route
  Change step type
  Launch step
  General steps
  Submap steps
  System steps
    General properties
    Routing properties
    Rules properties
    General system functions
    Timer system functions
      BeginTimer system function
      SuspendTimer system function
      ResumeTimer system function
      EndTimer system function
      EndAllTimers system function
      Timer example
      Disabled timers
    Checkpoint system functions
    WaitForCondition system function
  Component steps
Routes
Validate & Launch
   

BeginTimer system function

Use the BeginTimer system function to specify the beginning of a series of steps to be executed within a specified period of time. The BeginTimer system function indicates the timer name, the duration, and the name of the timer expiration workflow map. The BeginTimer function gets it's times from the server. For further information see About setting a time limit for processing.

To specify properties for the BeginTimer system function

  1. Place a system step on the workflow map before the step where you want the timer to begin.
  2. In the Properties pane under Available Functions, select Timer - BeginTimer, then click the right arrow to move it to the Selected Functions column.
  3. Double-click Timer - BeginTimer in the Selected Functions column to define the timer properties.
  4. Enter a name for the timer. The name can be a string literal (enclosed in double quotes), a data field (of type string) in the workflow definition, or a complex expression that resolves to a string. See Expressions for additional information.
  5. In the Expiration Time field, specify either a period of time (duration) or a specific time.
    • For a period of time, enter a valid time expression that returns the desired expiration time. The expression must comply with the general guidelines for expressions. Your entry should include a time function.

      For example, to specify that a time expire after 45 minutes, enter the following expression:

      addminutes(systemtime(), 45)

    • For a specific time, enter the time as a string expression that you convert to type time using either stringtotime or convert.

      For example, to specify an expiration time of 01/01/2001 12:00:00, enter either:

      • convert("01/01/2001 12:00:00",time) or
      • stringtotime("01/01/2001 12:00:00","mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss")
  6. Select a workflow map to call if the timer expires before an EndTimer system function executes. In addition to user-defined maps, you can choose a system map.
   

TIP Entering a specific time is generally not recommended because doing so can limit the reusability of the workflow definition. The timer will expire immediately if the system function executes after the specified time as already passed.