Setting a Delay

Determine the point in the business process where you want to pause the runtime processing.

A delay is not allowed between a Request and a Response operation.

Additionally, decide the type of delay you want to implement:


  1. Right-click on the Business Process canvas to activate the Tool Palette.
    Note: If the Tool Palette does not appear either on the Fast View shortcut bar or as an open view in the perspective, open the Tool Palette.
  2. From the Activities tool palette, drag and drop the Delay activity onto the business process canvas between the activities where you want to pause processing.
  3. Select the Delay activity in the business process.
  4. Expand the Properties section and select any of the following to set the time values for the delay.
    Table 1. Properties
    Timer type/time details Description
    Absolute/Context Define the context reference to contain the timer value using Greenwich Mean Time (GMT):

    YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss

    where Y= year, M=month, D= date, T= specifies the start of the Time section (required), h= hours, m= minutes, and s=seconds.

    For example: 2002-05-30T13:25:00 sets the delay at May 30, 2002 at 1:25:00 pm.

    Absolute/Literal Complete the following information to define the time value for the delay:
    • Year
    • Month
    • Day
    • Hour
    • Minute
    • Second
    Relative/Context Define the time interval for the delay:

    PnYnMnDTnHnMnS

    where P= period (required), nY= number of years, nM= number of months, nD= number of days, T= specifies the Time section (required), nH= number of hours, nM= number of minutes, and nS= number of seconds.

    For example:

    P10DT15H30M25S sets the delay interval at 10 days, 15 hours, 30 minutes, and 25 seconds.

    PT15H30M25S sets the delay interval at 15 hours, 30 minutes, and 25 seconds.

    Relative/Literal Complete the following information to define the time value for the delay:
    • Year
    • Month
    • Day
    • Hour
    • Minute
    • Second
Related tasks
Designing a Business Process

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