You can set the timer.date attribute of a Waiting Timer element to a relative time and date by binding it to a Date object. You define the Date object in a scripted function.

When the time on the given date arrives, the long-running workflow that is based on a timer reactivates and continues its run. For example, you can set the workflow to reactivate at midday on February 12. Alternatively, you can create a workflow element that calculates and generates a relative Date object according to a function that you define. For example, you can create a relative Date object that adds 24 hours to the current time.

Create a workflow.

Open the workflow for editing in the workflow editor.

Add some elements to the workflow schema.

1

Drag a Scriptable Task element from the Generic menu to the schema of a workflow, above the element that requires the relative Date object for its timeout.date attribute.

2

Link the Scriptable Task element to the elements that precede and follow it in the workflow schema.

3

Click the Scriptable Task element to show its properties tabs in the bottom half of the Schema tab.

4

Provide a name and description for the scripted workflow element in the Info properties tab.

5

Right-click in the OUT properties tab, and select Bind to workflow parameter/attribute.

6

Click Create parameter/attribute in workflow to create a workflow attribute.

a

Name the attribute timerDate.

b

Select Date from the list of attribute types.

c

Select Create workflow ATTRIBUTE with the same name.

d

Leave the attribute value set to Not set, because a scripted function will provide this value.

e

Click OK.

7

Click the Scripting tab for the scripted workflow element.

8

Define a function to calculate and generate a Date object named timerDate in the scripting pad in the Scripting tab.

For example, you can create a Date object by implementing the following JavaScript function, in which the timeout period is a relative delay in milliseconds.

timerDate = new Date();
System.log( "Current date : '" + timerDate + "'" );
timerDate.setTime( timerDate.getTime() + (86400 * 1000) );
System.log( "Timer will expire at '" + timerDate + "'" );

The preceding example JavaScript function defines a Date object that obtains the current date and time by using the getTime method and adds 86,400,000 milliseconds, or 24 hours. The Scriptable Task element generates this value as its output parameter.

9

Click Save.

You created a function that calculates and generates a Date object. A Waiting Timer element can receive this Date object as an input parameter, to suspend a long-running workflow until the date encapsulated in this object. When the workflow arrives at the Waiting Timer element, it suspends its run and waits for 24 hours before continuing.

You must add a Waiting Timer element to a workflow to implement a long-running workflow that is based on a timer.