SSIS Timer Task
Add a relative or absolute delay anywhere in your SSIS package: wait a set time, or until a specific date/time.
Timer Task is a free SSIS Control Flow task that pauses execution anywhere in the package. Wait a relative time (days, hours, minutes and seconds from the task’s start), or wait until a specific date/time that you type in or read from a variable.
Timer Task is free in every edition. The same download also includes a trial of the paid PowerPack components
- Control Flow Task in SSIS
- Runs in your environment
- Also runs in Azure Data Factory
- Free component (FREE edition)
At a glance
What Timer Task can do
Timer Task adds a relative or absolute delay (days, hours, minutes or seconds, or until a date/time) anywhere in an SSIS package.
Relative delay
Wait a set number of days, hours, minutes or seconds anywhere inside the control flow.
Mode= Relative (default), counted from the task start timeTimerDays,TimerHours,TimerMinutes,TimerSeconds
Wait until a date/time
Pause the package until a specified date and time is reached.
Mode= AbsoluteTimerDateTimeholds the exact date/time
Date/time from a variable
Read the absolute wait time from an SSIS variable.
ReadDateTimeFromVariable= TrueTimerDateTimeVariablenames the DateTime variable
Ignore date part option
Wait until a time of day today, or until an exact date and time.
- Ignore Date Part is checked by default
- Uncheck it to use both date and time
Logging options
Control how much is logged while the task runs.
LoggingMode: Normal, Medium, Detailed or Debugging
SQL Server 2012–2025 & ADF
Runs in your environment on SQL Server 2012–2025 and Azure-SSIS.
- SQL Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012 (32/64-bit)
- Azure Data Factory (SSIS IR)
- Design packages in Visual Studio 2017, 2019, 2022, or 2026
- Windows only (64-bit OS): Windows 7–11 or Windows Server 2012–2025
See all features
- Free component, included in every SSIS PowerPack edition
- Add a relative or absolute delay anywhere in the package
- Wait for a relative time (days, hours, minutes, seconds) inside the control flow
- Relative wait is calculated from the start time of the Timer Task
- Wait for a user-defined date/time
- Wait for a user-defined date/time using a variable value
- Ignore Date Part option to wait until a time of day
- Logging modes (Normal, Medium, Detailed, Debugging)
Support for SQL Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012 (32/64-bit) and Azure Data Factory
SQL Server 2012–2025
How it works
From the toolbox to your first run.
Key steps from the Timer Task page and help file, with the screens you will see in SSDT.
Wait a set amount of time.
Drag ZS Timer Task onto the Control Flow and double-click it. Wait for relative time is selected by default: enter the days, hours, minutes and seconds to wait. The wait is counted from the start time of the Timer Task.
Mode= Relative (default)TimerDays,TimerHours,TimerMinutes,TimerSeconds
Wait until a specific date or time.
Select Wait for absolute time, then either enter an exact date/time or choose Get date/time from variable and pick a DateTime variable. Ignore date part is checked by default, so the task waits until that time of day; uncheck it to wait for the exact date and time.
Mode= Absolute withTimerDateTimeReadDateTimeFromVariable+TimerDateTimeVariable
Run the package and watch it wait.
Execute the package. When Timer Task starts, it waits for the time you set, and the Progress tab logs how long it is waiting.
LoggingMode: Normal, Medium, Detailed or Debugging
Inside the UI
Key settings, as they appear in SSDT.
Real screens from the Timer Task product page. Step through them, or open any shot at full size.
Drag and drop
From the SSIS Toolbox drag ZS Timer Task onto the designer surface.
Compatibility and requirements
Designed to stay inside your SSIS runtime.
- SQL Server 2012 through 2025, 32-bit and 64-bit
- Windows only, 64-bit OS required. SQL Server Express and Web editions do not include SSIS
- Azure Data Factory SSIS Integration Runtime
- Self-hosted: credentials and data stay in your environment (external API calls still reach that service)
- Fully functional 30-day trial of SSIS PowerPack
FAQ
Questions teams ask before they drop Timer Task on the canvas.
What is Timer Task?
Timer Task is a free SSIS Control Flow task that adds a delay anywhere in a package: wait a relative time (days, hours, minutes and seconds from the task’s start), or wait until a specific date/time entered directly or read from a variable.
Is Timer Task free?
Yes. It is included in the FREE edition of SSIS PowerPack, as well as in the Standard, Professional and Enterprise editions. See compare editions.
How do I wait until an exact date and time?
Select Wait for absolute time and enter the date/time, or read it from a DateTime variable. Ignore date part is checked by default, so only the time of day is used; uncheck it to wait for the exact date and time. See how to delay SSIS execution.
Which SQL Server versions can I run it on?
SQL Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, and 2012 (32- and 64-bit), plus Azure Data Factory with an SSIS Integration Runtime (packages must target SQL Server 2017). See Compatibility and requirements.
What customers say
Free in every edition
Install SSIS PowerPack and drag Timer Task onto the Control Flow.
Add a relative or absolute delay anywhere in your SSIS package: wait a set time, or until a specific date/time.
- Control Flow Task in SSISTimer Task appears in the toolbox after you install PowerPack.
- Free to useTimer Task is included in the FREE edition of SSIS PowerPack.
- Live supportQuestions? Talk to a ZappySys engineer.
Talk to an engineer before or during your trial.