---
title: Using the Process Map Editor
description: >-
  The working areas of the Process Map Editor and the steps from shape element
  to submission — both for creating and for editing.
search:
  tags:
    - anleitung
    - prozesslandkarte
    - editor
    - symbolleiste
    - flaechenelement
---
The **Process Map Editor** works the same way for creating and for editing. This page describes its working areas and the steps within them; how to open it is described in [Creating a Process Map](/en/processes/process-hierarchy/creating-a-process-map-with-modeler) and [Editing a Process Map](/en/processes/process-hierarchy/editing-a-process-map-in-modeler).

## Prerequisites [#prerequisites]

You are a **BPM Manager**.

The **Process Map Editor** is open.

## Context [#context]

The **Process Map Editor** provides the following working areas.

### Upper Toolbar [#upper-toolbar]

The toolbar provides 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 Map Draft**
- **Delete Draft**
- **Import PMMN File as Draft**
- **Export Diagram**
- **Print Draft**
- **Undo**
- **Redo**
- **Translate into Other Languages**
- **Change Participants**

### Left Toolbar [#left-toolbar]

The toolbar provides functions for creating, grouping, deleting, duplicating and arranging draft elements.

When you click a shape icon or the text icon, a corresponding element is created and is located under the mouse pointer so that you can position it in the process map.

The text can also be edited in the **Properties** when it is part of a group consisting of a shape element and a text element.

Please note: A group is linked as a whole. If you ungroup a group in a process map that is already linked, it loses its link.

### Zoom Icons [#zoom-icons]

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

### Properties [#properties]

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

Here you can define the **Fill Colour** of the elements if the **Colour** option is enabled under **Manage Process Space** in the **Modeler Settings** tab.

## How to Proceed [#how-to-proceed]

1. To add a shape element, click a shape icon in the left toolbar, drag it to a free position and click to create it.

   The element is created.
2. To label a shape element, click the text icon in the left toolbar, drag it onto the shape element to be labelled, click to create the label and enter the text.

   The shape element is labelled.
3. To group a shape element and a text element so that they can be moved together, select them and click **Group Selection**. The reverse is called **Ungroup**.
4. To edit a text element, select it, expand the **Properties** and edit them.
5. To save the draft, click **Save Draft** in the upper toolbar.

   The draft is saved under the name entered. It appears on the **Drafts** page.
6. To save the diagram as an SVG or PNG file, click **Save as SVG Graphic File** or **Save as PNG Graphic File** in the **Export Diagram** submenu in the upper toolbar.

   The draft is saved in the default download directory.
7. To add the draft to the process hierarchy as a process map, click **Submit** at the top.

   The **Submit as Process Map** dialog appears.
8. To submit the process map, select the hierarchy element it is to be assigned to and click **Submit**.

   The draft is submitted as a process map for the hierarchy element. This process map can be edited again as a draft.