IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Get started with IBM BPM > Key concepts > BPEL processes and human tasks > Human tasks overview > Task instances

Modification of task instance properties at run time

At run time, the properties of a task instance, such as its name, who can work on the task, and its duration settings are copied from its template. Typically, a task instance keeps the predefined values of these properties throughout its lifecycle. However, sometimes you might need to override these predefined values at run time in response to your business needs.

In addition, the predefined values of some properties can contain references to other properties: they are then called replacement variable expressions.

Business Process Choreographer Explorer, Business Space, and the Business Process Choreographer APIs support the modification of task instances at run time.

Properties that can be changed at run time

You can use the Business Process Choreographer APIs to change the following properties of a task instance. Some of these properties can also be changed using Business Process Choreographer Explorer, or Business Space.

• Business relevance
• Context authorization of owner
• Deletion time
• Description
• Display name
• Due time
• Escalation state
• Event handler name
• Expiration time
• Name
• Namespace
• Parent context ID
• Priority
• Read

• Supports claim if suspended

• Supports delegation

• Supports follow-on tasks

• Supports subtasks
• Type
• Work basket

• Changes to the expiration, deletion, and due times for tasks at run time
  Sometimes a business situation requires that you change the due, expiration, or deletion time that was originally defined for a task. The task state determines which of these times you can reschedule, cancel, and start at run time, and when these actions can be taken. You can use Business Process Choreographer Explorer to change these times, or you can use the update method of the Human Task Manager API to modify the appropriate task property.
• Changes to the timing of an escalation at run time
  Sometimes a business situation requires that you change the timing of an escalation that was specified when the escalation was defined. The escalation state determines which of these times you can change, and when these actions can be taken. You can use the update method of the Human Task Manager API to modify the appropriate escalation property. You can also use the Tasks List widget or the Escalations List widget in Business Space to override the scheduled escalation time, and start an escalation immediately.
• Replacement variables in human tasks
  Replacement variables are used in the definitions of human tasks to refer to a value of an element that is resolved at run time. These variables represent task and process-related data, such as people assigned to a task or custom properties for the task. This data is available at run time for all or part of the lifecycle of a task instance.

Task instances