Creating a diagram

As a Designer, you can use the integrated Modeler to design process diagrams.

The Modeler is the way to go for workflows that branch: gateways, data objects and all basic BPMN elements are available to you here. You can capture the straightforward standard workflow more quickly with the Happy Path — see Capturing a happy path; you can switch between the two at any time.

Prerequisites

You are a BPM Manager or Designer.

You have named and described a process draft.

Context

With the Modeler, you can create processes easily and use all basic BPMN elements while doing so.

The integrated Modeler supports the capture of workflows. Starting from a process goal, the necessary process steps are captured as tasks. A task represents a single, self-contained activity that is not broken down any further. A task can be typed according to how it is carried out.

The process steps are connected in the correct order by flows. Alternative workflows that take different conditions into account are branched by gateways and, where applicable, merged again.

You map data that is only needed during the process as a data object. You map data that several processes use or that is retained after the end of the process as a data store.

The process diagram you have created can be saved as a process draft and submitted to the Process Space as a process version (revision). It can also be saved as a graphic so that you can insert it into other documents.

As a BPMN file, you can transfer the diagram to another modeling tool, for example to link it there with data and software systems. Note: A diagram that you import into the Process Space as a BPMN file can no longer be edited in the Modeler.

The Modeler offers the following working areas.

The toolbar offers functions for the draft as a whole. When you position the mouse pointer over an icon, the function is displayed.

New draft
Open draft
Save draft, Save as new process draft
Delete draft
Import BPMN file as draft
Export (Save as BPMN file, Save as PNG image file, Save as SVG image file)
Undo
Redo
Translate into other languages
Print draft
Change participants

Prerequisite for participants: Participants can only be added once the process draft has been saved. Participants can only be added if they have permission to model. Only one participant at a time can work on a draft. Two or more participants cannot work on a draft simultaneously.

The toolbar offers functions for creating draft elements, some of which are also offered in the context menu of the draft elements. When you click an icon, a corresponding element is created and follows the mouse pointer so that you can position it.

Zoom icons

You can change the display size incrementally within a certain range or fit the diagram size to the window.

Properties

The Properties area on the right can be expanded and collapsed.

On the Title and description tab, you can enter a Name and Description for the process or for a selected element.

On the Fill color and text/border color tab, you define the colors of the selected elements, either from the predefined colors or via Select Different Color. Your color choice applies only to these elements. The tab can only be used if a BPM Manager has activated the Color option on the Modeler settings tab under Manage Process Space.

On the Global and local properties tab, the Custom properties of the selected element are listed with Name and Value; you add one with the plus icon and remove it with the trash icon. Which global properties are offered for processes, subprocesses and individual element types is defined by a BPM Manager — see Defining Modeler settings.

On the Architecture elements tab, you link the selected element to architecture elements (see Linked architecture elements and relation types).

On the Attachments tab, you attach documents, links or videos to the element.

The context menu for an element appears when you click the element. It offers, for example, the elements that can be connected to the selected element. In addition, the element type can be defined.

Keyboard shortcuts

Process elements can be copied from one draft to another draft. Select the process elements you want to copy. Copy them to your clipboard using the key combination [Ctrl] + [C] (Apple: [CTRL] + [C]). You can paste the copied process elements from your clipboard into another draft — for example one you have opened in a second browser window — using the key combination [Ctrl] + [V] (Apple: [CTRL] + [V]).

BPMN.IO info icon

At the bottom right there is an icon that opens an info box with a link to bpmn.io. The website provides information about the technical background of the Modeler.

Until you submit the draft as a process version (revision), only its participants can see it.

The draft is saved automatically as you work; Last saved is displayed at the top.

If another participant is currently working on the draft, you can take over the editing with Take over editing.

How to proceed

Under Drafts, click Create new draft.

The entry form for the process draft appears.
In the entry form for the process draft, click Open Modeler.

The integrated Modeler appears.
To add an element, click a diagram node and use the context menu, or click an icon in the left toolbar and drag it to a free position.

The element is created with a connection when added from the context menu, and without one when added from the toolbar.
To connect two elements, you have two options:
- Click the first element, click the connection icon in the context menu and drag the connection to the second element.
- In the left toolbar, click the connection icon and then click the two elements one after the other.
The connection between the elements is created.
To name an element, enter its name in the Name input field in the expandable Properties area on the right.

The name appears in the diagram.
To describe an element, enter its description in the Description input field.
To type an element, click Change type in the context menu and select the type of the element.
To save the diagram, click Save draft in the top toolbar.

The draft is saved under the name you entered. It appears on the Drafts page.
To save the diagram as a graphic or BPMN file, click Save as BPMN file, Save as PNG image file or Save as SVG image file in the Export submenu in the top toolbar.

The draft is saved in the default download directory.
To add the diagram to the Process Space, click Submit at the top.

The Submit as process revision dialog appears.

The draft is added to the Process Space under the name you entered.