If you know a workflow will have to wait for a response from an outside source for a predictable time, you can implement it as a timer-based long-running workflow. A timer-based long-running workflow waits until a given time and date before resuming.

You implement a workflow as a timer-based long-running workflow by using the Waiting Timer element.

Create a workflow.

Open the workflow for editing in the workflow editor.

Add some elements to the workflow schema.

1

Drag a Waiting Timer element from the Generic menu to the position in the workflow schema at which to suspend the workflow's run.

2

Link the Waiting Timer element to the elements that precede and follow it in the workflow schema.

If you implement a scriptable task to calculate the time and date, this element must precede the Waiting Timer element.

3

Click the Waiting Timer element to show its properties tabs in the bottom half of the Schema tab.

4

Provide a description of the reason for implementing the timer in the Info properties tab.

5

Click the Attributes properties tab.

The timer.date parameter appears in the list of attributes.

6

Click the timer.date parameter's Not set button to bind the parameter to an appropriate Date object.

The Waiting Timer selection dialog box opens, presenting a list of possible bindings.

Select a predefined Date object from the proposed list, for example one defined by a Scriptable Task element elsewhere in the workflow.

Alternatively, create a Date object that sets a specific date and time for the workflow to await.

7

(Optional) Create a Date object that sets a specific date and time that the workflow awaits.

a

Click Create parameter/attribute in workflow in the Waiting Timer selection dialog box.

The Parameter information dialog box appears.

b

Give the parameter an appropriate name.

c

Leave the type set to Date.

d

Click Create workflow ATTRIBUTE with the same name.

e

Click the Value property's Not set button to set the parameter value.

A calendar appears.

f

Use the calendar to set a date and time at which to restart workflow.

g

Click OK.

8

Click Save at the bottom of the workflow editor.

You defined a timer that suspends a timer-based long-running workflow until a set time and date.

You can create a long-running workflow that waits for a trigger event before continuing.