# Start workflow at precise time

**URL:** <https://community.temporal.io/t/start-workflow-at-precise-time/1797>\
**Category:** Community Support\
**Tags:** java-sdk, cron, workflow-options\
**Created:** [March 23, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.temporal.io/t/start-workflow-at-precise-time/1797 "2021-03-23T17:47:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lorenzo\_Di\_Giacomo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.temporal.io/lorenzo_di_giacomo/32/796_2.png) [@Lorenzo\_Di\_Giacomo](https://community.temporal.io/u/Lorenzo_Di_Giacomo)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.temporal.io/t/start-workflow-at-precise-time/1797/1 "2021-03-23T17:47:44Z")

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Hi, i know the existing of cron workflow but there is a way to start a workflow (only one run) at precise time (es: workflow will start the 25 march 2021 at 12:00 PM)?  
Thanks

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**Author:** ![maxim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.temporal.io/maxim/32/8_2.png) [@maxim](https://community.temporal.io/u/maxim)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://community.temporal.io/t/start-workflow-at-precise-time/1797/2 "2021-03-23T17:50:23Z")

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Add `sleep(pricizeTime - Workflow.currentTime)` at the beginning of the workflow function.

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**Author:** ![Lorenzo\_Di\_Giacomo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.temporal.io/lorenzo_di_giacomo/32/796_2.png) [@Lorenzo\_Di\_Giacomo](https://community.temporal.io/u/Lorenzo_Di_Giacomo)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:52pm UTC](https://community.temporal.io/t/start-workflow-at-precise-time/1797/3 "2021-03-23T17:52:49Z")

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But this will trigger the workflow Timeout right? If pricizeTime - Workflow.currentTime \> Workflow TimeoutBeforeClose

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![maxim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.temporal.io/maxim/32/8_2.png) [@maxim](https://community.temporal.io/u/maxim)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.temporal.io/t/start-workflow-at-precise-time/1797/4 "2021-03-23T18:15:04Z")

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So, don’t specify workflow timeout which is shorter than this time. The default timeout is infinite.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lorenzo\_Di\_Giacomo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.temporal.io/lorenzo_di_giacomo/32/796_2.png) [@Lorenzo\_Di\_Giacomo](https://community.temporal.io/u/Lorenzo_Di_Giacomo)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://community.temporal.io/t/start-workflow-at-precise-time/1797/5 "2021-03-23T18:33:58Z")

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Yes of course it will work but isn’t the best way, i think i’ll just calculate the time difference and add to it my timeout, but i thought there was a built-in option to do that.  
Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![maxim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.temporal.io/maxim/32/8_2.png) [@maxim](https://community.temporal.io/u/maxim)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.temporal.io/t/start-workflow-at-precise-time/1797/6 "2021-03-23T18:40:31Z")

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We don’t recommend using workflow timeouts for any business logic. This is a purely a cleanup mechanism to avoid resource leakage.
