Using timer events

Timer events are used only for user tasks, functions and message destinations that expect an acknowledgment. If the task is not completed or the message destination does not receive an acknowledgment in a specified time, the workflow proceeds to the designated step.

An example of using a timer is to complete a different task when the initial user task is not performed within 24 hours.

There are two types of timer events, interrupting and non-interrupting.

Table 1. Timer events
Timer	Description
	An interrupting timer event invalidates all outgoing paths from the user task or message destination when the timer fires. For example, use an interrupting timer event to escalate the incident to another team when a task is not completed in a specified time, and then perform a different set of steps.
	A non-interrupting timer event does not invalidate the outgoing paths. For example, use a non-interrupting timer event to complete an action when a task is not completed in a specified time, but you want the workflow to continue to the next step when the task is completed.

Optionally, you can repeat the occurrence of a non-interrupting timer. For example, you could configure a non-interrupting timer to complete an action once an hour for eight occurrences, which would be an eight hour period or until the task is marked complete. You can also set it to repeat forever or until the task is completed.

Here are a few considerations that you should know when using timer events:

Using too many timers in a given time frame, such as 120 timers per minute, can impact performance.
Having timers access too many tasks, such as 1,000 tasks, can also impact performance.
If Orchestration & Automation goes offline, a non-interrupting timer that repeats may skip some of the occurrences. For example, a timer set to repeat once every 15 minutes for four occurrences (for a total of 1 hour) may only execute once if the platform goes offline then comes back within 45 minutes.
Due to the nature of workflows, repeating timers may not execute exactly on the minute that the timer is set to repeat. For example, a timer set to repeat every hour may actually execute after 61 minutes one time or 63 minutes the next time.

Complete the following to use a timer event in your workflow.

Drag the Timer Event icon and attach it to the desired User Task or Message Destination icon.
All timer events are non-interrupting by default when you drag them into the workflow.
If you want the timer event to be an interrupting timer, click the timer event then click its wrench icon and select the Timer (interrupting) pop-up.
Note: You can switch it back to non-interrupting by clicking the timer event’s wrench icon again.
Click the timer event again and click its pencil icon to edit it.
Enter the name of the time event and the elapsed time, which is the time you want to wait before it executes.
If this is a non-interrupting timer, you can also set the number of occurrences that you want to have the timer repeat.
Click Save when done.