Creating a business process diagram

Create business process diagrams to define an "as-is" or a "to-be" business process.

About this task

To watch a movie that shows you how to create a business process diagram, click here.

Procedure

  1. Click File > New > Business Process Diagram.
  2. In the New Business Process Diagram window, type a name for the diagram. This name, which is displayed with the artifact in the project pages and in the Project Explorer, can include uppercase and lowercase characters and spaces.
  3. Browse to a project and a folder for the diagram.
  4. (Optional) Add a tag to the new diagram.
  5. (Optional) Select a template for initial content for the new diagram.
  6. Select a process type:
    • Simple Process. Use this option to represent internal processes that occur within one organizational unit.
    • Business2Business Process. Use this option when representing collaborative, business-to-business processes that span more than one organizational unit.
  7. (Optional) Click Next and select attribute groups to apply to this diagram.
  8. Click Finish.
  9. To set preference for business process diagramming, click Window > Preferences. At the Diagram Settings node, you can set process diagram preferences for zoom and anti-aliasing (font smoothing), colors and fonts, connection types, and grid appearance.
  10. When starting a business-to-business process diagram, you must begin by adding at least one Pool from the palette. These represent different organizational units. You can begin a simple process with any element except a Connector.
  11. To add and modify elements in the diagram, follow the steps described in Table 1. When you add connectors, the connector element remains selected so you can quickly add more connectors. When you are done, select another element to deselect the connector element in the palette.
  12. When you have completed your diagram, click File > Save, and then click File > Close.
    Table 1. Adding and modifying elements in the diagram
    To... Do This...
    Add an element to the diagram

    From the Process Elements in the palette, select the element type and click in the editor window.

    Activities (Task and Sub-Process elements) and Decision Points (gateways) are stacked in the palette. To select an element from the stack, click the down arrow at the element and make a selection. After adding a sub-process element to the editor, double-click the sub-process to link it to a new or existing simple process diagram.

    Move an element Select the element and drag it to a new location in the diagram.
    Resize an element Select the element and drag a sizing handle in the selection frame.
    Rename an element To replace a name, click the element and begin typing. To edit a name, double-click the element and place the cursor in the name.
    Add a sequence flow connector between elements in a simple process or within a single pool in a business-to-business process In the palette, select Connector and click a source and target element for the flow.
    Set sequence flows as default or non-default When you add exit sequence flows from Decision Point (Exclusive) or Decision Point (Inclusive) gateways, the first sequence flow you add is designated as default; subsequent flows are designated as non-default. To change a non-default flow to default, right-click the flow and select Properties. In the Sequence Flow section, change Is Default to True.
    Add a message flow connector between elements in different pools in a business-to-business process In the palette, select Connector and click a source and target element for the flow. In the palette, select Message and position the cursor on the message flow connector between two pools. Click when the plus sign is displayed. (The connector must not have a message already.) There must be enough space between pools to add a message; otherwise, you cannot create the message.
    Add text Use a Note (Text Annotation). Use the Connector element to create an Association between a Note and another element.
    Add a data association Add an activity and a data object. Connect the two in the direction of the data flow.
    Reposition an association or a connector name Click the name and drag it to a new location.
    Edit an association label Select the association and begin typing, or double-click the association.
    Note: By default, if no label is defined, the label is not shown. After a label is defined, it is displayed. You can change this behavior in the preferences. You can also right-click an association and click Show/Hide label.
    Set properties for an element

    Right-click and select Properties to change the name, appearance, or tag. You can also open the Properties view by clicking the Show view icon in the upper-left corner of the tool and selecting General > Properties.

    To permanently dock the view, right-click the Properties icon and deselect Fast View.

    Set trigger types for Start and Intermediate events Right-click, select Properties, and set a trigger type.
    Set result types for an End event Right-click, select Properties, and set a result type.
    Zoom in on your view of the editor In the palette, click Zoom and click an area in the diagram.
    Zoom out in your view of the editor In the palette, click Zoom, hold the Shift key, and click an area in the diagram.

Feedback