Sending reminders to users about expiring tasks

[DG]

I had an issue on a BPMN project. I had to inform the users that they need to complete the actions required. So I had to try what the different options was. I think I did find a solution after some time. So I would like to share it with you.

Let’s say we have a use case where we have a user task in which users have to approve documents within 7 days. We could handle this by offering them an auto-completed task within 7 days; however, we should also be able to send them notifications regarding these tasks (e.g. Here is your task- please complete it).

Boundary Events Creation

Under the Task tab various exceptions can be selected. There are also attributes of the task – one of them is Started, one is Completed, while another one is Execution. Using these attributes you can reveal whether the task is critical or non-critical.

Completion Event with Raise Exception selected

If it is selected as ‘critical’, it will terminate the user task, it will follow that exception, and perform the completion the way we want it. If it is selected as non-critical, the task will simply continue, a notification will be sent, and the flow will eventually be terminated.

In the given example, I have created a Start Deadline and set it as non-critical, then created a Boundary Event called Start Deadline Non-Critical Exception, and on this I mapped no more notifications.

Start Deadline without Raise Critical Exception – it will be a soft exception that does not stop the process

Finding out how this works was a bit challenging. I decided to share this issue with you, so that you don’t make the same mistakes as I have.

As you can see the solution is not ideal you if a person have taken an action, but have not completed the action. For my purposes this is okay, since it is a simple task. But if the task involve more work that you may post pone then it is not ideal.

Cross posted at: http://picourse.com/sap-nw-bpm-send-notifications-to-users/