Business Process Modeling Notation
A graphical representation promoted by the Business Process Management Initiative of the Object Management Group, BPMN provides a graphical notation for expressing business processes in a business process diagram.
The BPMN specification also defines the relationships between the graphical elements and process execution languages such as BPEL. For more information on BPMN, see
www.omg.org/bpmn.
Process Modeler and BPMN
Introduced with V6.2, Process Modeler presents shapes that are closer to BPMN standards than the shapes in PRPC's default Visio template. Analysts who are familiar with BPMN notation may prefer to create and edit flows using Process Modeler.
Visio stencils and BPMN
Developers who prefer to use Visio for flow editing can select the BPMN or PegaBPMN template in the Template field of the New dialog for a flow. The BPMN template is closest in appearance to standard Business Process Modeling Notation shapes. The PegaBPMN template uses similar, but more colorful, shapes.
( Prior to V6.1, the PegaBPMN stencil was named BPMN.)
How to set stencils
- To use the same stencil for every flow you create, select Preferences from your profile menu. In the Edit group of preferences, select a Stencil value. Click Save.
- To use these shapes for a single flow when you create a new flow, select the stencil in the Using Template field on the New form.
- To change the stencil in an existing flow in the Visio form, select a value from the Stencil drop-down list in the Flow Properties panel and click Change.
Note the following:- If you are applying a new stencil to an existing flow, the revised flow may contain old shapes if equivalents do not exist in the new stencil. For example, an Assignment Service shape in a PegaBPMN stencil remains the same when a BPMN stencil is applied. The updates do not affect flow execution.
- When working with an existing BPMN flow and PegaBPMN shapes are needed (Assignment Service, Integrator, Notify, for example) switch to the PegaBPMN stencil, add the shapes, and switch back to BPMN.
- When changing stencils, a shape that is delete protected remains on the Visio flow; the new shape will overlay it. To remove the setting, select the shape, select Format > Protection, and click None on the Protection menu. Click OK to close the menu.
- The Correspondence shape is equivalent to a Utility shape that calls the standard Work-.CorrNew activity.
You can modify the notation for some shapes (see below) in the BPMN stencil. Select the shape in the flow, right-click, and select a notation from the menu. The notations affect only the appearance of the shape, they do not affect execution.
Decision shape
 Parallel |  Exclusive |
 Inclusive |  Complex |
Start shape
 Message |  Timer |
End shape
 Error |  Message |
 Cancel |
Ticket shape
 Message |  Timer |
 Error |  Cancel |
Terminology
Many constructs in BPMN notation have different names than PRPC normally uses for the same concept:
- A BPMN activity is similar to a shape in a PRPC flow
- A BPMN process is similar to an entire flow
- A BPMN transition is similar to a connector arrow on a flow
 | BPEL |
 | Flow form — Process Modeler basics Flows — Completing the New dialog box Designer Studio — Setting your preferences |
Definitions — B