You can use the Time-Out rule wizard, a parameterized rule file that applies specified actions if a workstep has not completed after a specified duration or by a specified deadline.
For example, you can use the Time-Out rule wizard to apply the following actions to a workstep: If a selected workstep is not completed in two days, the task will be reassigned, its priority will be changed to High, and an e-mail will be sent to a specified address.
You can only apply this rule wizard to an Activity workstep. If you try to apply it to a process, a Rules message appears informing you that you cannot apply this rule wizard to a process.
To apply a Time-Out rule to an Activity workstep:
1. From the Notification category, drag the Time-Out () icon to the workstep in the process template to which the rule is to be applied, to open the Timeout wizard.
2. From the Description page, review the description of the rule wizard, then click Next to continue. Click Cancel at any time to exit the wizard.
3. From the second page of the wizard, you can assign a name to the rule and specify the duration or set the deadline required to complete the workstep.
a. Enter a name for the rule in the Name box.
b. Select the appropriate Rule filter condition option to set the rule filter condition by filtering for process template name (filters for a specific process) or for application name (filters for all versions of an application).
c. From the Timeout section, select either of the following options to set the period of the duration:
If you select the Duration option, you can define the duration of time to elapse before the action is activated. as discussed in 2.b.
If you select the Deadline option, you can set the specific date and time when the action will be activated. as discussed in 2.b.
d. Click Next to continue.
4. From the Actions page, you can specify the actions to be taken in case of a workstep timeout. You need to define at least one action.
a. The procedure for all these actions are similar to as described in Step 5 for Process Path Wizard, except for the following additional actions.
Action
Description
(Re)Assign Workitem(s)
Allows you to reassign the workitem to the specified user. Alternatively, you can use the runtime value of a dataslot or performer to specify the assignee to whom the workstep is reassigned, by clicking the Dataslots or Performers option, selecting from the corresponding drop-down list, and clicking Select.
Complete workstep
Allows you to select a dataslot and define the dataslot’s value. When the workstep is completed, the values you have defined will be mapped to the selected dataslot.
b. Select the Monitor Timeout Occurrences checkbox to capture information about workitems that were completed on time as well as workitems that were not completed on time.
c. Click Next to continue.
5. From the Summary page, review the actions that will be applied if the selected workstep is not completed by the specified time. Click Next to continue, or click Back to return to previous pages and make corrections.
6. From the Save As page, modify (if required) the name of the rule file in the File Name box, or click the adjoining ellipsis button to change the location of the rule file.
7. Click Finish to create the new Time-Out rule file in the specified location.
The new rule is now applied to the selected workstep(s).
) icon to the workstep in the process template to which the rule is to be applied, to open the Timeout wizard.
If you select the Duration option, you can define the duration of time to elapse before the action is activated. as discussed in 2.b.