# Adding Timeout Paths

A timeout path is used to interrupt an executing process after a certain amount of time has lapsed. Timeout paths can be associated with individual nodes, a group of nodes, or with the process (global). If you add a Timeout path to a start node, the timer starts when the process begins. If you add a Timeout path to any other node, or group of nodes, the timer starts when the process reaches that point of execution.

Note: Perform, Client Response, and any of the Control nodes do not support timeout paths on individual nodes.

This section contains the following topics:

- Creating a Timeout Path
- Deleting Timeout Paths

## Creating a Timeout Path

You can associate a timeout path with individual nodes in your business process, with groups of nodes, or with the whole process (global). You create a global timeout path by adding a timeout path to the start node of your process. If you add a Timeout path to a start node, the timer starts when the process begins. If you add a Timeout path to any other node, or group of nodes, the timer starts when the process reaches that point of execution. This section contains the following topics:

- To Create a Timeout Path
- To Configure a Timeout Path
- To Delete a Timeout Path

To Create a Timeout Path

1. Select the node or groups of nodes for which you want to create a timeout path. (For information on how to group nodes, see Grouping Nodes in Your Business Process)
2. Right-click on the node or group of nodes and select Add Timeout Path from the drop-down menu.

A timeout path is added to your node or group of nodes and is displayed as follows.

You can rename the path anything you like by double-clicking OnTimeout and entering the new name. You can also change the name in the name field of the Property Editor.

To Configure a Timeout Path

1. Select the Timeout path which you want to configure.

The related properties are displayed in the Property Editor. If the Property Editor is not visible in WebLogic Workshop, choose View —> Property Editor from the menu bar.

2. In the Property Editor, configure the following properties:

- name—Enter the name you want displayed in the WebLogic Workshop for this path.
- notes—Enter any notes you want associated with this timeout path. These notes can then be accessed through the WebLogic Integration Administration Console.
- duration—Specify the number of seconds that should laps before the path is triggered. (Expected format is Xs, for example 5s.)
- after execute—Select the action you want to take place after a timeout path is executed. Choose from:

skip—Skip the node or group with which the Timeout path is associated. That is, resume execution of the process at the node following the node or group for which the Timeout path is defined.

resume—Resume execution of the process at the node that was executing when the timeout was triggered. The process state returns to that before the On Timeout path executed, and the On Timeout path resets (that is, timeout begins again).

- retry count—Specify how many times, after the first attempt, the process engine tries to execute the node or group of nodes contained in the path, before the afterExecute path is taken.

3. Add any business process nodes to the exception path, as required to define the timeout path logic.

Viewing Timeout Paths in the Design View

When you create a timeout path, the following icon appears beside a node (or group of nodes) in the Design View to indicate that an exception path is activated for the specified node:

| This icon represents the timeout path in your business process. In this case, the path appears empty, indicating that the logic to execute when a timeout is received is not defined yet. To define the exception handling logic, add business process nodes by dragging the nodes from the Business Process Palette and dropping them on the timeout path.

You can collapse the view of any timeout pate (or exception handler or message path) by clicking the grey arrow of the exception path icon. The following figure shows the icon associated with your node to indicate a collapsed path.

| You can toggle between collapsed and expanded views of paths in the Design View by clicking the path icon.

## Deleting Timeout Paths

To Delete a Timeout Path

1. Right-click the path that you want to delete.
2. Select Delete from the drop-down menu.

The path is deleted and removed from the Design View.

Warning: Deleting a timeout path deletes any business process nodes you defined on that path. When you attempt to delete a timeout path, a dialog box displays a warning message that you must acknowledge before proceeding with the deletion.

Related Topics

Grouping Nodes in Your Business Process

Writing Custom Java Code in Perform Nodes

Handling Exceptions

Adding Message Paths

Transaction Boundaries