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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
   

About setting a time limit for processing

Use the timer system functions (BeginTimer, SuspendTimer, ResumeTimer, EndTimer, EndAllTimers) to control work item processing time. You set a timer to indicate a period of time during which you want a specified series of steps to process. If the timer expires before this processing is complete, the system software calls another workflow map that provides alternate processing of the work item.

Use the BeginTimer and EndTimer system functions to bracket the series of steps to execute within the timer period. (If the last step in the series happens to be the last step on the map, the EndTimer function is not strictly required because all timers for a work item are ended when the work item terminates.) The BeginTimer function also specifies the timer expiration workflow map—that is, the workflow map to call for alternate processing.

Note that timers do not pre-empt processing. If a participant or automated process is processing a work item when the timer expires, the timer waits until the processing is complete before calling the timer expiration workflow map. When the timer expiration workflow map completes, processing resumes at the original workflow map, starting with the step that was pending when the timer expired.

If necessary, you can use a SuspendTimer system function to allow for uninterrupted processing without actually ending the timer. A suspended timer continues to count down; however, if the timer expires while it is suspended, the system software does not call the timer expiration workflow map until a ResumeTimer system function reactivates the timer. Optionally, you can use an EndTimer or EndAllTimers system function to terminate a suspended timer without resuming it.

TIP

Multiple timers can be active at the same time.

If you specify multiple timers with the same name in the same workflow map, the timer activated most recently overrides any previously activated timer of the same name.

You can terminate all timers that are active, suspended, or disabled in the work item by using the EndAllTimers system function.

Use the following system functions to specify timers:

BeginTimer system function

EndAllTimers system function

EndTimer system function

ResumeTimer system function

SuspendTimer system function

Timer example