Setting duration values for your human task

IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Authoring services in Integration Designer > Developing business processes > Building human tasks
Setting duration values for your human task

You can set a duration value for your human task to specify how long the task will hold before it is either due, set to expire, or set to be deleted.

The duration value is separate from the escalation function in human tasks. It will indicate when a task is due, but the duration value will not trigger an escalation. To set the duration values for your human task, proceed as follows:

Procedure

In the Properties view of the task settings, click the Duration tab.
From the Calendar type field, you will have the following three options that will dictate the format your calendar entries will take:

Option Description

Simple This is, as the name suggests, a simple arithmetic calendar. Use the Timeout Duration fields to select the amount of time that this activity should wait for an action to occur before it expires.
WebSphere CRON calendar This is a built-in calendar that uses a list of term expressions representing elements of time to calculate the interval. Examples of this type of calendar can be found in the Related Information section below.
User-Defined calendar Use this option to select a calendar other than those provided.
You can use the fields to name the calendar, and point to a valid Java™ Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) location.
Business calendar There will be more than three options in the Calendar Type field if a business calendar is available. A business calendar can be used to model duration values for time-sensitive aspects of your human task in order to account for such variables as regular working hours, weekends, and holidays. See Use business calendars within human tasks for more information.

When working with durations, there are some special considerations that are discussed in business calendars and human tasks.
The remaining fields on this page can be configured in any combination that you see fit, and according to these choices:

Option Description

Duration until task is overdue
Use this field to set the amount of time that will elapse between the time this task is started and the time that it is expected to be completed.
Enter a value that makes sense to the calendar you selected in the Calendar type field, or choose one of the following options:

Immediate In this context, this setting means that the task will be considered due the moment it is started.

Never In this context, this setting means that the task will not be given a due date.

Duration until task expires
Use this field to specify the amount of time that will elapse before this task is moved to the "Expired" state. A user cannot work on an expired task.
Enter a value that makes sense to the calendar you selected in the Calendar type field or choose one of the following options:

Immediate In this context, the task will be expired the moment it is started.

Never In this context, the task will not move to the expired state.

Duration until task is deleted
Use this field to specify the amount of time that will elapse before this task is removed from the system once it has reached a completed state. Completed states include: "Finished", "Failed", "Terminated", or "Expired". Deletion is also dependent on the choice you make in the Auto deletion mode field.
Enter a value that makes sense to the calendar you selected in the Calendar type field or choose one of the following options:

Immediate In this context, the task will be deleted the moment it is completed.

Never In this context, the task will not be removed from the system.

Auto deletion mode
This selection is not available when Duration until task is deleted is set to Never. Use this setting to configure the circumstances of the deletion of a task.

You have the following options:

On completion Choose this option to delete the task from the system once it is finished, whether or not it was successfully completed.

On successful completion Choose this option to only delete the task when it has been successfully finished.

Calendar name
This field appears when you choose the User-defined option in the Calendar type field.
Use this field to enter a name for your custom calendar.
User calendar JNDI
This field appears when you choose the User-defined option in the Calendar type field.
Use this field to specify the Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) location for your custom calendar.

Tip: Refer to "Lifecycle of human tasks" for detailed information on timeout interactions.

Use business calendars within human tasks
When it comes to modeling duration values for time-sensitive aspects of your human task, you can use a business calendar to account for such variables as regular working hours, weekends, and holidays.

Work with basic activities
Building BPEL processes
Building human tasks

Related tasks:
Configure the wait activity
Defining timer-driven behavior in a BPEL process
Use business calendars within a BPEL process
Create an escalation for your human task
Selecting a calendar type for your escalation
Defining timer-driven behavior in a BPEL process
Use business calendars within human tasks
Notifying an event handler of an escalation

Related reference:
Expiration tab: BPEL process editor
Details tab: business state machine editor
Duration tab: Human Task editor

Related information:

Interface UserCalendar
Interface UserCalendar
Interface UserCalendar

Option	Description
Simple	This is, as the name suggests, a simple arithmetic calendar. Use the Timeout Duration fields to select the amount of time that this activity should wait for an action to occur before it expires.
WebSphere CRON calendar	This is a built-in calendar that uses a list of term expressions representing elements of time to calculate the interval. Examples of this type of calendar can be found in the Related Information section below.
User-Defined calendar	Use this option to select a calendar other than those provided. You can use the fields to name the calendar, and point to a valid Java™ Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) location.
Business calendar	There will be more than three options in the Calendar Type field if a business calendar is available. A business calendar can be used to model duration values for time-sensitive aspects of your human task in order to account for such variables as regular working hours, weekends, and holidays. See Use business calendars within human tasks for more information.

Option	Description
Duration until task is overdue	Use this field to set the amount of time that will elapse between the time this task is started and the time that it is expected to be completed. Enter a value that makes sense to the calendar you selected in the Calendar type field, or choose one of the following options: Immediate In this context, this setting means that the task will be considered due the moment it is started. Never In this context, this setting means that the task will not be given a due date.
Duration until task expires	Use this field to specify the amount of time that will elapse before this task is moved to the "Expired" state. A user cannot work on an expired task. Enter a value that makes sense to the calendar you selected in the Calendar type field or choose one of the following options: Immediate In this context, the task will be expired the moment it is started. Never In this context, the task will not move to the expired state.
Duration until task is deleted	Use this field to specify the amount of time that will elapse before this task is removed from the system once it has reached a completed state. Completed states include: "Finished", "Failed", "Terminated", or "Expired". Deletion is also dependent on the choice you make in the Auto deletion mode field. Enter a value that makes sense to the calendar you selected in the Calendar type field or choose one of the following options: Immediate In this context, the task will be deleted the moment it is completed. Never In this context, the task will not be removed from the system.
Auto deletion mode	This selection is not available when Duration until task is deleted is set to Never. Use this setting to configure the circumstances of the deletion of a task. You have the following options: On completion Choose this option to delete the task from the system once it is finished, whether or not it was successfully completed. On successful completion Choose this option to only delete the task when it has been successfully finished.
Calendar name	This field appears when you choose the User-defined option in the Calendar type field. Use this field to enter a name for your custom calendar.
User calendar JNDI	This field appears when you choose the User-defined option in the Calendar type field. Use this field to specify the Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) location for your custom calendar.