--- title: "Start Timer Event" slug: "start-timer-event" updated: 2025-12-06T00:46:16Z published: 2025-12-06T00:46:16Z canonical: "docs.processmaker.com/start-timer-event" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.processmaker.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Start Timer Event A Start Timer Event object starts a [Request](/v1/docs/requests-and-cases#what-is-a-request) for a Process at a specified time or at a periodic interval. A Start Timer Event object cannot have an incoming [Sequence Flow](/v1/docs/process-modeling-object-descriptions#sequence-flow) object. Use this object to indicate that a Request for that Process must begin at a specific date and time, such as on an employee’s employment anniversary to schedule a performance review. A Process model can have multiple Start Timer Event objects. --- ## Add a Start Timer Event to a Process **Permissions** - Processes: Edit Processes - Processes: View Processes See the [Process](/v1/docs/permission-descriptions-for-users-and-groups#processes) permissions or ask your Administrator for assistance. Your user account or group membership must have the following permissions to configure a Start Timer Event object in the Process model unless your user account has the **Make this user a Super Admin** setting selected: Processes: Edit Processes Processes: View Processes See the [Process](/v1/docs/permission-descriptions-for-users-and-groups#processes) permissions or ask your Administrator for assistance. Add a Start Timer Event object from one of the following locations in Process Modeler: - **Object Panel:** Located to the left of the Process Modeler, the Object Panel contains various process modeling objects. - **Object Bar:** Located at the bottom of the Process Modeler, the Object Bar contains [pinned](/v1/docs/process-modeler#pin-and-unpin-objects) Process modeling objects for quick access. Add from the Object panelAdd from the Object bar Follow these steps to add a Start Timer Event from the Object panel to the Process model: 1. Ensure that the Object panel is visible. If not, click the **Add** icon ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/634df693-1ea0-4bbc-b610-bc5780b3b094.png) from the Object bar at the bottom. 2. Click the **Start Event** object ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/32ffdc18-3381-4455-85df-3d7133e35f84.png) from the Object panel to select it. 3. Click the location in the Process model to place this object. If your process has a Pool object, the object cannot be placed outside of the Pool. 4. Click the **Objects** drop-down menu, and then select the **Start Timer Event** option. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/f09cbe5d-3d1b-4a99-9ca4-3308afdadad3.png) The Start Timer Event object displays. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/e72be874-f8c5-483e-9a40-5f347625946a.png) Follow these steps to add a Start Timer Event object from the Object bar to the Process model: 1. Ensure that the object is pinned to the Object bar. If not, [see instructions to pin it](/v1/docs/process-modeler#pin-and-unpin-objects). 2. In the Object bar at the bottom center, click the object's icon. 3. Click the location in the Process model to place this object. If your process has a Pool object, the object cannot be placed outside of the Pool. 4. Click the **Objects** drop-down menu, and then select the **Start Timer Event** option. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/f09cbe5d-3d1b-4a99-9ca4-3308afdadad3.png) The Start Timer Event object displays. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/e72be874-f8c5-483e-9a40-5f347625946a.png) **Adjust location and appearance** - [Move a Process Model Object.](/v1/docs/process-modeler#move-process-model-objects) - [Connect Two Process Model Objects with a Sequence Flow Element.](/v1/docs/sequence-flow-element#connect-two-process-model-objects-with-a-sequence-flow-element) - [Customize the Appearance of a Process Model Object.](/v1/docs/customize-the-appearance-of-a-process-model-object) - [Copy Process Model Objects into the Clipboard.](/v1/docs/process-modeler#copy-process-model-objects-into-the-clipboard) - [Clone Process Model Objects Without the Clipboard.](/v1/docs/process-modeler#clone-process-model-objects) - [Delete Process Model Objects.](/v1/docs/process-modeler#delete-process-model-objects) ## Replace a Start Timer Event Object with a Different Starting Request Event Object After a Start Timer Event object is [added to a Process model](/v1/docs/start-timer-event#add-a-start-timer-event-element), you may replace it with a different starting Request event object: - [Start Event](/v1/docs/start-event) object - [Signal Start Event](/v1/docs/signal-start-event) object - [Message Start Event](/v1/docs/message-start-event) object - [Conditional Start Event](/v1/docs/conditional-start-event) object The selected Start Timer Event object is replaced by the default settings and color of the replacing object. Follow these steps to replace a Start Timer Event object with a different Start-type event object: 1. Select the Start Timer Event object to change to another Start-type event object. Available options display above the selected object. 2. Click the **Objects** icon. The **Objects** drop-down menu displays the Start-type event objects. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/d163ee75-f2eb-4005-91ba-7090092e6d7d.png) 3. Select the object to replace the Start Timer Event object. The **Change Type** screen displays to confirm replacing the currently selected object. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/accbd75c-5712-4313-8434-6edfa3118661.png) 4. Click **Confirm**. The new object replaces the Start Timer Event object with its default settings and color. --- ## Settings The Start Timer Event object has the following panels that contain settings: - [**Properties**](/v1/docs/start-timer-event#properties-panel-settings) panel - [**Timing Control**](/v1/docs/start-timer-event#timing-control-panel-settings) panel - [**Documentation**](/v1/docs/start-timer-event#documentation-panel-settings) panel - [**Advanced**](/v1/docs/start-timer-event#advanced-panel-settings) panel --- ### Properties Panel Settings #### Edit the Object Name An object name is a human-readable reference for a Process object. Process Modeler automatically assigns the name of a Process object with its object type. However, an object's name can be changed. Follow these steps to edit the name for a Start Timer Event object: 1. Select the Start Timer Event object from the Process model in which to edit its name. 2. Ensure that the **Configuration** panel displays. If not, [show it](/v1/docs/show-configuration-settings-for-a-process-model-object). The **Name** setting displays. This is a required setting. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/f24a62ab-6bd6-490f-8845-a9a7c92c5bbd.png) 3. In the **Name** setting, edit the selected object's name and then press **Enter**. --- ### Timing Control Panel Settings When a Start Timer Event object is placed into a Process model, it has the following settings by default before it triggers: - The timing control is set to midnight of the current date. - The timing control is set to repeat weekly on the current day. If these are not the timing control settings you want, the Start Timer Event object must be configured. Set the timer controls for a Start Timer Event object using the following parameters: - Set the date and hour when the trigger the Start Timer Event object, thereby starting a Request. - Optionally, set an interval from which to periodically trigger the Start Time Event object, thereby staring a Request at that interval. This may be done in any of the following intervals: - Set the timer to periodically trigger on a specified number of days, weeks, months, or years. - Set the timer to periodically trigger on specific days of the week. - Set when the timer control ends from any of the following options, thereby limiting when to start a Request: - The timer never ends. - The timer ends on a specified date. - The timer ends after a number of occurrences. #### Set the Timing Controls Follow these steps to set the timer controls for a Start Timer Event object: 1. Select the Start Timer Event object from the Process model in which to set its timer controls. 2. Ensure that the **Configuration** panel displays. If not, [show it](/v1/docs/show-configuration-settings-for-a-process-model-object). Panels to configure this object display. 3. Expand the **Timing Control** panel if it is not presently expanded. The **Start date** setting displays. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/2ed439dc-5347-4015-8ff6-eff1cf47824a.png) 4. From the **Start date** setting, use the date control to select the date to initially trigger the Start Timer Event object. If this setting has not been previously set, the current date is the default. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/8693efce-5b73-4b15-be8e-8600e7bbd1c8.png) 5. Set the periodic interval to trigger the Start Timer Event object again, thereby starting a new Request. Follow these guidelines: - From the **Repeat every** setting, select at how many intervals of a set time period to trigger the Start Timer Event object. **1 week** is the default setting. Then select one of the following time periods for that object to trigger: - Day - Week (default setting) - Month - Year - Alternatively, select from the **Repeat on** setting the day(s) of the week in which to trigger the Start Timer Event object. Selected days display with a blue-colored circle around each. 6. Set when to end the timer control from the following options: - Select **Never** to never end the timer control. **Never** is the default setting. - Select **On** to select a specific date in which to end the timer control. If this setting has not been previously set, the current date is the default. - Select **After** and then enter how many occurrences to end the timer control after the Start Timer Event object has triggered that may times. If this setting has not been previously set, **1** is the default setting. --- ### Documentation Panel Settings Describe the object's purpose and how it functions in the Process. This description does not affect Requests for the Process, but may be useful for Process model maintenance such as how the object is configured. Edit information by using the What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) rich text editor. A Process's entered documentation displays by selecting the [**View Documentation** icon for that Process](/v1/docs/view-documentation-for-a-process). #### Edit the Object Documentation Follow these steps to edit the description for an object: 1. Select the object from the Process model in which to edit its description. 2. Ensure that the **Configuration** panel displays. If not, [show it](/v1/docs/show-configuration-settings-for-a-process-model-object). Panels to configure this object display. 3. Expand the **Documentation** panel if it is not presently expanded. The **Description** setting displays. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/7050ee84-244a-45f2-9988-36f61f763ebd.png) 4. In the **Description** setting, edit the information to display when viewing documentation for this object and then press **Enter**. Alternatively, use the What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) rich text editor to stylize your text by clicking the **More** icon![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/e770b58d-e8d3-4783-b5c2-9f5818161dfc.png). ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/401c0773-75da-4f07-a339-a69a0355d988.png) Follow these guidelines to use the WYSIWYG rich text editor to stylize your text: - **Undo changes:** Click on the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/d43772fe-9c87-4532-91ea-de3ad33fc6ec.png)icon to undo the last action. - **Redo changes:** Click on the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/d9559975-1909-4aa9-8644-7fbc90b073e0.png)icon to redo the last undone action. - **Insert/Edit Link**: Click on the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/689c46ce-caf0-4338-bc85-3ba35d4b703d.png)icon to convert the selected text into a hyperlink. Follow these steps to create a hyperlink: 1. Select the required text from the Rich Text control. 2. Click on the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/689c46ce-caf0-4338-bc85-3ba35d4b703d.png)icon. The **Insert/Edit Link** screen displays. 3. In the **URL** setting, enter the destination URL. 4. In the **Text to display** setting, edit or enter the text displayed in the Rich Text control. 5. In the **Title** setting, enter the text to display when a user hovers over the displayed text. 6. From **Open link in…** drop-down menu, select one of these options: - **New window**: Select this option to open the destination page in a new browser window. - **Current window**: Select this option to open the destination page in the current browser window. - **Insert/Edit Image:** Click on the **Insert/Edit Image** icon![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/eaaf1648-5ea6-46b3-8746-986fc691a98e.png)to insert an image. Follow these guidelines: 1. Click on the **Insert/Edit Image** icon![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/eaaf1648-5ea6-46b3-8746-986fc691a98e.png). 2. The **Insert/Edit Image** screen displays: ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/ea825ac0-d8dd-4db2-939b-531217480c50.png) 3. In the **Source** setting, enter a URL for the image. 4. In the **Alternative Description** setting, enter the text to display if the source URL of the image is not accessible. 5. In the **Width** setting, enter the maximum width for the image. 6. In the **Height** setting, enter the maximum height for the image. 7. Toggle the **Constrain Proportions** icon![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/03df4ed1-d955-4277-a4fe-f70316deb200.png)to maintain the width-height ratio of the image to its original proportion. 8. Click **Save**. - **Insert Page Break for PDF:** Click on the **Insert Page Break for PDF** icon![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/c197e5cf-20dc-427f-86fb-52247f712ca5.png)to insert a page break when a PDF document is created for this documentation if your browser supports this feature. - **Format text**: Follow these guidelines to format text: - **Headings**: From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Headings** and then select a heading size. - **Bold:** Do one of the following: - From the editor toolbar, select the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/125b80f5-b55c-4c31-9577-af92a24ae8f9.png)icon. - From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Inline** and then **Bold**. - **Italics:** Do one of the following: - From the editor toolbar, select the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/1c10dd5e-1554-4dfc-b396-3a1631bebe0e.png)icon. - From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Inline** and then **Italic**. - **Underline**: From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Inline** and then **Underline**. - **Strikethrough**: From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Inline** and then **Strikethrough**. - **Superscript**: From the **Paragraph/** **Formats** menu, select **Inline** and then **Superscript**. - **Subscript**: From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Inline** and then **Subscript**. - **Code**: From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select Inline and then **Code**. - **Paragraph**: From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Blocks** and then **Paragraph**. - **Blockquote**: From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Blocks** and then **Blockquote**. - **Division**: From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Blocks** and then **Div**. - **Preformatted**: From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Blocks** and then **Pre**. - **Change text color**: Use the **Text Color** drop-down to change text color. Click on the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/46903fca-b3b4-4e23-8215-92398dfaebdc.png)icon. The color palette displays. Do one of the following: - Select one of the color swatches from the color palette. The selected text changes to that color. - Click the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/c9a85fd8-b1a8-4987-a15d-e0f2a6abe51a.png)icon to select a custom color from the **Color Picker**. - Click the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/b4caafc9-8b1c-4986-83d5-8614ba7f8c7e.png)icon to reset the text to its default color. - **Align text**: Follow these guidelines to align text: - **Left align:** Do one of the following: - From the editor toolbar, use the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/502b6aec-64c1-4d2d-8486-c1e17f7e4612.png)icon to left-align text. - From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Align** and then **Left**. - **Center align:** Do one of the following: - From the editor toolbar, use the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/1cda0415-60ef-4a33-b0df-96a434785163.png)icon to center-align text. - From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Align** and then **Center**. - **Right align**: Do one of the following: - From the editor toolbar, use the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/97b8c7d3-3d1f-4d16-8a93-e021ab6411b6.png)icon to right-align text. - From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Align** and then **Right**. - **Justify**: Do one of the following: - From the editor toolbar, use the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/99268157-bc67-4289-95f8-92b71990f2ab.png)icon to justify text. - From the **Paragraph/Formats** menu, select **Align** and then **Justify**. - **Insert a bullet list**: Use the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/b46e4693-b1e8-47e5-9d92-c36aef37ee44.png)icon to format text as a bulleted list. - **Insert a numbered list:** Use the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/b2829bb4-8f6d-40f2-8c69-c036e2332217.png)icon to format text as a numbered list. - **Indent text**: Click on the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/dbf43201-8134-4f3e-9e00-89eca18bc822.png)icon to increase text indenting. - **Outdent text:** Click on the![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/9840aabd-0c22-49af-84bf-b0653f5f5e0c.png)icon to decrease text indenting. --- ### Advanced Panel Settings #### Edit the Node's Identifier Value Process Modeler automatically assigns a unique value to each Process node added to a Process model. However, a node's identifier value can be changed if it is unique to all other nodes in the Process model, including the Process model's identifier value. > [!WARNING] > All identifier values for all nodes in the Process model must be unique. Follow these steps to edit the identifier value for a Start Timer Event object: 1. Select the Start Timer Event object from the Process model in which to edit its identifier value. 2. Ensure that the **Configuration** panel displays. If not, [show it](/v1/docs/show-configuration-settings-for-a-process-model-object). Panels to configure this object display. 3. Expand the **Advanced** panel if it is not presently expanded. The **Node Identifier** setting displays. This is a required setting. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/7eb63e86-9f31-43dc-b3f5-299f6fab2504.png) 4. In the **Node Identifier** setting, edit the Start Timer Event object's identifier to a unique value from all nodes in the Process model and then press **Enter**.