Configure the target due date

Set the activity due date using a target duration, variable, or a milestone. If you use a variable or a milestone to calculate the target due date for an activity, you can also specify the lead time.

Note Lead time is the time period when the user may take the activity. For example, if set to 2 days, the user can take the activity any time during the 2 days.

You can only set the lead time if you use a variable or a milestone to calculate the activity due date; you cannot use a lead time if target duration is used.

Use the target duration

  1. Set the target duration of the activity. See Configure the general properties of an activity.

    The activity due date is calculated as the target duration from the time the activity becomes available.

  2. Optionally, set the Lead Time in days, hours, minutes and/or seconds.

    If a lead time is used, then activity due date = target duration + lead time. For example, if the target duration of an activity is 4 hours, its lead time is set to 2 hours and the activity becomes available at 12:00, the due date of the activity is 18:00 (depending on business calendar). If the user takes an activity at 13:30 and completes it by 17:30, the activity is not overdue. However, if the user takes the activity at 16:00 and completes it at 20:00, the activity is overdue by 2 hours.

Use a variable

  1. Click Variable.
  2. Consume the Date type variable in the Target Due Date box.
    Note The activity due date is calculated as the value given for the due date. If you specify the lead time, the activity due date is calculated as variable +/- lead time. If the business calendar is enabled, due dates are calculated based on working days and hours. For example, one working day is equal to 8 hours rather than 24 hours.
  3. Set the lead time in days, hours, minutes and/or seconds.
  4. Alternatively, to set a negative lead time, click the Negative button and set the lead time.
    Note The negative lead time cannot be set if the target duration is used to calculate the activity due date.

Use a milestone

  1. Click Milestone for Target Due Date.
  2. Consume the milestone in the Target Due Date box.
  3. Optionally, set the lead time in days, hours, minutes and/or seconds.
  4. Alternatively, to set a negative lead time, click the Negative button and then set the lead time.
    Note The System calculates the activity due date with respect to the selected milestone. If you specify the lead time, the activity due date is calculated as milestone +/- lead time.