Wait

A step based on this step template moves the job to the Waiting state for a certain amount of time. The step waits for either a specific length of time or until a certain time of day.

If you set values for both Wait until and Wait for, the step calculates the end time for each option. You can choose whether to move the job to the next step at the earlier end time or the later end time.

For example, a workflow contains a Wait step with these settings:

  • Wait until: 12:00 PM
  • Time zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
  • Wait for: 3 hours

A job reaches that step at 10:00 AM EST. The step determines that the two possible end times are:

  • Wait until: 12:00 PM EST
  • Wait for: 3 hours (1:00 PM EST)

If Complete step after is set to First occurs, the job moves to the next step at 12:00 EST. If Complete step after is set to Last occurs, the job moves to the next step at 1:00 PM EST.

To see the calculated time when the waiting period for a job ends, check the Wait step ends property on the Wait tab of the job property notebook.

Job property defaults

  • Wait until:
  • Time zone:
  • Wait for:
  • Complete step after: First occurs

Usage notes

  • If the Wait until property value is later than the current time in the specified time zone when the Wait step starts, the job stays in the Waiting state until the specified time on the next day.
  • If only one of the Wait for or Wait until property values is specified, the Complete step after property is ignored.
  • You can end the waiting period by using the Go to Next Step action.
  • If no value is set for either the Wait for or Wait until property when the step runs, the job moves to the next step in the workflow without waiting.
  • If the waiting period expires while the server is down, the job completes the Wait step when the server comes up. If the waiting period does not expire while the server is down, the end time of the waiting period does not change.
Parent topic: Supplied step templates