Setting Alert Type Properties

The Properties tab enables you to specify the alert type name and description, and associate it with a Task Manager or Supplemental Data Manager object, such as a task or schedule. An individual alert can be associated with multiple objects.

You can place restrictions on the relationship between the alert and its associated object. Not all restrictions can be applied to all objects.

Table 30-1 Alert Restrictions

Restriction	Description	Example
None	No restrictions on the status of the object and the status of the alert	A user raises a ‘slow performance’ alert while working on a reporting task. While this affects how long the task takes, it does not prevent the task from completing normally. Even if the task completes, the user still wants the alert open until the performance issue is resolved.
Prevent Workflow	Workflow on the object cannot proceed forward (no submits, approvals, and so on) until the alert is closed. This does not prevent claims or rejections (workflow moving backward). It also does not prevent an Administrator or Owner from forcing the workflow forward.	A user raises an alert that the reporting system is down. This will prevent any work on reporting tasks until the alert is resolved. Preventing workflow includes preventing status changes from Pending to Open and Open to Closed.
Prevent Close	The object cannot be moved into a closed state until the alert is closed. However, intermediate workflow may proceed. This does not prevent an Administator or Owner from closing or ‘force closing’.	A user raises an alert that some comparison data is missing for a reporting task. While this does not prevent the report from being created and going through initial approvals, the report should not be fully signed off until it can be compared to the missing data.

An object may have multiple alerts with different restrictions. If this is the case, the following rules will apply in order of precedent:

1. If any open alert associated with the object has a Prevent Workflow restriction, Prevent Workflow will stop the object's (for example, a Task) workflow until the alert is closed.

2. If any open alert associated with the object has a Prevent Close restriction, then the object cannot be closed until the alert(s) is closed.

In addition, an alert may be associated with multiple objects. If it has more than one Prevent Close restriction to different objects, the alert will only be closed when the last object is closed.

To set alert type properties:

1. On the Home page, click Application, and then click Task Manager.
2. Click the Alert Types tab on the left.
3. Click New to open New Alert Type, which will default to the Properties tab.
4. For Name, enter an alert type name. You can enter a maximum of 80 characters.
5. Enter an Alert Type ID. You can enter a maximum of 80 characters.
   An Alert Type ID is required, and must be unique.
6. Optional: For Description, enter an alert type description. You can enter a maximum of 255 characters.
7. Optional: From the Associated With drop-down list, select an object, such as a task, with which to associate the alert.
8. Optional: For Restrictions, enter any restrictions for the alert. For example, if you select Prevent Close for an alert on a task, the user can't complete the close task until the alert is complete.
   If you select All Types for Associated With, no restrictions are available.
9. Select from the following values for both Period Selection and Year Selection:

   • Required – The user is required to associate the Alert with a Year or Period.

   • Visible – The user may associate the Alert with a Year or Period.

   • Hidden – The property is hidden and the Alert will not be associated with a Year or Period.

   These options indicate how Periods and Years are associated with an Alert.

10. Select Allow Remove Associations option to remove an existing association from an Alert. If you unselect this option, you will not be able to remove existing associated artifacts from the Alert.
11. Click Enabled to enable the alert type.

    Only alert types that are Enabled are displayed in the list of available Alert Types and available for selection when creating new alerts.

12. Click an Alert Type tab and continue entering information.
    When you are done entering the Alert Type information, click Save and Close.

    Note:

    You cannot create an alert on an existing alert.

    • Specifying Alert Type Instructions

    • Selecting the Alert Type Workflow

    • Assigning Alert Type Viewers

    • Adding Questions for Alert Types

    • Applying Alert Type Attributes