Adding a duration decider

Creating or configuring forms > Adding a duration decider

6.5 Adding a duration decider

Specifying a duration decider is very similar to specifying a relative date. However, a duration has no meaning until it is applied to a date. For example, a duration of one month differs depending on if it is currently February or March. A relative date is always applied to the current time at run time.

To add a duration decider

Open the .xml file where a duration decider (rather than a concrete duration) is allowed. These files are located in the Viewpoint home directory.
Set a duration component inside the parent element.

<component id="nameOfDurationTextbox" />

Set a duration by specifying an integer value for the following child elements:
- <years>
- <months>
- <days>
- <hours>
- <minutes>
- <seconds>

Any value not set is assumed to be 0.

Configure the binary calculation by setting the <calculate> element’s binary-operation attribute.

Set the value to "between-dates" to specify the duration between date deciders.

Define the <first> child element, which can be a decider itself.
Define the <second> child element, which can be a decider itself.

Set the value to "shortest" to set two duration deciders and have Viewpoint choose the shortest duration.

<calculate binary-operation="shortest">
  <first>
    <months>
      <component id="duration" />
    </months>
  </first>
  <second>
    <calculate binary-operation="between-dates">
      <first>
        <component id="starttime" />
      </first>
      <second relative="false">
        <years>2010</years>
        <months>8</months>
      </second>
    </calculate>
  </second>
</calculate>

The user inputs an integer for duration and a date for "starttime". The duration is compared to the duration from the "starttime" component to September 1^st. The chosen duration is the one that is shortest.