(Example) Configure a Timer activity

This example shows how to configure a Timer activity in a process-based app.

Background and Setup

Result

This example shows how to add and configure the Timer activity in the Sales Quotation app to bypasses the Sales Manager approval and goes directly to the Department Head for approval.

When you add the Sales Quotation app from the App Store to the App Builder, and open the process, it looks like this:

Sales Quotation Process Model Preview
When you complete this example procedure, the finished process looks like this:

Sales Quotation Process Model Final

Prerequisites

Good to Know

  • Sales Quotation is an app that collects information about a sale to provide a sales quote. The sales quotation request is routed for escalationg approvals from the Sales Manager, and then the Department Head.

    For the use case in this example, if the Sales Manager does not respond to the sales quotation after 1 business day, the sales quotation uses a Timer activity to bypass the Sales Manager approval step and route the request directly to the Department Head. The Timer helps to ensure the efficiency of the process, so that the sales prospect is not waiting for the Sales Manager if they are unavailable.

Step 1: Configure a Timer activity

First, add and configure a Timer activity.

How to Start

  1. Click App Builder.

    Click App Builder
  2. On the App Builder Home screen, click All Apps.

    Click All Apps
  3. On the All Apps screen, on the Sales Quotation app, click Edit Edit icon.

    Click Edit
  4. On the App Details screen, hover over the Sales Quotation process model, and click Edit Edit icon.

    Click Edit

Procedure

  1. On the Process Builder screen, in the Activity Library, click the Common Common icon tab.

    Common Tab
  2. On the Common Common icon tab, drag the Timer Timer icon activity onto your process.

    Drag Timer Activity
  3. On the Set Time screen, in the Display Name field, enter Manager Approval Timer.

    Set Sales Manager Approval
  4. In the Time field, enter 1.

    Time One

    In the Unit list, Day is selected by default.


    Unit Day
  5. Click Finish.

    The Process Builder screen shows with the Manager Approval Timer activity.


    Process Builder screen

Step 2: Configure an Or Activity

Next, add and configure an Or activity to your process to cancel other incoming activities.

Procedure

  1. On the Activity Library screen, in the Common tab, drag the Or Or icon activity onto your process.

    Or Activity
  2. On the General Configuration screen, in the Display Name field, enter Cancel Timeout Manager Approval.

    Cancel Manager Approval
  3. Click Next.
  4. On the Configuration screen, select these fields:
    • All Human Tasks
    • All System Activities

    This cancels all activities from the alternate process branch.


    Or Configuration screen
  5. Click Finish.

    The Process Builder screen shows with the Or activity.


    Process Builder screen

Step 4: (Optional) Run the App

Next, run the app.

Procedure

  1. To run the app, refer to My Apps screen.
  2. Complete and submit the Sales Quotation form.

    Sales Quotation Request form
  3. Click Inbox > Processes.

    Inbox screen
  4. On the Inbox screen, click Processes > I Started.

    Processes I Started screen
  5. On the Processes I Started tab, click Sales Quotation > View Process View Process icon.

    View Process

    In the Process Monitor screen, you can see if the Sales Manager does not respond to the sales quotation after 1 business day, the Sales Manager Approval task is canceled, and the process goes to the Department Head Approval task.


    Running Process screen

How to Get the App

This example is based on the Sales Quotation app from the AgilePoint NX App Store. Use this procedure to get the app.

Prerequisites

Good to Know

  • This procedure is optional. It is provided so you can test the example with an out-of-the-box app.
  • This is part of the Background and Setup procedures, but many users preferred this step to appear after the example, not before it.

Get the App

  1. Click App Store.

    App Store
  2. In the CATEGORY section, click Sales.

    App Store screen
  3. Click the Sales Quotation app.

    Sales screen
  4. On the Sales Quotation screen, click Add.

    Sales Quotation screen
  5. On the Trust App screen, click Trust it.
  6. Click Return to site.