Business Process Modeling
Business Process Modeling
PowerDesigner® 16.5
Windows
DOCUMENT ID: DC38088-01-1650-01
LAST REVISED: January 2013
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Contents
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PART I
Building BPMs
The chapters in this part explain how to model your business processes in PowerDesigner®.
A business process model (BPM) helps you identify, describe, and decompose business
processes. You can analyze your system at various levels of detail, and focus alternatively on
control flow (the sequence of execution) or data flow (the exchange of data). You can use
BPEL, BPMN, and many other process languages.
The PowerDesigner® BPM allows you to analyze and design the implementation and
execution of business processes using the following diagrams:
• Process hierarchy diagram (PHD) - A high-level diagram, which analyzes your business
functions as a hierarchy of processes (see Chapter 2, Process Hierarchy Diagrams on page
15).
• Business process diagram - Analyzes the control flow of a process at any level of the
process hierarchy. You can analyze how sub-processes will be allocated to people,
organizations, or groups, the control flow of the process and how data flows through it,
along with the implementation of your sub-processes. If you are using an orchestration
engine, you can implement processes using one or more service providers (see Chapter 3,
Business Process Diagrams on page 19).
• Process service diagram - [service orchestration languages only] Displays your service
providers and any dependencies between them (see Chapter 4, Process Service Diagrams
on page 123).
The diagram below shows how these diagrams can interact within your model. The process
hierarchy diagram displays the processes of your system in a hierarchy. Each of these
processes is analyzed in its own business process diagram, and service providers used to
implement the sub-processes are displayed in a process service diagram:
The PowerDesigner BPM supports many of the most popular process languages:
• Analysis languages — [no code generation] used by business analysts to describe the
system without any implementation details:
• Analysis - An implementation-neutral notation.
• BPMN - A standard graphical notation to represent the control flow of a business
process. Suitable to refine the analysis of a system with respect to standards (see
Chapter 10, Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) on page 177).
• Data Flow Diagram - For identifying data exchanges between processes (see
Chapter 12, Data Flow Diagram (DFD) on page 207).
• Service Orchestration languages — (or execution languages) used by technical analysts to
describe the implementation of business processes as Web services or applications and
define how they can be connected to accomplish specific tasks:
• Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) - [no code generation] Suitable to define the
invocation of services by processes (see Chapter 13, Service Oriented Architecture
(SOA) on page 215).
• BPEL4WS 1.1 or WS-BPEL 2.0 - Suitable to define the invocation of services by
processes. Focus on the implementation of one partner engaged in the collaboration of
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CHAPTER 1: Getting Started with Business Process Modeling
a BPM associated with ebXML (see Chapter 14, BPEL4WS and WS-BPEL on page
217).
• Sybase® WorkSpace Business Process 1.5: Used to implement processes using
Business Process Service in Sybase WorkSpace (see Chapter 15, Sybase WorkSpace -
Deprecated on page 235).
• Collaborative languages — used by business analyst to document Business-to-Business
exchanges (B2B):
• ebXML 1.01 and 1.04: Choreography language, which describes the collaboration
agreements between partners, such as two banks, that are all considered at the same
level (see Chapter 16, Electronic Business XML (EbXML) - Deprecated on page
259).
Objects that are available to you in your model depends on the process language you have
selected. For example, if you select the Analysis process language, the data transformation
object is not available.
Note: If you created a model with PowerDesigner 9 and attached a XEM (such as ebXML for
example), the model will be automatically linked to the most appropriate process language,
otherwise it will be linked by default to the Analysis process language.
Suggested Bibliography
• The Workflow reference Model - http://www.wfmc.org.
• Business Process Model Language Specification - http://www.bpmi.org/.
• Document: Business Process Specification Schema - http://www.ebxml.org/.
• Alan Kotok, David R. Webber, David RR Webber - ebXML: The New Global Standard for
Doing Business on the Internet - New Riders Publishing, 2001.
• Business Process Execution Language for Web Services Specification – http://
www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/specification/ws-bpel/.
Creating a BPM
You create a new business process model by selecting File > New Model.
Note: In addition to creating a BPM from scratch with the following procedure, you can also:
• Reverse-engineer existing process language code (see Chapter 7, Generating and Reverse
Engineering Process Languages on page 163).
• Import a SIMUL 8 file (see Chapter 5, Simulating a Business Process Model with
SIMUL8 on page 125).
• Open a legacy PowerDesigner Process Analyst Model (see Chapter 12, Data Flow
Diagram (DFD) on page 207).
The New Model dialog is highly configurable, and your administrator may hide options that
are not relevant for your work or provide templates or predefined models to guide you through
model creation. When you open the dialog, one or more of the following buttons will be
available on the left hand side:
• Categories - which provides a set of predefined models and diagrams sorted in a
configurable category structure.
• Model types - which provides the classic list of PowerDesigner model types and
diagrams.
• Template files - which provides a set of model templates sorted by model type.
1. Select File > New Model to open the New Model dialog.
2. Click a button, and then select a category or model type ( Business Process Model ) in the
left-hand pane.
3. Select an item in the right-hand pane. Depending on how your New Model dialog is
configured, these items may be first diagrams or templates on which to base the creation of
your model.
Use the Views tool on the upper right hand side of the dialog to control the display of the
items.
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CHAPTER 1: Getting Started with Business Process Modeling
4. Enter a model name. The code of the model, which is used for script or code generation, is
derived from this name using the model naming conventions.
5. Select a target process language , which customizes PowerDesigner's default modifying
environment with target-specific properties, objects, and generation templates.
By default, PowerDesigner creates a link in the model to the specified file. To copy the
contents of the resource and save it in your model file, click the Embed Resource in
Model button to the right of this field. Embedding a file in this way enables you to make
changes specific to your model without affecting any other models that reference the
shared resource.
6. [optional] Click the Select Extensions button and attach one or more extensions to your
model.
7. Click OK to create and open the business process model .
Note: Sample BPMs are available in the Example Directory.
BPM Properties
You open the model property sheet by right-clicking the model in the Browser and selecting
Properties.
Each business process model has the following model properties:
Property Description
Name/Code/Comment Identify the model. The name should clearly convey the model's purpose to
non-technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or
scripts, may be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You
can optionally add a comment to provide more detailed information about
the model. By default the code is auto-generated from the name by applying
the naming conventions specified in the model options. To decouple name-
code synchronization, click to release the = button to the right of the Code
field.
Filename Specifies the location of the model file. This box is empty if the model has
never been saved.
Author Specifies the author of the model. If you enter nothing, the Author field in
diagram title boxes displays the user name from the model property sheet
Version Info tab. If you enter a space, the Author field displays nothing.
Version Specifies the version of the model. You can use this box to display the
repository version or a user defined version of the model. This parameter is
defined in the display preferences of the Title node.
Default diagram Specifies the diagram displayed by default when you open the model.
Property Description
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter mul-
tiple keywords, separate them with commas.
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CHAPTER 1: Getting Started with Business Process Modeling
Tools Description
Editor Menu [Shift+F11] - Contains the following commands:
• New [Ctrl+N] - Reinitializes the field by removing all the existing content.
• Open... [Ctrl+O] - Replaces the content of the field with the content of the se-
lected file.
• Insert... [Ctrl+I] - Inserts the content of the selected file at the cursor.
• Save [Ctrl+S] - Saves the content of the field to the specified file.
• Save As... - Saves the content of the field to a new file.
• Select All [Ctrl+A] - Selects all the content of the field.
• Find... [Ctrl+F] - Opens a dialog to search for text in the field.
• Find Next... [F3] - Finds the next occurence of the searched for text.
• Find Previous... [Shift+F3] - Finds the previous occurence of the searched for
text.
• Replace... [Ctrl+H] - Opens a dialog to replace text in the field.
• Go To Line... [Ctrl+G] - Opens a dialog to go to the specified line.
• Toggle Bookmark [Ctrl+F2] Inserts or removes a bookmark (a blue box) at the
cursor position. Note that bookmarks are not printable and are lost if you refresh
the tab, or use the Show Generation Options tool
• Next Bookmark [F2] - Jumps to the next bookmark.
• Previous Bookmark [Shift+F2] - Jumps to the previous bookmark.
Edit With [Ctrl+E] - Opens the previewed code in an external editor. Click the down
arrow to select a particular editor or Choose Program to specify a new editor. Editors
specified here are added to the list of editors available at Tools > General Options >
Editors.
Save [Ctrl+S] - Saves the content of the field to the specified file.
Cut [Ctrl+X], Copy [Ctrl+C], and Paste [Ctrl+V] - Perform the standard clipboard
actions.
Undo [Ctrl+Z] and Redo [Ctrl+Y] - Move backward or forward through edits.
Tools Description
Select Generation Targets [Ctrl+F6] - Lets you select additional generation targets
(defined in extensions), and adds a sub-tab for each selected target. For information
about generation targets, see Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner > Extension
Files > Generated Files (Profile) > Generating Your Files in a Standard or Extended
Generation.
Show Generation Options [Ctrl+W] - Opens the Generation Options dialog, allow-
ing you to modify the generation options and to see the impact on the code.
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CHAPTER 1: Getting Started with Business Process Modeling
Option Description
Default Message Specifies the default setting for the Message Format property for flows and
Format resource flows. You can choose:
• None - Flows are created without any default message format, as the event is of
minor importance. You may choose this option if you do not want to specify
data flows in your BPM.
• Undefined - Flows are created with an undefined message format, which you
will specify subsequently.
Data Flow Dia- [Data Flow Diagram only] Specifies whether to use the Gane & Sarson or Yourdon
gram Notation notation for your DFD symbols.
For information about controlling the naming conventions of your models, see Core Features
Guide > Modeling with PowerDesigner > Objects > Naming Conventions.
there will be no final environmental validation of the fix. Users are invited to assist Sybase by
testing fixes of the definition provided by Sybase and report any continuing inconsistencies.
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CHAPTER 1: Getting Started with Business Process Modeling
To get started extending objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with PowerDesigner >
Objects > Extending Objects. For detailed information about working with extensions, see
Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner > Extension Files.
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CHAPTER 2 Process Hierarchy Diagrams
Expand the hierarchy to display further children below decomposed processes by clicking the
+ sign on the base of the process, or hide children by clicking on the - sign on the base of their
parent. Alternatively, right-click a process and select Expand to show one level of children,
Expand All to show all levels, or Collapse to hide all children.
Each of these processes can be analyzed in its own business process diagram (see Chapter 3,
Business Process Diagrams on page 19).
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CHAPTER 2: Process Hierarchy Diagrams
Note: You can also create and decompose processes in the Browser. To create a
root process, right-click the model node in the Browser, and select New >
Process. To create sub-processes, right-click the process and select Decom-
pose Object.
Sibling process The left or right part of any process symbol, except the root process:
You can select and move processes relative to each other, drag and drop them into free space in
the diagram. To change your hierarchy, drag and drop a process onto another process to make
it a sub-process of that process. All the hierarchy beneath the moved process is moved with
it.
To evenly space the sub-processes beneath a process in harmonious lines, right-click the
process and select Arrange Symbols. Alternately, select Symbol > Auto-Layout.
By default, a process hierarchy displays from top-to-bottom. To display it from left-to-right,
select Tools > Display Preferences > General, and select Horizontal in the Orientation
group box.
Note: You cannot use the composite view feature (see Decomposing Processes on page 42)
for a process in a PHD.
To hide a process and its children in the hierarchy without deleting it in the model, right-click it
and select Edit > Hide Symbols. To display any hidden sub-processes underneath a process,
right-click it and select Complete or Complete All.
1. Right-click the process within which you want to reuse the process, and select Reuse
Process to open a selection dialog, which lists all the other processes available in the
model.
Note: The Reuse Process command is intended to provide a quick means for creating
shortcuts to processes in your Process Hierarchy Diagram, primarily when working with
the Analysis language, and is not available in other BPM diagrams. For some languages it
is hidden completely. If you are working with BPMN or an execution language, it may be
more appropriate to set the implementation type of the process reusing another process to
Reuse process or Execute operation (seeSpecifying Implementation Types
on page 35).
2. Select the process that you want to reuse and click OK.
A shortcut to the selected process is added as a sub-process to the first process.
Note: You cannot decompose the shortcut or expand its hierarchy, even if its target object
has sub-processes.
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CHAPTER 3 Business Process Diagrams
A business process diagram (or process flow diagram) provides a graphical view of the control
flow (the sequence of execution) or data flow (the exchange of data) between processes at any
level in your system.
A business process diagram can be created in a model, a package or within a decomposed
process.
In the following example the path of an order depends on whether it is a corporate order. The
control flow passes through the Process Corporate Order process, then through the Check
Book process, which checks the book availability in the Inventory resource. The check is done
through the Inventory resource. Then the control flow path depends on whether it is an
overnight delivery. If yes, the control flow passes through the Ship FedEx Overnight process
with a message format specifying the format of the information exchanged (an administrative
form for example). Then the shipment is confirmed. In any cases the control flow will go to
Finish whether or not it is a corporate order.
There are three types of BPDs for modeling different aspects of a system:
• Top-level diagram – focuses on the roles played by business partners in relation to a system
(see Top-Level Diagrams on page 20)
Top-Level Diagrams
A top-level diagram is a special form of business process diagram required by ebXML and
BPEL languages, which provides a high-level representation of a system and its interactions
with business partners.
Note: To create a business process diagram in an existing BPM, right-click the model in the
Browser and select New > Business Process Diagram. To create a new model, select File >
New Model, choose Business Process Model as the model type and Business Process
Diagram as the first diagram, and then click OK.
For other languages, the top-level diagram is simply the highest level of choreography
diagram (see Choreography Diagrams on page 21).
When working with ebXML and BPEL languages, business or technical analysts should
identify the business partners of their system in order to specify its scope and the interactions
with those partners.
Partners are connected to a top-level process by role associations and can perform either
initiating or responding roles in relation to the system.
In the following example, Carrier, Provider, and Buyer are business partners, which interact
with the Sell Goods top–level process. The Buyer performs an initiating role in relation to the
system, while the Provider and the Carrier perform a responding role:
Having created a top-level diagram, you can then decompose your top-level process to create a
choreography diagram (see Choreography Diagrams on page 21).
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CHAPTER 3: Business Process Diagrams
Choreography Diagrams
You create a choreography diagram for any decomposed process for ebXML and BPEL
languages, and at any level of the process hierarchy for other languages. Each choreography
diagram contains a control flow, which organizes the sub-processes directly below the process
from which the diagram has been created.
Note: To create a choreograph diagram in an existing BPM, right-click the model in the
Browser and select New > Choreography Diagram. To create a new model, select File >
New Model, choose Business Process Model as the model type and Choreography Diagram
as the first diagram, and then click OK.
The choreography diagram is the core BPM diagram, which lets you perform the following
tasks:
• Allocate responsibilities to organization units in a system (see Allocating Responsibilities
on page 22)
• Trace the choreography of the processes in a system (see Tracing the Process
Choreography on page 22)
• Analyze how data flows through a system (see Analyzing Data on page 23)
• Model the implementation of processes in a system (see Modeling the Implementation of
Processes on page 27)
Allocating Responsibilities
You can use a choreography diagram to analyze how processes modeled in the system will be
allocated to people, groups or organizations. These resources are modeled as organization
units and are represented in the choreography diagram as swimlanes.
You allocate a process to an organization unit by placing it in the appropriate swimlane (see
Attaching and detaching a process to/from an organization unit on page 53). Allocating
responsibilities in this way helps you to avoid unassigned tasks and duplicated assignments.
In the following example the Warehouse organization unit is responsible for checking the
stock and managing the shipping of goods, and the Call Center organization unit is responsible
for calling back customers:
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CHAPTER 3: Business Process Diagrams
Analyzing Data
The choreography diagram provides various ways to model the flow of data in the system.
• Message formats on flows – [Analysis language and ebXML language only] to define an
exchange format for large amounts of data that transit between processes. Message
formats can be useful for web services, and are usually defined by a DTD or an XSD (see
Message Formats (BPM) on page 76).
In the following example, the Order to Ship flow is associated with the USPS Packet
message format to specify the format of the data exchanged between the Process Order
process and the Ship US Postal Ground process:
• Data on flows – [Analysis language and DFD language only] to model data (see Data
(BPM) on page 82) without specifying its format. Data can be associated with objects
defined in a PDM, OOM, or CDM (see Exchanging data with other PowerDesigner
models on page 84).
In the following example, the Order to Ship flow conveys the Account ID and Customer ID
data from the Process Order process to the Ship US Postal Ground process:
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CHAPTER 3: Business Process Diagrams
• Data CRUD – [Analysis, DFD, and ebXML languages only] to specify the actions (create,
read, update and delete) a process can perform on data (see Working with Data and
Resource CRUD Matrices on page 48).
In the following example, the Data CRUD Matrix shows that the Create Order process
Reads and updates the Customer ID data, the Check Customer Account process creates the
Account ID data, and so on:
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CHAPTER 3: Business Process Diagrams
Note: See also the data flow diagram, which offers another way of analyzing data, by focusing
on data exchange between processes (see Data Flow Diagrams on page 30).
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CHAPTER 3: Business Process Diagrams
For more information about the data flow diagram, see Chapter 12, Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
on page 207.
Processes (BPM)
A process is a manual or automated action, such as "Process order", or "Send a mail".
You can decompose processes in order to analyze their actions more closely, and further
decompose your sub-processes until you reach an appropriate level of detail. A process that is
not decomposed is called an atomic process (or activity) (see Decomposing Processes on page
42).
A process can be created in the following diagrams with any target languages:
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CHAPTER 3: Business Process Diagrams
• Process Hierarchy Diagram – each process forms part of a hierarchy, which begins with a
single top-level process, and is decomposed into sub-processes. Each decomposed process
can be analyzed in its own business process diagram.
In the following example, the top-level Design process is decomposed into three sub-
processes named Analyze needs, Analyze tasks, and Analyze audience:
For more information, see Chapter 2, Process Hierarchy Diagrams on page 15.
• Business Process Diagram – processes can be created in each of the three types of business
process diagrams:
• Top-level diagram – the process is a top-level process, or global service, that interacts
with partners.
In the following example, the top-level OrderCollaboration process interacts with the
Buyer and Seller partners:
For more information, see Chapter 12, Data Flow Diagram (DFD) on page 207.
Creating a Process
You can create a process from the Toolbox, Browser, or Model menu.
• Use the Process tool in the Toolbox.
• Select Model > Processes to access the List of Processes, and click the Add a Row tool.
• Right-click the model, package or decomposed process in the Browser, and select New >
Process.
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
Process Properties
To view or edit a process's properties, double-click its diagram symbol or Browser or list entry.
The property sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any
customization of the interface by you or an administrator.
The General tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Name/Code/ Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to non-
Comment technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or scripts, may
be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can optionally add a
comment to provide more detailed information about the object. By default the
code is generated from the name by applying the naming conventions specified in
the model options. To decouple name-code synchronization, click to release the =
button to the right of the Code field.
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CHAPTER 3: Business Process Diagrams
Property Description
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Organization Specifies the organization unit (see Organization Units (BPM) on page 50)
unit linked to the process. You can select <Committee Process>to specify that it is
realized by more than one organization unit (see Displaying a Committee Process
on page 53).
Click the Properties tool beside this box to open the property sheet of the selected
organization unit or the Ellipsis tool to open the list of organization units and create
new ones.
Timeout Specifies the timeout limit. The default value is zero. When the value is not set to
zero, it means that a timeout exception occurs if the execution of the activation
takes more than the specified timeout limit. You can type any alphanumeric value
in the Timeout box (Example: 20 seconds).
Duration Specifies estimated or statistic duration to execute the action. This property is used
for documentation purposes.
Composite sta- Specifies whether the process is decomposed into sub-processes. You can choose
tus between:
• Atomic Process (default) – the process does not contain any sub-processes.
• Decomposed Process – the process can contain sub-processes. A Sub-Pro-
cesses tab is displayed in the property sheet to list these sub-processes, and a
sub-diagram is created below the process in the Browser to display them (see
Decomposing Processes on page 42).
If you revert the process from Decomposed to Atomic status, then any sub-pro-
cesses that you have created will be deleted.
Number ID Specifies an incrementing number to help you identify processes. You can modify
this value at any time by entering an integer greater than 0. Any change you make
will not, by default, affect other numbers in the series.
When working in a data flow diagram, you can at any time right-click the diagram
background and select Renumber Process IDs to renumber the processes fol-
lowing their position in the data flow (see Process and Data Store Numbering on
page 211). Sub-processes inherit the number ID of their parent.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Implementation Tab
The Implementation tab lets you define how the process (activity) is implemented. Note that
only decomposed processes can be implemented for the ebXML and BPEL languages:
Depending on the implementation type you specify, the properties available on this tab will
change. The following properties are always available.
Property Description
Type Specifies the type of process implementation (see Specifying Implementation
Types on page 35).
[implementation Depending on the implementation type you choose, an additional field or tab may
object] be displayed, allowing you to specify a process, event, expression, operation, or
data transformation upon which the implementation acts. You can use the tools to
the right of the list to create an object, browse the available objects, or view the
properties of the currently selected object.
Action type [None and Reuse process implementations only] Specifies the way the process
should be executed. You can choose between:
• Manual
• Automated
• User-defined
Implementation Specifies additional information about the process execution. You can enter any
(text box) appropriate information in this box, as well as open, insert and save text files. You
can open the Implementation tab by right-clicking the process symbol in the
diagram, and selecting Implementation in the contextual menu.
Assignments Tab
This tab is only available for a process with the Assign implementation type, and lists the data
transformations (see Data Transformations on page 118) required for the atomic assign tasks
that compose the activity. An assign activity is an Xpath or XSLT expression that allows you to
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CHAPTER 3: Business Process Diagrams
copy a variable value to another variable value, or to calculate the value of an expression and
store it in a variable. The following properties are available:
Properties Description
Assigned varia- Specifies the variable or organization unit [BPEL languages only] that receives the
ble result of the transformation. Select an object from the list or click the Ellipses
button to browse the available objects.
Assigned part Specifies the message part (when the assigned variable is typed by a message
format) that receives the result of the transformation. Select an object from the list.
Input variable Specifies a source variable or organization unit (to identify the partner to whom the
message is sent). Select an object from the list, or click the Ellipses button to
browse the available objects.
Input part Specifies a source message part when the input variable is typed by a message
format. Select an object from the list.
sub-diagram, which details the actions to perform inside the loop. The following loop-
specific properties are displayed:
Property Description
Loop expression Specifies the loop condition.
Loop type Specifies the loop type. Some target languages provide predefined
types.
• Reuse process [process] – (available for Analysis, ebXML, and BPMN) uses another
process for its implementation. The following Reuse process-specific property is
displayed:
Property Description
Implemented by Specifies the implementation process (see Processes (BPM) on page
30).
• Execute operation [operation] – (available for orchestration languages) implements a
process by a service operation to design the reception and emission of messages. The
following execute operation-specific properties are displayed:
Property Description
Implemented by Specifies the implementation operation (see Operations (BPM) on
page 108). When working with orchestration languages, you can drag
and drop an operation from the Browser to the diagram to automati-
cally create an activity (that sends/receives messages) implemented
by this operation.
Action description Specifies the way the action is executed. Click the Action Description
button to open a text editor, in which you can enter any appropriate
information, as well as open, insert and save text files.
Received message [when required by the action] Specifies the received message format
associated with the selected operation. You can specify a:
• Correlation key - (see Correlation Keys (BPM) on page 116)
which allows the process engine to direct a received message to
the correct activity instance. Received correlation key are mostly
used for receive request activities.
• Message mapping - (see Variables (BPM) on page 114) which
retrieves the content of the received message. The variable cor-
responds to the first message of the operation for receive activi-
ties, and to the second message of the operation for activities that
send messages.
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Property Description
Sent message [when required by the action] Specifies the sent message format as-
sociated with the selected operation. You can additionally specify a:
• Correlation key - (see Correlation Keys (BPM) on page 116)
which contains the information that is useful to the partner in the
next exchange with the activity.
• Message mapping - (see Variables (BPM) on page 114) which
sends information to a partner. The variable corresponds to the
second message of the operation for receive activities, and to the
first message of the operation for activities that send messages.
• Generate Event [event] – (available for orchestration languages and BPMN) specifies
the generation of events, and can be used to raise an exception. The following generate
event-specific properties are displayed:
Property Description
Implemented by Specifies the implementation event (see Events (BPM) on page 73).
You can specify events to model the following specific activities:
• Wait activity – (timer event) pauses the process for a specified
duration, or until a specified time.
• Throw activity – (fault event) causes a specific fault to occur to
abort a transaction, activity or process and triggers the fault han-
dler (see Event handlers on page 75) for the given process.
• Compensate activity – (compensation event) triggers the cancel-
lation of actions performed by an already terminated process
using a compensation handler.
Event mapping [Only available for fault events] Lets you associate a data with the
fault by selecting a local variable from the list. This variable stores the
fault data.
• Assign [data transformation] – (available for orchestration languages) uses data
transformations to allow the copy of data from one variable to another. Enables the
display of the Assignments tab (see Process Properties on page 32)
3. Complete any additional fields as necessary to specify a process, event, expression,
operation, or data transformation upon which the implementation acts. Use the tools to the
right of these fields to create a new object, or view the properties of the currently selected
object.
4. Click OK to save your changes and return to the diagram.
When a process is implemented, its symbol or the graphical symbol in within it changes to
correspond to the implementation type you selected.
2. Open its property sheet, click the Implementation tab, and select Execute operation from
the Type list. The corresponding fields display:
3. Click the Create tool to the right of the Implemented by list to open a wizard to create an
operation. First, create a service provider, and call it OrderManagement:
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5. Then click Finish to exit the wizard. The operation property sheet opens. Enter
ReceiveOrder for the operation name:
6. Click the Input/Output tab and select Request-Response from the Type list, then enter the
following information:
Groupbox Name Message format
Input message OrderRequest InInformation
Output message OrderRequestConfirmation OutInformation
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7. Click OK to close the operation property sheet, select Receive request and reply in the
Action type list, and then click the New tool to the right of the Message mapping list in the
Received message and Sent message groupboxes to create variables for the received and
sent messages:
8. Click OK to close the process property sheet. The process symbol displays a small icon to
indicate that it is implemented using a web service operation, which displays in the
Browser:
Decomposing Processes
You decompose a process when you want to analyze it in more detail. For example, you could
decompose the process "Process order" into the sub-processes "Check availability", "Obtain
payment", "Reserve stock items", and so on.
The decomposed process behaves like a specialized package or container. It has its own sub-
diagram, which models the control flow or data flow between its sub-processes.
Sub-processes can, themselves, be decomposed into further sub-processes, and so on until you
get sufficient detail, or until you have reached the level of atomic tasks.
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Note: To display all processes in the List of Processes, including those belonging to
decomposed processes, click the Include Composite Processes tool.
You can create several sub-process diagrams within a decomposed process, but this is not
recommended because being in a sub-process diagram means being within the context of a
process. Unless you want to design some exception cases like error management for example,
it would not be consistent to create multiple sub-process diagrams within a decomposed
process.
You cannot create a package or any other business process diagram type in a decomposed
process, but you can use shortcuts to packages.
The decomposed process is empty at first, except when you create it from a selection of
symbols. Any objects that you create in the sub-process diagram are listed in the Browser
under the decomposed process.
In a BPD, decomposed processes must always have at least one start and one end.
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The new decomposed process opens in composite view mode (global view of its content
within its symbol in the diagram). In addition, any defined symbol custom shapes for are
removed, however their relative position, size and format are preserved together with the
display preferences of the initial diagram.
1. Right-click the diagram background and select Diagram > Convert to Composite
Process.
or
Right-click the diagram node in the Browser and select Convert to Composite Process.
or
Select View > Diagram > Convert to Composite Process .
The Convert Diagram to Process page is displayed.
2. Specify a name and a code in the Convert Diagram to Process page, and then click Next to
open the Selecting Objects to Move page.
3. Select the processes that you want to move to the new decomposed process diagram.
Processes that you select will be moved in the Browser to under the new decomposed
process. Those that you do not select will remain in their present positions in the Browser
and will be represented in the new sub-process diagram as shortcuts.
4. Click Finish to exit the wizard. The new decomposed process and its sub-process diagram
will be created, and any objects selected for the move will now appear beneath the
decomposed object in the Browser.
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In the following example, the Check Stock process reads data stored in the Inventory resource
and the Ship FedEx Overnight process reads and updates data stored in the Work Team
resource:
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You can reorder the rows in the matrix by using the arrows at the bottom of the process column.
The following tools are available above the matrix:
Tool Description
Properties – Opens the property sheet of a:
• Process, if you select a row header.
• Resource or data, if you select a column header.
• Resource flow or data, if you select a cell.
If parallel resource flows exist between a process and a resource, you will be prompted to
choose the resource flow whose properties you want to consult.
Copy – Copies a CRUD matrix in order to paste it into another application such as:
• Excel (as CSV).
• Word (as text).
Tool Description
Display Only Non-Empty Rows/Columns – Displays only objects sharing a relationship
or shows all available objects.
Vertical/Horizontal Column Header - Toggles between vertical and horizontal orienta-
tion of column headers.
Shrink to Fit - Shrinks row and column headers to fit their contents.
Export to Excel - Exports the matrix as an MS Excel file. If the specified file already
exists, you will be given the option to overwrite it or append a new worksheet in the
file.
Print - Prints the matrix. Click the arrow to the right of the button to view a print preview
or to access the Page Setup dialog.
Choreography Diagram
An organization unit can be created in a choreography diagram with any target language. It
allows you to assign responsibilities within your system, and displays as a swimlane, which
can contain all the symbols of a choreography diagram.
In the following diagram, the Stock organization unit is responsible for the Check Stock
process and of the Ship FedEx and Ship USPS processes. The management of these latter
processes depends on whether the delivery must be overnight or not:
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Top-level Diagram
An organization unit can be created in a top-level diagram with any of the following target
languages:
• Orchestration languages (BPEL4WS and WS-BPEL only)
• Collaborative language
An organization unit allows you to identify external partners, which interact with your system,
and displays as an actor.
In the following example, the Buyer organization unit interacts with the Order process:
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
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Property Description
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in
this field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension
file.
An organization unit has the following predefined stereotypes:
• Role – specifies a role a user plays
• User
• Group – specifies a group of users
• Company
• Organization – specifies an organization as a whole
• Division – specifies a division in a global structure
• Service – specifies a service in a global structure
Parent organization Specifies another organization unit as the parent to this one.
For example, you may want to describe an organizational hierarchy be-
tween a department Dpt1 and a department manager DptMgr1 with
DptMgr1 as the parent organization of Dpt1.
The relationship between parent and child organization units can be used to
group swimlanes having the same parent. For more information, see
Grouping and Ungrouping Swimlanes on page 56.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter mul-
tiple keywords, separate them with commas.
In the following example, all sub-processes of Payment are managed in the Accountancy
organization unit:
The symbol background of the committee process is lighter and hatched on Sales and Delivery
since they do not:
• Manage any sub-processes
• Have any symbol in the sub-process diagram
Note that this display does not appear in composite view mode.
To select a pool, click any of its swimlanes or position the cursor above the pool, until you see a
vertical arrow pointing to the frame, then click to display the selection frame:
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After the move, Sales has moved from its original pool, and joined the pool containing
Customer and Customer Service:
If the moved swimlane is dropped away from another swimlane or pool, it forms a new pool by
itself, as in the following example:
If you move linked objects inside a swimlane, the width or height of the swimlane varies with
them.
Note: The auto-layout function is unavailable with organization units displayed as swimlanes.
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In the following example, Sales and Distribution are grouped by their BlueSky Ltd common
parent:
In the following example, the pool is assigned a user-defined group named 3rd quarter:
Note: Such links between processes in separate pools are not visible when the swimlanes are
not in composite view mode.
1. Select Tools > Display Preferences to open the Display Preferences dialog box.
2. Select the appropriate radio button in the Organization unit swimlane groupbox, and click
OK.
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Resizing Swimlanes
You can resize swimlanes within a pool by clicking the dividing line between them and
dragging it.
When you change the width or height of an individual swimlane, all process symbols attached
to the swimlane keep their position.
You can resize a pool by selecting one of the handles around the pool, and dragging it into any
direction. Any other pools your diagram may contain may also be resized to preserve the
diagram layout.
Mode Result
Swimlane to actor The swimlane is deleted in the diagram, but the corresponding organization
unit still exists in the Browser. Right-click the diagram background, select
Show Symbols, and select the check box corresponding to the organization
unit to display it. Process attachments to the former swimlane still exist in its
property sheet.
Actor to swimlane The actor is deleted in the diagram and replaced with a swimlane if processes
were attached to it, otherwise you must display the swimlane using the Show
Symbols dialog box.
1. Right-click the swimlane or a pool, and select Format to display the Symbol Format
dialog box.
2. Enter or select changes in the different tabs, and click OK to return to the diagram.
Starts (BPM )
A start is a starting point of the flow represented in the diagram.
A start can be created in a choreography diagram with any of the following target languages:
• Analysis languages (except DFD)
• Orchestration languages
• Collaborative languages
In decomposed processes, only one start is allowed per diagram, except for analysis business
process diagrams. The Start tool is unavailable if a start symbol already exists. You should not
use the same start in two diagrams, and you cannot create shortcuts of starts.
• Activity Diagram - one or more per diagram
• Statechart Diagram - one or more per diagram
• Interaction Overview Diagram - one only per diagram
Note: The start is compared and merged in the Merge Model feature, which checks that there
is no additional start in decomposed processes .
Creating a Start
You can create a start from the Toolbox, Browser, or Model menu.
• Use the Start tool in the Toolbox.
• Select Model > Starts to access the List of Starts, and click the Add a Row tool.
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• Right-click the model (or a package) in the Browser, and select New > Start.
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
Start Properties
To view or edit a start's properties, double-click its diagram symbol or Browser or list entry.
The property sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any
customization of the interface by you or an administrator.
The General tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Name/Code/ Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to non-
Comment technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or scripts, may
be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can optionally add a
comment to provide more detailed information about the object. By default the
code is generated from the name by applying the naming conventions specified in
the model options. To decouple name-code synchronization, click to release the
= button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Ends (BPM )
An end is a termination point of the flow represented in the diagram.
An end can be created in a choreography diagram with any of the following target languages:
• Analysis languages (except DFD)
• Orchestration languages
• Collaborative languages
You can create several ends within the same diagram, if you want to show divergent end cases,
like errors scenarios:
If there is no end, the diagram contains an endless process. However, a decomposed process
must always contain at least one end.
You should not use the same end in more than one diagram. You are not allowed to use
shortcuts of ends, but graphical synonyms are permitted.
Creating an End
You can create an end from the Toolbox, Browser, or Model menu.
• Use the End tool in the Toolbox.
• Select Model > Ends to access the List of Ends, and click the Add a Row tool.
• Right-click the model (or a package) in the Browser, and select New > End.
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
End Properties
To view or edit an end's properties, double-click its diagram symbol or Browser or list entry.
The property sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any
customization of the interface by you or an administrator.
The General tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Name/Code/ Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to non-
Comment technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or scripts, may be
abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can optionally add a
comment to provide more detailed information about the object. By default the code
is generated from the name by applying the naming conventions specified in the
model options. To decouple name-code synchronization, click to release the =
button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this field,
or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
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Property Description
Type Specifies the type of the end used for document purposes. You can create your own
type of end in the Type list, or choose one of the following values:
• Success
• Timeout
• Business error
• Technical error
• Compensation
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple key-
words, separate them with commas.
Decisions (BPM )
A decision specifies which path to take, when several paths are possible.
A decision can be created in a choreography diagram with any of the following target
languages:
• Analysis languages (except DFD)
• Orchestration languages
• Collaborative languages
A decision can have one or more input flows and one or more output flows, each labeled with a
distinct guard condition, a condition that must be satisfied for an associated flow to execute
some action. Your guard conditions should avoid ambiguity by not overlapping, yet should
also cover all possibilities in order to avoid process freeze.
A decision can represent:
• A conditional branch: one input flow and several output flows. In the following example,
the control flow passes to the left if the age given in the application form is <18, to the right
if the age is >65, and takes the another route if the age is not mentioned:
You can display a condition on the decision symbol in order to factorize the conditions
attached to the flows. In the following example, the condition Total * NB + VAT > 10.000
is entered in the Condition tab in the decision property sheet, and True and False are
entered in the Condition tabs of the flows:
• A merge: several input flows and one output flow. In the following example, the
Subscription and Charge account flows merge to become the Ship order flow:
Note: It is not possible to attach two flows of opposite directions to the same corner on a
decision symbol.
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Creating a Decision
You can create a decision from the Toolbox, Browser, or Model menu.
• Use the Decision tool in the Toolbox
• Select Model > Decisions to access the List of Decisions, and click the Add a Row tool.
• Right-click the model (or a package) in the Browser, and select New > Decision.
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
Decision Properties
To view or edit a decision's properties, double-click its diagram symbol or Browser or list
entry. The property sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any
customization of the interface by you or an administrator.
The General tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Name/Code/ Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to non-
Comment technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or scripts, may be
abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can optionally add a
comment to provide more detailed information about the object. By default the
code is generated from the name by applying the naming conventions specified in
the model options. To decouple name-code synchronization, click to release the =
button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this field,
or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Condition (text Specifies a condition to be evaluated to determine how the decision should be
box) traversed. You can enter any appropriate information in this box, as well as open,
insert and save text files. You can open the Condition tab by right-clicking the
decision symbol, and selecting Condition in the contextual menu.
Synchronizations (BPM )
A synchronization enables the splitting or synchronization of control between two or more
concurrent actions.
A synchronization can be created in a choreography diagram with any of the following target
languages:
• Analysis languages (except BPMN)
• Orchestration languages
• Collaborative languages
• Data Flow Diagram - to design a split/merge.
Synchronizations are represented as horizontal or vertical lines. You can change the
orientation of the symbol by right-clicking it and selecting Change to Vertical or Change to
Horizontal from the contextual menu.
A synchronization can be either a:
• Fork - Splits a single input flow into several independent output flows executed in parallel:
• Join – Merges multiple input flows into a single output flow. All input flows must reach the
join before the single output flow continues:
In the following example, the flow coming into the first synchronization is split into two
separate flows, which pass through Check Customer Account and Check Stock. Then both
flows are merged into a second synchronization giving a single flow, which leads to Process
Order:
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Creating a Synchronization
You can create a synchronization from the Toolbox, Browser, or Model menu.
• Use the Synchronization tool in the Toolbox.
• Select Model > Synchronizations to access the List of Synchronizations, and click the
Add a Row tool.
• Right-click the model (or a package) in the Browser, and select New >
Synchronization.
By default, the synchronization symbol is created horizontally. To toggle between horizontal
and vertical display, right-click the symbol and select Change to Vertical or Change to
Horizontal in the contextual menu.
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
Synchronization Properties
To view or edit a synchronization's properties, double-click its diagram symbol or Browser or
list entry. The property sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before
any customization of the interface by you or an administrator.
The General tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Name/Code/ Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to non-
Comment technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or scripts, may
be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can optionally add a
comment to provide more detailed information about the object. By default the
code is generated from the name by applying the naming conventions specified in
the model options. To decouple name-code synchronization, click to release the =
button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Property Description
Action (text Specifies an action to be evaluated to determine how the synchronization should be
box) traversed. You can enter any appropriate information in this box, as well as open,
insert and save text files.
Timeout Specifies the timeout limit. The default value is zero. When the value is not set to zero,
it means that a timeout exception occurs if the execution of the activation takes more
than the specified timeout limit. You can type any alphanumeric value in the Timeout
box (Example: 20 seconds).
Flows (BPM )
A flow is a route the control flow takes between objects (potentially with the exchange of
data). The routing of the control flow is made using guard conditions defined on flows. If the
condition is true, the control is passed to the next object.
A flow can be created in the following diagrams:
• Choreography diagram with any target languages
• Data flow diagram
In the following example the flow links Process Order to Ship US Postal Ground:
In all languages that support message formats, except orchestration languages, you can
associate a message format with a flow in order to define the format of information exchanged
between objects. In orchestration languages, the message format is used to specify the format
of the message associated with an operation .
A flow can link shortcuts. A flow accepts shortcuts on both extremities to prevent it from being
automatically moved when a process is to be moved. In this case, the process is moved and
leaves a shortcut, but contrary to the other links, the flow is not moved. Shortcuts of flows do
not exist, and flows remain in place in all cases.
The following rules apply:
• Reflexive flows (same source and destination process) are allowed on processes.
• Two flows between the same source and destination objects are permitted, and called
parallel flows.
Note: When flows are compared and merged by the Merge Model feature, they are matched by
trigger event first, and then by their calculated name. When two flows match, the trigger
actions automatically match because there cannot be more than one trigger action.
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Creating a Flow
You can create a flow from the Toolbox, Browser, or Model menu.
• Use the Flow/Resource Flow tool in the Toolbox
• Select Model > Flows to access the List of Flows, and click the Add a Row tool.
• Right-click the model (or a package) in the Browser, and select New > Flow.
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
Flow Properties
To view or edit a flow's properties, double-click its diagram symbol or Browser or list entry.
The property sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any
customization of the interface by you or an administrator.
The General tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Name/Code/Com- Identify the object. The name and code are read-only. You can optionally add
ment a comment to provide more detailed information about the object.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Source Specifies the object that the flow leads from. Use the tools to the right of the
list to create, browse for, or view the properties of the currently selected
object. You can also open the property sheet of the source object by clicking
the Source button located at the top part of the current object property sheet.
Destination Specifies the object that the flow leads to. Use the tools to the right of the list
to create, browse for, or view the properties of the currently selected object.
You can also open the property sheet of the destination object by clicking the
Destination button located at the top part of the current object property sheet.
Transport Specifies the way data is conveyed by the flow. This property is used for
documentation purposes. You can create your own type of transport in the
list, or choose one of the following values:
• Fax delivery
• Mail
• Telephone
Property Description
Flow type Specifies the type of the flow. You can create your own type of flow in the list,
or choose one of the following values:
The flow type is unavailable if you associate an event with the flow on the
Condition tab.
Message format [Not available for orchestration languages]. Specifies the format of the data
exchanged between processes. You can choose from one of the following
values:
Note: You can view input and output flows of a process from its property sheet by clicking the
Input Flows and Output Flows sub-tabs of the Dependencies tab.
Event [Only available for BPMN and orchestration languages]. Specifies an event to
create an event handler. Select an event from the list or use the tools to the right of
the list to create an object, or to view the properties of the currently selected object.
Mapping [Only available for events with a fault stereotype]. Specifies a local variable that
retrieves the information associated with the fault event. Select a variable from the
list or use the tools to the right of the list to create an object, or view the properties
of the currently selected object.
Condition (text Specifies a condition to be evaluated to determine how the flow should be trav-
box) ersed. You can enter any appropriate information in this box, as well as open, insert
and save text files. You can open the Condition tab by right-clicking the flow
symbol, and selecting Condition in the contextual menu.
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Note: Role associations are not allowed in decomposed processes of top-level diagrams (see
Top-Level Diagrams on page 20) associated with BPEL languages or ebXML.
Source Specifies the object that the role association leads from. It can be an organ-
ization unit or a process. Use the tools to the right of the list to create, browse
for, or view the properties of the currently selected object. You can also open
the property sheet of the source object by clicking the Source button at the top
of the tab.
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Property Description
Destination Specifies the object that the role association leads to. It can be an organization
unit or a process. Use the tools to the right of the list to create, browse for, or
view the properties of the currently selected object. You can also open the
property sheet of the destination object by clicking the Destination button at
the top of the tab.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Events (BPM)
An event is an instantaneous and observable occurrence during the course of a business
process, which triggers it to respond. For example, it can be unexpected data returned by a web
service or a deadline.
An event can be created in a choreography diagram with any of the following target languages:
• BPMN language
• Orchestration languages
An event can be associated with a:
• Flow – to be caught and handled using an event handler (see Event handlers on page
75).
• Process with a Generate event implementation type – to trigger an event (see Specifying
implementation types on page 35).
The same event can be shared between several flows and processes. An event is reusable by
nature because it is not dependent on the context.
In the following example, the output flow of the Collect Votes process will be fired after 7
days:
In the following example, the small symbol at the bottom of the Delay 6 days from
Announcement process shows that the process triggers a fault type event:
Creating an Event
You can create an event from a flow or process property sheet or from the Browser or Model
menu.
• Select Model > Events to access the List of Events, and click the Add a Row tool.
• Right-click the model (or a package) in the Browser, and select New > Event.
• Double-click a flow or a process to open its property sheet, click the Condition tab (flow)
or the Implementation tab (process), and then click the Create tool to the right of the
Event box.
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
Event Properties
To view or edit an event's properties, double-click its Browser or list entry. The property sheet
tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any customization of the
interface by you or an administrator.
The General tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Name/Code/Com- Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to
ment non-technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or
scripts, may be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can
optionally add a comment to provide more detailed information about the
object. By default the code is generated from the name by applying the
naming conventions specified in the model options. To decouple name-code
synchronization, click to release the = button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
An event has the following predefined stereotypes:
• Fault – specifies the occurrence of an error in the normal execution of the
process.
• Timer – specifies a time event and needs to specify a duration (for ex-
ample, 1 hour) or a deadline (for example, each Sunday). You can specify
a timer value in the Expression box.
• Compensation – specifies the invocation of a process compensation that
allows you to cancel the actions performed by an already terminated
process.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
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Predefined Events
Whether it is used in association with flows or processes, the event type symbol displays on the
flow or on the process as follows:
Event type Symbol on flow Symbol on process
Timer
Fault
Compensation
When used in association with a process with a Generate event implementation type, a Timer
event implements a Wait activity, a Fault event implements a Throw activity, and a
Compensation event implements a Compensate activity (see Process Properties on page 32).
Event Handlers
An event handler is a way to catch an event, and to handle it using a business process.
You create an event handler by dragging a flow from a source process to a target process, and
then associate an event with the flow. The target process specifies the handling of the event and
the event type symbol is displayed at the source of the flow.
In the following example, when the Enroll customer composite process completes normally,
the flow goes to the Send welcome package composite process. But if an event occurs during
its execution, the Enroll customer composite process catches the event and passes control to
the Fix credit error process, which acts as a fault handler to its parent process:
We can see that the Throw bad credit event breaks the normal flow of the Enroll customer
parent process:
1. Open the flow property sheet and click the Condition tab.
2. Select an event from the Event list and click OK.
You can visualize in the Dependencies tab of the event property sheet, the list of flows that use
the event as an event handler and the list of activities that trigger the event.
A message format can be created in a choreography diagram with any of the following target
languages:
• Analysis languages (Analysis only)
• Collaborative languages
• Orchestration languages
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In some cases, it may be appropriate to decompose a message format into message parts that
specify its contents (see Message Parts (BPM) on page 79).
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Definition Tab
The Definition tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Type Specifies how the message format is defined. You can choose between:
• Embedded file – Enter the definition in the text field. You can open, insert and
save text files in this field.
• External file – Enter a file in the External definition box.
• URL – Enter a Web address in the External definition box.
• Message parts – Create message parts in the list (see Message Parts (BPM) on
page 79).
• XML model - Select an XSM open in the workspace. Use the tools to the right of
this field to create a new XSM or open the property sheet of the currently selected
model. For detailed information about working with XSMs, see XML Model-
ing.
External defi- [External file and URL only] Specifies the location path to an external file or an
nition URL.
Message for- [Embedded or External file and URL only] Specifies the format of the message. You
mat type can enter your own format or choose one of the following:
• XML Schema
• DTD
• RELAX NG
Data Tab
This tab is only available for the Analysis language, and lists the data associated with the
message format. You can add or create data and specify both the type and the format of the data
conveyed by the flow (see Specifying data for a flow, a resource flow or a message format on
page 90). If you have specified data for a flow, the data specified for the message format,
should be a subset of the flow data (see Flow Properties on page 69).
Dependencies Tab
The Dependencies tab displays the use of an object or model by the current object. When
working with orchestration languages, the Dependencies tab allows you to display, in distinct
sub-tabs, the different uses of the current message format:
Sub-tab Description
Operation Input Message Displays all the operations that use the message format as input.
Operation Output Message Displays all the operations that use the message format as out-
put.
Fault Message Links Displays all uses of the message format as a fault on an opera-
tion.
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Sub-tab Description
Typed Variables Displays all the variables that use the message format as a data
type.
Name/Code/ Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to non-
Comment technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or scripts, may
be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can optionally add a
comment to provide more detailed information about the object. By default the
code is generated from the name by applying the naming conventions specified in
the model options. To decouple name-code synchronization, click to release the =
button to the right of the Code field.
Property Description
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Data type Specifies the data type of the message part. You can choose from a list of simple
data types or click the Select Object tool next to the list to select an XML element,
a simple or a complex type from the XML models attached to a service provider
via an XSD document.
Element type Specifies whether the variable is an XSD element type. If you have defined a
complex type (XSD element) in the Data type list, you should select this check box
for the complex type element to be generated. The value of the data type is the
name of the element prefixed by the namespace.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
1. Open the message format property sheet, click the Definition tab, and select the Message
Parts radio button in the upper part of the dialog box.
2. Click the Add a Row tool.
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3. Type a name and a code for the message part, and click Apply to commit the creation of the
new message part.
4. [Optional] Double-click the new message part to specify its properties.
5. Click OK in each of the dialog boxes to return to the model.
Name/Code/ Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to non-
Comment technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or scripts, may
be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can optionally add a
comment to provide more detailed information about the object. By default the
code is generated from the name by applying the naming conventions specified in
the model options. To decouple name-code synchronization, click to release the =
button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Data type Specifies the data type of the message part. You can choose from a list of simple
data types or click the Select Object tool next to the list to select an XML element,
a simple or a complex type from the XML models attached to a service provider
via an XSD document.
Element type Specifies whether the variable is an XSD element type. If you have defined a
complex type (XSD element) in the Data type list, you should select this check box
for the complex type element to be generated. The value of the data type is the
name of the element prefixed by the namespace.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Data (BPM)
A data object is a piece of information exchanged, at a high conceptual level, between
processes using flows or between processes and resources using resource flows.
A data object can be created in a choreography diagram with any Analysis language (except
BPMN).
Data objects can be used in conjunction with a:
• Flow or resource flow – to identify the type of data exchanged between processes or
between a process and a resource.
• Message format – to identify the type and the format of data exchanged between a resource
and a process or between processes.
• Process – to identify the type of action (Create, Read, Update, and Delete) the process
performs on the data required for its execution.
You can specify a type for data and decompose them into sub-data. The same data can be
shared by several flows, message formats, or processes, but only once each.
Data has no graphical symbol, but you can display a list of data on the flow and resource flow
symbols by selecting Tools > Display Preferences, clicking Flow in the Category list and
selecting Data List in the Center group box.
You can link data to an object in a CDM, LDM, PDM, or OOM in order to model in detail the
nature of the piece of information exchanged (see Linking Data with Other PowerDesigner
Model Objects on page 84):
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Creating Data
You can create data from the Browser or Model menu.
• Select Model > Data to access the List of Data, and click the Add a Row tool.
• Right-click the model (or a package) in the Browser, and select New > Data.
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
Data Properties
To view or edit a data's properties, double-click its Browser or list entry. The property sheet
tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any customization of the
interface by you or an administrator.
The General tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Name/Code/ Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to non-
Comment technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or scripts, may be
abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can optionally add a
comment to provide more detailed information about the object. By default the code
is generated from the name by applying the naming conventions specified in the
model options. To decouple name-code synchronization, click to release the = but-
ton to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this field,
or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Type Specifies the type of the data. The following types are available:
• Undefined – [default].
• Elementary data – atomic pieces of data, which are comparable to entity attrib-
utes, table columns, or class attributes such as a date, name, or ID.
• Structured data – more complex data that can be decomposed into sub-data,
which are comparable to entities, tables, or classes, such as user, customer, or
product.
Definition Specifies the external PowerDesigner model object that models the data in more
detail. Use the tools to the right of the list to browse the complete tree of available
objects or view the properties of the selected object.
For more information, see Linking Data to an External Model Object on page
85.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple key-
words, separate them with commas.
Sub-Data Tab
The Sub-Data tab is available only for data objects with the structured data type, and lists the
data objects into which the structured data object is decomposed. You can add or create sub-
data using the Add Objects and Create an Object tools.
Note: You can click the Dependencies tab of a sub-data property sheet to display the data of
which it is a part.
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data object and the other model object remain synchronized with the external object displayed
in the Definition field in the data object property sheet and the data object listed on the
Dependencies tab of the other model object.
The following table lists the types of objects to which BPM data objects can be linked or
exported:
Data Type CDM LDM PDM OOM
Undefined Data item or enti- Entity Table Class
ty
Elementary Data item — — —
Structured Entity Entity Table Class
If you export sub-data objects along with their structured parent, the sub-data are exported as
follows:
Sub-Data CDM LDM PDM OOM
Type
Undefined or Entity linked to Entity linked to Table linked to Class linked to pa-
Structured parent by rela- parent by rela- parent by refer- rent by associa-
tionship tionship ence tion link
Elementary Data item and en- Attribute of pa- Column of parent Attribute of pa-
tity attribute rent entity table rent class
Note: If you export sub-data objects without their parent, then the rules above for exporting
data objects are applied.
1. Open the data object property sheet, and select the appropriate type from the Type list.
2. Click the Select Definition Object tool to the right of the Definition field to open a dialog
which allows you to select an object to associate with the data object from the models open
in the workspace:
3. Select the appropriate object in the tree view and click OK.
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The selected object is displayed in the Definition field. You can click the Properties tool
to the right of the field to open its property sheet or the Remove Link tool to sever its
association with the data object.
Note that if you subsequently change the type of the data so that it no longer corresponds
with the object defined in the Definition box, you will be prompted to confirm the change.
If you do so, the link between the data and the object is removed.
1. Select Tools > Data Export Wizard to open the Data Export Wizard, which lists all the
models and packages open in the workspace to which you can export data:
2. Select the target model or package to which you want to export data and click Next.
3. [CDM only] When you export undefined data or sub-data to a CDM, the wizard prompts
you to specify whether you want to export them as data items or entities. Select an object
type and click Next.
4. The data selection page lists all the data objects available to export:
5. Select the data you want to export, and then click Finish.
The data is exported as the appropriate objects in the target model.
Note: If you export a data object that has the same name and code as an existing object in the
target model, the data will be linked to the existing object.
You cannot export a data object more than once. If you want to re-export a data object, you
must first delete the link to the external object.
A class attribute or a table column cannot be shared, but sub-data objects can be shared by
several data object parents. When you export an elementary or undefined sub-data object as an
attribute in the OOM or as a column in the PDM, the link between the sub-data object and the
definition object is not saved in the Definition box of its property sheet.
1. Select Tools > Data Import Wizard to open the Data Import Wizard, which lists all the
models and packages open in the workspace from which you can import data.
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2. Select the source model or package from which you want to import data and click Next.
3. The data selection page lists all the external model objects available to import:
4. Select the objects you want to import as data, and then click Finish.
The data is imported into the BPM. CDM data items are imported as elementary data and
all other objects are imported as structured data.
Note: If you import an object that has the same name, code and type as an existing data object
in the BPM, the existing data object is reused, unless it already has a definition object. In this
case, the new data is automatically renamed and linked to the selected object in the source
model.
When an entity, a table or a class object is imported as a data object, their data items, columns
or attributes are automatically imported as sub-data and linked to their parent structured data.
A PDM reference between two tables is imported as a parent/child relationship between the
two imported data. Foreign key column objects are not imported because they are created by
the PDM reference between tables.
1. Open the property of a flow, a resource flow, or a message format, and click the Data tab.
2. Click the Add Data tool to open a data selection list.
3. Select one or more data, and then click OK to close the selection list, and associate the data
with the flow, resource flow or message format.
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Note: You can display the list of data conveyed by a flow or a resource flow on its symbol by
selecting Tools > Display Preferences > Flow (or Resource Flow) and selecting the Data List
radio button.
1. Open a flow property sheet, click the Data tab and select one or more data to migrate.
Resources (BPM)
A resource is a data store. It can be a database, a document, a data, or a component to which a
process have access. You access the data stored in a resource using a resource flow.
In the following example, the Check Stock process reads data contained in the Inventory
resource:
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A resource can be created in a choreography diagram with any of the following target
languages:
• Analysis languages
• Collaborative languages
A resource can be created in a data flow diagram to design a data store. For more information,
see Chapter 12, Data Flow Diagram (DFD) on page 207.
You cannot create shortcuts to a resource.
Creating a Resource
You can create a resource from the Toolbox, Browser, or Model menu.
• Use the Resource tool in the Toolbox.
• Select Model > Resources to access the List of Resources, and click the Add a Row tool.
• Right-click the model (or a package) in the Browser, and select New > Resource.
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
Resource Properties
To view or edit a resource's properties, double-click its diagram symbol or Browser or list
entry. The property sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any
customization of the interface by you or an administrator.
The General tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Name/Code/ Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to non-
Comment technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or scripts, may
be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can optionally add a
comment to provide more detailed information about the object. By default the
code is generated from the name by applying the naming conventions specified in
the model options. To decouple name-code synchronization, click to release the =
button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Property Description
Number ID Specifies an incrementing number to help you identify resources. You can modify
this value at any time by entering an integer greater than 0. Any change you make
will not, by default, affect other numbers in the series.
When working in a data flow diagram, you can at any time right-click the diagram
background and select Renumber Data Store IDs to renumber the resources
following their position in the data flow (see Process and Data Store Numbering on
page 211).
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Data Tab
This tab is only available for the Analysis and the Data Flow Diagram languages, and lists the
data associated with the resource. Data come from the input and output resource flows (see
Resource Flows (BPM) on page 94) .
A resource can be created in a choreography diagram with any of the following target
languages:
• Analysis languages
• Collaborative languages
A resource flow can also be created in a data flow diagram (see Chapter 12, Data Flow
Diagram (DFD) on page 207).
The way you draw a resource flow determines the way the process uses the resource:
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Type Description
From process to resource: The process creates, updates or deletes data contained in
the resource depending on the access modes selected in
the resource flow property sheet.
From resource to process: Data contained in the resource are read by the process.
Two ways: If you select a Read access mode on a resource flow to-
gether with one or more other access modes (Create, Up-
date, Delete), the resource flow symbol is bi-directional.
Message Format
When working with the Analysis language and ebXML language, you can associate a
message format with a resource flow in order to define the format of information exchanged
between a process and a resource (see Message Formats (BPM) on page 76).
The following rules apply:
• Reflexive flows (same source and destination process) are allowed on processes.
• Two resource flows between the same source and destination objects are permitted, and
called parallel flows.
• A resource flow cannot link shortcuts.
• Select Model > Resource Flows to access the List of Resource Flows, and click the Add a
Row tool.
• Right-click the model (or a package) in the Browser, and select New > Resource Flow.
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
Access mode Specifies the way to access data in a resource, and thus defines the resource flow
direction. You can choose from the following values:
• Read – from resource to process.
• Create, Update, Delete – from process to resource.
Condition Tab
The Condition tab defines the nature of the condition attached to a resource flow, and contains
the following properties:
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Parameter Description
Alias Short name for the condition to be displayed next to its symbol in the diagram.
Condition (text Specifies a condition to be evaluated to determine how the resource flow should
box) be traversed. You can enter any appropriate information in this box, as well as
open, insert and save text files. You can open the Condition tab by right-clicking
the resource flow symbol, and selecting Condition in the contextual menu. The
condition is displayed next to the process symbol:
When there are several flows, each condition is evaluated in order to choose the one the
resource flow will transit on.
Data Tab
This tab is only available for the Analysis and the Data Flow Diagram languages and lists the
data associated with the resource flow. You can add or create data, and specify which data is
conveyed by the resource flow without any information on its format (see Specifying Data for
a Flow, a Resource Flow or a Message Format on page 90).
(see Importing and Exporting Service Providers From/To Other Models on page 104).
The service provider has no graphical symbol in this diagram.
In the following example, the Process Corporate Order process can be implemented by the
operations available in the Implemented by list. These are owned by the OrderPT service
interface in the orderProcess service provider:
• Process Service Diagram – service providers are displayed with the interfaces and
operations they contain, and can be linked with traceability links. These links are for
documentation purposes only (see Chapter 4, Process Service Diagrams on page 123).
The following example shows three service providers with their interfaces and operations.
The Process order service provider is dependent on the Order Shipment service provider:
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When you copy a service provider, you also copy its associated service interfaces. Shortcuts
for service providers are not permitted.
Property Description
Target namespace Specifies a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) reference that uniquely iden-
tifies the web service and avoids conflicts with other web services with the
same name. By default, it is: urn:<Service Provider Code>.
Prefix Specifies a prefix for the target namespace. All the schema elements with this
prefix in their start-tag will be associated with the namespace. The default
value is: "tns" that stands for "This NameSpace". For example: <tns:in-
voice>, where "tns" is the prefix associated with the XSD document that
describes the "invoice" markup.
Implementation Specifies a link between the service provider and an OOM component or a
PDM database web service. Use the tools to the right of the box to select an
implementation object, view the properties of the currently selected object,
or remove it.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
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Parameter Description
xmlns Stands for XML Namespace. Indicates an XML namespace declaration.
:prefix [optional] Shorthand for the full name of the namespace. It qualifies ele-
ments belonging to that namespace. You use it when you need to differen-
tiate same namespace references.
The XML namespace can be defined in the XML Namespaces tab for each service provider
and XSD document in your model.
In the following example, bk is used as a shorthand for the full name of its respective
namespace:
<BOOKS>
<bk:BOOK xmlns:bk="urn:example.tyler.com:BookInfo"
<bk:TITLE>Funny Words</bk:TITLE>
</bk:BOOK>
</BOOKS>
• DTD
• XML Schema
• RELAX NG
Data Schema (text Specifies the message part definition details. You can enter any appropriate
box) information in this field, as well as open, insert and save text files.
Operation Operation
1. Select Language > Import WSDL to display the Import WSDL dialog box.
2. Enter an URL in the WSDL URL box to specify the location of the WSDL file on the web.
The URL is displayed in the Filename box of the service provider property sheet. You can
use the tools to the right of the box to browse for a file or browse UDDI (see Browsing for a
WSDL File on a UDDI Server on page 103).
3. [optional] Click the Preview WSDL button to preview the WSDL file, and the unique key
used to locate the UDDI. This button is not available if you select several files to import.
4. [optional] Click the Options tab and select the Create XML Model check box, if you want
to automatically create an XML model for each schema contained in the WSDL file. This
provides you with a graphical representation of the data schema.
5. Click OK to import.
A progress box is displayed. If the model in which you are importing already contains data,
the Merge Models dialog box is displayed.
For more information about merging models, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Comparing and Merging Models.
6. Click OK to return to the model.
The imported elements are added to your model, are visible in the Browser, and in the
Reverse tab of the Output window. If you have selected the Create XML Model option, the
XML model(s) corresponding to the WSDL schema(s) are also created in the workspace.
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1. Select Language > Import WSDL to display the Import WSDL dialog box.
2. Click the Browse UDDI tool to the right of the WSDL URL box to display the Browse
UDDI dialog box.
3. Enter a URL in the UDDI operator URL list or select one from the list, and select a UDDI
version in the UDDI Version list.
4. Select an item to search from the Search In list. You can search for a web service per
business entity (company name), web service name, and WSDL name.
5. Enter a keyword in the Search For list and click the Search button. You can search for a
name of the item selected in the Search In list. The result is displayed in the Search Result
window.
6. [optional] Click the Preview WSDL button to open the WSDL property sheet and click the
WSDL tab to display the WSDL.
7. [optional] Click the Business Entity tab to display data about the company and the
Business Service tab to display data about the service.
8. Click Close to close the WSDL property sheet.
9. Click OK in each of the dialog boxes to return to the model.
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3. Select the service providers you want to export and click Next.
4. Select the type of component. If the target OOM language supports web services, the Web
Service type is selected by default.
5. Click Finish to export the service providers to the OOM:
Note: If you copy a service interface, you also copy its associated operations. Shortcuts for
service interfaces are not permitted.
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Property Description
Provider [Read-only] Specifies the service provider owning the service interface. You
can click the Properties tool next to the Provider box to display the service
provider properties.
Name/Code/Com- Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to
ment non-technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or
scripts, may be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can
optionally add a comment to provide more detailed information about the
object. By default the code is generated from the name by applying the
naming conventions specified in the model options. To decouple name-code
synchronization, click to release the = button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Implementation Specifies a link between the service interface and an OOM class or interface.
Use the tools to the right of the box to select an implementation object, view
the properties of the currently selected object, or remove it.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Target namespace Specifies the URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) reference that uniquely iden-
tifies the data schema and avoids conflicts with other data schemas with the
same name.
Schema location Specifies the URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) reference for the location
from which the data schema was imported.
Schema model Specifies the XML model that represents the data schema. You can select a
model from the list or use the tools to the right of the list to create a model or
view the properties of the currently selected model. For information about
working with XML models, see XML Modeling.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Operations (BPM)
An operation is contained by a service interface, and which comprises input and output
elements defined in terms of messages or message parts.
An operation can be created in the following diagrams with any orchestration languages:
• Choreography Diagram
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Creating an Operation
You can create an operation using a Wizard or from the property sheet of, or in the Browser
under, a service interface.
• Open the Operations tab in the property sheet of a service interface, and click the Add a
Row tool.
• Right-click the service interface in the Browser, and select New > Operation.
• Use the Create New Operation Wizard from the Implementation tab of the process
property sheet (see Using the Create New Operation Wizard on page 109)
1. Open a process property sheet, click the Implementation tab, and select Execute Operation
from the Type list. The corresponding fields display:
2. Click the Create tool to the right of the Implemented by list to open the Create New
Operation Wizard. Note that this tool is unavailable when an operation is already selected
in the list:
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• Create a new service interface, and enter a name for the new service interface.
6. Click Finish to complete the creation. The operation property sheet opens. Define
properties as required.
7. Click OK to close the property sheet and return to the model.
Operation Properties
To view or edit an operation's properties, double-click its Browser or list entry. The property
sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any customization of the
interface by you or an administrator.
The General tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Provider [Read-only] Specifies the name of the service provider owning the operation.
Click the Properties tool next to the Provider box to display the service
provider properties.
Interface [Read-only] Specifies the name of the service interface owning the opera-
tion. Click the Properties tool next to the Interface box to display the service
interface properties.
Name/Code/Com- Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to
ment non-technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or
scripts, may be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can
optionally add a comment to provide more detailed information about the
object. By default the code is generated from the name by applying the
naming conventions specified in the model options. To decouple name-code
synchronization, click to release the = button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Implementation Specifies a link between the operation and an OOM operation or a PDM web
service operation. Use the tools to the right of the box to select an imple-
mentation object, view the properties of the currently selected object, or
remove it.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Input/Output Tab
This tab contains the following properties:
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Property Description
Type Specifies the type of the operation:
Input message Specifies a name and message format for the input message. Select a format
from the list or use the tools to the right of the list to create a format or view the
properties of the currently selected format.
Output message Specifies a name and message format for the output message. Select a format
from the list or use the tools to the right of the list to create a format or view the
properties of the currently selected format.
This table summarizes the relationships between the input/output messages of the operation
and the received messages of the activity:
Operation\Activity Receive request Receive request and reply
Undefined — —
This table summarizes the relationships between the input/output messages of the operation
and the sent messages of the activity:
Faults Tab
This tab is only available for Request-Response and Solicit-Response operations and lists the
fault links between the operation and a message format. You can add or create a fault using the
Add Objects and Create an Object tools.
Variables (BPM)
A variable is a data container, which holds temporary values that can be passed between
processes as input and output parameters, and which are important for their correct execution.
For example, variables are useful to determine routing decisions or to build the messages a
process has to send.
A variable can be created in a choreography diagram with any orchestration languages, and is
associated with a process implemented by an operation.
Variables can be used in conjunction with:
• Processes – to build the process messages
• Correlation keys – to identify a process instance using a set of variables
• Data transformations – to copy data from one variable to another
By default, a variable name or code must be unique within the parent scope (package,
composite process, or model) but can be used by any process (activity) defined at the same
level. However, two variables can share the same name when they belong to different
composite processes contained in the same package.
Moving Variables
When you move variables, the following rules apply:
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Same model A shortcut for the variable stays in the source process or package, when
the variable is used by at least one process in that package.
Creating a Variable
You can create a variable from the Browser or Model menu.
• Select Model > Variables to access the List of Variables, and click the Add a Row tool
• Right-click the model (or a package) in the Browser, and select New > Variable
For general information about creating objects, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Objects.
Variable Visibility
Note that you can also create variables local to a process. In that case, only the process in which
you have created the variables can use them (see Process Properties on page 32).
Variable Properties
To view or edit a variable's properties, double-click its Browser or list entry. The property
sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any customization of the
interface by you or an administrator.
The General tab contains the following properties:
Property Description
Name/Code/Com- Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to
ment non-technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or
scripts, may be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can
optionally add a comment to provide more detailed information about the
object. By default the code is generated from the name by applying the
naming conventions specified in the model options. To decouple name-code
synchronization, click to release the = button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Data type Specifies the data type of the variable. You can choose from a list of simple
data types, or type a complex type (XSD element, OOM class, XML object,
etc.).
[BPEL languages only] Can also specify a message format. You can click the
Create tool to create a new message format.
Property Description
Element type Specifies whether the variable is an XSD element type. If you have defined a
complex type (XSD element) in the Data type list, you should select that
check box for the complex type element to be generated. The value of the data
type is the name of the element prefixed by the namespace.
Constant Specifies whether the variable is constant or not during the execution of the
process.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Value Tab
This tab specifies the variable value details. You can enter any appropriate information in this
field, as well as open, insert and save text files.
The information you enter depends on the variable data type. For example, if you have
specified a complex type, such as an XML object in the Data type list, you can enter the
corresponding XML schema. Or if you have specified a simple type, such as Duration, you can
enter 1 hour.
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Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Variables Tab
This tab lists the variables (see Variables (BPM) on page 114) that define the current
correlation key.
You can add variables to a correlation key to gather variables that are related to the same
communication. The correlation key can then be associated with a process implemented by an
operation.
Data Transformations
A data transformation is an object that allows you to copy data from a source container to a
target container, and also to calculate the value of an expression and store it in a variable.
For example, a manufacturer may be asked the price of one of its products, which he calculates
depending on one or more parameters, such as quantity, delivery location, and so on. These
parameters are input data on which the manufacturer will perform a transformation, and then
store the result as target data.
A data transformation can be created in a choreography diagram with any orchestration
languages.
It is used in conjunction with:
• Assign activities – to design a sequence of atomic assign tasks (see Process Properties on
page 32)
• Correlation keys – to perform a mapping between a message, and a variable, which
identifies a process instance (for example, a customer ID) (see Correlation Keys (BPM) on
page 116)
A data transformation can have one or more source containers (Input Variable), but has always
only one target container (Assigned Variable). In addition, the value to be copied from the
source to the target must be type-compatible.
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Property Description
Name/Code/Com- Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to
ment non-technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or
scripts, may be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can
optionally add a comment to provide more detailed information about the
object. By default the code is generated from the name by applying the
naming conventions specified in the model options. To decouple name-code
synchronization, click to release the = button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Assigned variable Specifies the variable that receives the result of the transformation. You can
select an object from the list, or use the tools to the right of the list to create an
object, browse the available objects, or view the properties of the currently
selected object.
[BPEL languages only] Specifies an organization unit to represent the part-
ner who sends the message.
Assigned Part [Only process languages supporting messages in variables] Specifies the
message part that receives the result of the transformation. The assigned
variable has to be typed by a message format. You can click the Properties
tool to view the properties of the selected object.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
Transformation Tab
The Transformation tab contains the following properties:
Properties Description
Input variable Specifies a variable or an organization unit (to identify the partner to whom the
message is sent). You can select an object from the list, or use the tools to the
right of the list to browse the available objects, or view the properties of the
currently selected object.
If you need to specify more than one variable or organization unit as inputs, you
have to use the Transformation text box and leave the Input variable list empty.
Input part Specifies a message part when the input variable is typed by a message format.
You can click the Properties tool to view the properties of the selected object.
Transformation Specifies the transformation details using XPath language (for simple trans-
(text box) formations) or XSLT language (for more complex transformations). You can
enter any appropriate information in this field, as well as open, insert and save
text files.
• A target container (Assigned variable), which contains the result of the transformation in
the General tab. In the following example, the Cancellation data transformation contains
an assigned variable and an assigned part within that variable, called VCancelOrder and
CancelInfo, because the source container also has a part (Input Part):
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122 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 4 Process Service Diagrams
A process service diagram provides a graphical view of the services, operations, and interfaces
available in your system.
Note: To create a process service diagram in an existing BPM, right-click the model in the
Browser and select New > Process Service Diagram. You cannot create a new BPM with a
process service diagram as the first diagram.
The PSD is only available with orchestration languages.
You can create and import service providers (see Service Providers (BPM) on page 97) in a
PSD (see Importing a Service Provider from a WSDL File on page 102 and Importing and
Exporting Service Providers From/To Other Models on page 104).
In the following example the Process Order service provider depends on the Order Shipment
service provider:
124 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 5 Simulating a Business Process
Model with SIMUL8
Simulation helps you to better understand the expected performance of your business
processes before their implementation, by providing you with useful analysis metrics and
assistance in business process optimization.
SIMUL8 is a flow simulation program that lets you view your process in action, by showing
how its control flow moves around the organization. It can reveal key bottlenecks, over-
utilized resources, or under-resourced elements of your system, and lets you fine-tune your
simulation.
PowerDesigner supports the principal objects and parameters for SIMUL8 version 9.0 and
higher.
Note: You can simulate any analysis or orchestration BPM. However, to obtain the most
valuable simulation results, we recommend that you simulate Analysis language BPMs only.
For more information about process languages, see Chapter 1, Getting Started with Business
Process Modeling on page 3.
Simulation will provide more useful results when:
• The business process being analyzed is well defined and repetitive.
• An operational (logical or quantitative) decision is being taken.
• Activities and events show some interdependency and variability.
• The cost to experiment on the actual system is greater than the cost to perform a simulation.
For example, PowerDesigner ships with the following BPM (Examples directory) to model
the future Create Order business process:
You can simulate this model with SIMUL8, and analyze your simulation results:
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CHAPTER 5: Simulating a Business Process Model with SIMUL8
You rapidly see that some work items have been blocked in queues by the Process Order
and Process Corporate Order work centers which are waiting for the availability of
the Ordering employee resource. You can open the SimulationReadme.txt file
to review how you can adjust the simulation parameters to remove work items blocked in
queues.
4. Export your BPM diagram to SIMUL8, and then run a simulation (see Exporting a BPM to
SIMUL8 on page 130).
5. Analyze the simulation results, and if necessary, edit simulation properties for certain
objects, and run the simulation again (see Analyzing Results and Fine-Tuning the
Simulation on page 131). You can repeat this step until you are satisfied with your
simulation results.
6. Re-import your simulated BPM to PowerDesigner to synchronize the SIMUL8 changes
with your BPM, and, if necessary, create any appropriate modeling objects (see
Synchronizing SIMUL8 Changes back to PowerDesigner on page 133). You can repeat
steps 4 to 6 until you are satisfied with your BPM.
7. [optional] Generate code for an orchestration engine, such as BPEL4WS or SOA to model
the implementation of your processes (see Generating Process Language Files from a
BPM on page 163).
[No equivalent in BPM] Work item - specifies the work which is performed in the
organization being simulated. For example patients in a hos-
pital, invoices in an Accounts department.
Atomic process (see Processes Work center - specifies the place where the work is performed
(BPM) on page 30) (see SIMUL8 Work Center Properties on page 134).
Composite process (see Processes Component - specifies a single object containing one or more
(BPM) on page 30) existing standard objects or other components.
Implemented by process (see Pro- Component [if the process is implemented by a composite
cesses (BPM) on page 30) process] or work center.
Resource (see Resources (BPM) on Resource - are required at work centers in order for the work
page 92) center to work on a work item (see SIMUL8 Resource Prop-
erties on page 136).
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CHAPTER 5: Simulating a Business Process Model with SIMUL8
• Work center with a Zero working time [if the end is con-
tained in a composite process] (see SIMUL8 Work Cen-
ter Properties on page 134).
Flow (Flows (BPM) on page 68) Routing in/out properties of a work center - specifies the path
taken by each individual work item through the simulation
(see SIMUL8 Route Properties on page 139).
[No equivalent in BPM] Queue - specifies a place where work to be done can wait until
appropriate resources or work centers are available to process
it. Properties of queues are imported to the flow that contains
the queue (see SIMUL8 Route Properties on page 139). A
queue is generated for each link between SIMUL8 objects,
except for work centers generated from decisions or syn-
chronizations.
Resource flow (see Resource Flows Required resource property of a work center - specifies a
(BPM) on page 94) with Read access resource that must be available before a work center can start
property processing a work item (see SIMUL8 Required Resource
Properties on page 136).
Decision (see Decisions (BPM) on Work center [without queue] (see SIMUL8 Work Center
page 63) Properties on page 134).
Synchronization (see Synchroniza- Work center [without queue] (see SIMUL8 Work Center
tions (BPM) on page 66) Properties on page 134).
Note:
• PowerDesigner free symbols are preserved in SIMUL8.
• Organization units, files, packages, message formats, parts and data are not supported in
SIMUL8.
Cost/revenue estimation [all objects] Finance. The SIMUL8 Professional Profit plug-in al-
lows you to add financial information to your simulation. At the end
of the simulation, select Finance > Income Statement to display the
financial results of your model.
Simulating a BPM
You can simulate one or more business process diagrams by exporting each one of them to a
SIMUL8 model, and running a simulation. You can analyze the simulation results, and use
them to adjust simulation parameters. You can then re-import the simulated model in
PowerDesigner to synchronize your changes with your BPM where you can create additional
modeling objects.
1. Select Tools > Simulation > Export SIMUL8 File to open a standard generation dialog.
2. Specify a directory in which to generate the SIMUL8 file.
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CHAPTER 5: Simulating a Business Process Model with SIMUL8
3. [optional] Select the Check Model option to verify the validity of your model before
generation.
4. Select one or more diagrams to generate from the Business Process Diagrams sub-tab.
Each diagram you select is generated as a separate .XS8 file.
5. [optional] Click the Generated Files tab, and specify which files will be generated. By
default, all files are generated, and PowerDesigner remembers for any subsequent
generation the changes you make.
6. [optional] Click the Tasks tab, and select the Open the first SIMUL8 model in SIMUL8
option, if you want the first SIMUL8 model to open automatically after you close the
Generated Files dialog.
7. Click OK to generate.
A Progress box is displayed, and the SIMUL8 files are generated in the destination
directory. The Generated Files dialog opens to display the generated .XS8 files.
8. Select an .XS8 file, and click the Edit button to open the file in the main SIMUL8
simulation window (if you have selected the Open the first SIMUL8 model in SIMUL8
option, you can close the dialog, and the first SIMUL8 model will open automatically).
9. Click the Run tool in the SIMUL8 toolbar to run the simulation, and then analyze the
simulation results (see Analyzing Results and Fine-Tuning the Simulation on page 131).
The process control flow moves around the organization, and can reveal any bottlenecks,
over-utilized resources, or under-resourced elements. The clock in the corner of the
window shows the passage of time.
Note: When you export a diagram contained in a hierarchy of packages, the hierarchy is
preserved in the Windows Explorer.
Results Analysis
You can analyze your simulation results in SIMUL8 in a variety of ways, depending on the
information you need. You can:
• Display results per object - open a simulation object property sheet, and click the Results
button, or select Results > Object Type :
• Display a results summary of a set of objects at the end of each simulation run - select
Results > Results Summary:
• Export results to a text or Excel file - click the Copy tool in the Results Summary dialog,
and paste the copied data into a text or Excel file. You can also select Results > Results
Export to export results summary data to a number of applications.
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CHAPTER 5: Simulating a Business Process Model with SIMUL8
Simulation Fine-Tuning
Depending on your simulation results, you may have to adjust parameters in the simulation
objects' property sheets, and re-run your simulation.
Once your fine-tuning is complete, you must save your simulation model as an .XS8 file to
enable you to import it back to PowerDesigner (see Synchronizing SIMUL8 Changes back to
PowerDesigner on page 133).
1. Select Tools > Simulation > Import SIMUL8 File to open the Import SIMUL8 Files
dialog.
2. Click the Add button, select the .XS8 file to import from the standard Open dialog, and
click Open to return to the Import SIMUL8 Files dialog.
You can multi-select files to import using the Ctrl or Shift keys. All files will be imported
in the same BPM.
3. Click OK to close the Import SIMUL8 Files dialog.
The import begins, and the Merge Models dialog opens to let you control the differences
between your BPM and the imported SIMUL8 model.
For more information about merging models, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Comparing and Merging Models.
4. Click OK to close the dialog.
Your synchronized BPM opens in the diagram window.
5. Update your BPM as necessary in response to the simulation results. For example, you
may decide to create additional processes or resources.
1. Select File > Import > SIMUL8 File to open the New Business Process Model dialog.
2. Select the Analysis process language, and click the Share radio button.
3. [optional] Click the Select Extensions tab, and select any extensions to attach to your new
BPM.
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CHAPTER 5: Simulating a Business Process Model with SIMUL8
Name Description
Priority Specifies that the process with the highest priority will be given the
resource first (from 0 to 100), if two processes both require the same
resource before they can start working.
Default value: 50%
Scripting name: ResourcePriority
Release [If unchecked] The resource must wait for the work item, if the process
cannot send the work item to the next simulation object.
Default value: true
Scripting name: ResourceRelease
Distribution Specifies a method for simulating the variations that occur in timing in
the process. You can choose between one of the following values:
• Average [default]
• Exponential
• Fixed
• Normal
• Uniform
Scripting name: TimingDistribution
Lower bound Specifies the lower bound for the uniform timing distribution type. Sam-
ples from a uniform distribution are equally spread between the lower
bound and the upper bound.
Default value: 10
Scripting name: TimingBoundLower
Upper bound Specifies the upper bound for the uniform timing distribution type.
Samples from a uniform distribution are equally spread between the
lower bound and the upper bound.
Default value: 11
Scripting name: TimingBoundUpper
Standard deviation Specifies the normal timing distribution type. For the average distribu-
tion type, the standard deviation value is set to: average value / 4.
Default value: 0
Scripting name: TimingStandardDeviation
Name Description
Required resource Specifies the way in which the resource is used by the work center. You can
choose one of the following values:
• Require Release [default]- The resource must be available for the
process to work, and released as soon as the task is complete.
• Require Only - The resource must be available for the process to work.
• Release Only - The resource is released by the work item as soon as the
task is complete.
• Display Only - Specifies the location of the resource when displayed at
this work center.
Scripting name: ResourceRequire
Minimum number of re- Specifies the minimum number of this type of resource required at the
sources process. Modify the default value if you need more than one unit of this
resource to perform tasks at this process.
Default value: 1
Scripting name: ResourceMinNumber
Maximum number of re- Specifies the maximum number of this type of resource required at the
sources process. Modify the default value to be higher than the minimum value, if
the process can work faster with more resources.
Default value: 1
Scripting name: ResourceMaxNumber
Name Description
Available number Specifies the number of this type of resource used at processes to enable
them to perform the work on work items.
Default value: 10
Scripting name: NumberAvailable
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CHAPTER 5: Simulating a Business Process Model with SIMUL8
Name Description
Capital cost by unit Specifies the capital cost by resource unit. Financial results can be
viewed in SIMUL8, by selecting Finance > Income Statement.
Default value: 0
Scripting name: FinanceCapitalCostByUnit
Cost by time unit and by Specifies the cost by time unit and by unit.
unit
Default value: 0
Scripting name: FinanceCostByUnit ByUnitTime
Time distribution type Specifies work feeding by using different statistical distributions. You can
choose from one of the following values:
• Exponential [default]
• Average
• Fixed
• Normal
• Uniform
Name Description
Average time Specifies the average time between two consecutive work items (in time
units).
Default value: 10
Scripting name: InterArrivalTimeAverage
Lower bound time Specifies the lower bound for the uniform timing distribution type. Samples
from a uniform distribution are equally spread between the lower bound and
the upper bound.
Default value: 10
Scripting name: InterArrivalTimeBoundLower
Upper bound time Specifies the upper bound for the uniform timing distribution type. Samples
from a uniform distribution are equally spread between the lower bound and
the upper bound.
Default value: 11
Scripting name: InterArrivalTimeBoundUpper
Time standard devia- Specifies the standard deviation for the normal timing distribution type. For
tion the average distribution type, standard deviation value is set to: average
value / 4.
Default value: 0
Scripting name: InterArrivalTimeStandardDeviation
Name Description
Halt simulation at Specifies that the simulation stops when the simulation limit is reached.
limit
Default value: False
Scripting name:HaltSimulationAtLimit
Simulation limit Specifies the maximum number of work items to process when the "Halt sim-
ulation at limit" option is selected.
Default value: 10000
Scripting name: SimulationLimit
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CHAPTER 5: Simulating a Business Process Model with SIMUL8
Name Description
Capital cost Specifies the capital cost. Financial results can be viewed in SIMUL8, by se-
lecting Finance > Income Statement.
Default value: 0
Scripting name: FinanceCapitalCost
Add queue Specifies that a queue is added to the flow when its source is a start of the
main simulation diagram to prevent the loss of work items.
Default value: True
Scripting name: AddQueue
Initial item count Specifies the initial count of items in the queue at the start of the simulation
run.
Default value: 0
Scripting name: QueueInitialItemCount
Capacity Specifies the maximum count of work items that can be in the queue (-1 =
no limit). When the maximum count is reached, further items are blocked
(stay in the objects that feed the queue).
Default value: -1
Scripting name: QueueCapacity
Name Description
Min wait time Specifies the minimum time a work item must stay in the queue.
Default value: 0
Scripting name: QueueMinWaitTime
Finance capital cost Specifies the capital cost of the queue. Financial results can be viewed in
SIMUL8, by selecting Finance > Income Statement.
Default value: 0
Scripting name: QueueFinance CapitalCost
Finance cost by time unit Specifies the usage cost of the queue by unit and time unit.
Default value: 0
Scripting name: QueueFinanceCostByTimeUnit
Time unit Specifies the time unit used for timing values in objects propery sheet. For
time units under seconds, decimals of units must be used (for example
0.001 = 1 millisecond).
Default value: Seconds
Scripting name: TimeUnit
Simulation running Specifies the number of time units the simulation will run while collecting
time results information.
Default value: 2400
Scripting name: SimulationRunningTime
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CHAPTER 5: Simulating a Business Process Model with SIMUL8
Name Description
Finance currency sym- Specifies the currency used by the financial properties of objects. Use "E"
bol for Euro. Financial results can be viewed in SIMUL8, by selecting Finance
> Income Statement.
Default value: $
Scripting name: FinanceCurrencySymbol
Finance overhead cost Specifies fixed costs. Non-object based costs will be included in financial
results, which can be viewed in SIMUL8, by selecting Finance > Income
Statement.
Default value: 0
Scripting name: FinanceOverheadCost
Finance overhead reve- Specifies fixed revenues. Non-object based revenues will be included in
nue financial results, which can be viewed in SIMUL8, by selecting Finance >
Income Statement.
Default value: 0
Scripting name: FinanceOverheadRevenue
142 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 6 Checking a BPM
The business process model is a very flexible tool, which allows you quickly to develop your
model without constraints. You can check the validity of your BPM at any time.
A valid BPM conforms to the following kinds of rules:
• Each object name or code must be unique in a BPM
• Each process must have at least one input flow and at least one output flow
• Each data created in the model must be used
Note: We recommend that you check your business process model before generating code or
another model from it . If the check encounters errors, generation will be stopped. The Check
model option is enabled by default in the Generation dialog box.
You can check your model in any of the following ways:
• Press F4, or
• Select Tools > Check Model, or
• Right-click the diagram background and select Check Model from the contextual menu
The Check Model Parameters dialog opens, allowing you to specify the kinds of checks to
perform, and the objects to apply them to. The following sections document the BPM -specific
checks available by default. For information about checks made on generic objects available
in all model types and for detailed information about using the Check Model Parameters
dialog, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with PowerDesigner > Objects > Checking
Models.
Package Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of packages.
Check Description and Correction
Existence of sev- Several data should not be linked to the same definition object within the same
eral data with namespace.
same definition
object • Manual correction: Link the data to different definition object from the data
property sheet
• Automatic correction: None
Process Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of processes.
Check Description and Correction
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must contain only approved terms drawn
tains terms not in from the glossary.
glossary
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - None.
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Input or output Each process should have at least one input flow and at least one output flow.
flow missing
• Manual correction: Add any missing flows to the process
• Automatic correction: None
Composite proc- A composite process must contain at least one start and at least one end.
ess without start
or end • Manual correction: Add a start and an end in the sub-process diagram
• Automatic correction: None
Existence of sev- Several data should not be linked to the same definition object within the same
eral data with the namespace, as data can be created in a composite process.
same definition
object • Manual correction: Link the data to different definition object from the data
property sheet
• Automatic correction: None
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CHAPTER 6: Checking a BPM
Undefined data The data accesses of a process should have one of the following values: Create,
accesses Read, Update, Delete.
• Manual correction: Add a data access for the data in the Data tab of the
process property sheet
• Automatic correction: None
Decision Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of decisions.
Check Description and Correction
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must contain only approved terms drawn
tains terms not in from the glossary.
glossary
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - None.
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Invalid decision A decision represents a conditional branch when a unique flow is split into
several output flows, or it represents a merge when several input flows are merged
into a unique output flow. That is why a decision must have more than one input
flow or more than one output flow.
• Manual correction: Add any missing flows on the decision
• Automatic correction: None
Synchronization Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of synchronizations.
Check Description and Correction
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must contain only approved terms drawn
tains terms not in from the glossary.
glossary
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - None.
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Incomplete syn- A synchronization represents a fork when a unique flow is split into several
chronization output flows executed in parallel, or it represents a join when several input flows
are joined and they wait until all flows reach the join before continuing as a
unique output flow. That is why a synchronization must have more than one input
flow, or more than one output flow.
• Manual correction: Add any missing flows to the synchronization
• Automatic correction: None
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Flow Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of flows.
Check Description and Correction
Flow without A flow must have a source and a destination object.
source or destina-
tion • Manual correction: Assign a source or a destination to the flow
• Automatic correction: None
Flow undefined A flow should have a defined message format or the message format set to
message format <None>.
• Manual correction: Define the message format for the flow or delete it
• Automatic correction: None
Flow incoherent The message format of a flow coming out of a composite process (child process)
message format must also exist on the flow going to the end inside the child process. The message
format of a flow coming in a composite process must also exist on the flow going
out from the start inside the child process.
• Manual correction: Add any missing message formats to the appropriate
flows of the decomposed processes
• Automatic correction: None
Invalid event con- Outgoing flows from start, decision and synchronization objects cannot have
dition fault, compensation, or signal event. Besides, outgoing flows from synchroni-
zation objects cannot have message type events. Also, a decision object can only
have flows with Message, Signal or Timer event. You can mix Message and
Timer events or Signal and Timer events on the same decision.
• Manual correction: Removes the inappropriate Event condition on the flow
or change the source extremity of the flow
• Automatic correction: Removes the inappropriate Event condition on the
flow
Invalid exception A flow with Exception stereotype must target a process that is implemented by an
flow destination operation and whose Action Type is Receive Request.
• Manual correction: Change the flow stereotype or select a process that is
implemented by an operation and whose Action Type is Receive Request
• Automatic correction: None
Resource Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of resources.
Check Description and Correction
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must contain only approved terms drawn
tains terms not in from the glossary.
glossary
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - None.
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
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Resource flow ex- A resource flow must always link a process to a resource or a resource to a
tremities process.
• Manual correction: Assign a process and a resource to the resource flow
extremities
• Automatic correction: None
Resource flow un- A resource flow should have a defined access mode (Read, Create, Update or
defined access Delete).
mode
• Manual correction: Assign an access mode to the resource flow
• Automatic correction: None
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Circular depend- An organization unit cannot be the parent of itself or cannot have for parent one of
ency through pa- its children.
rent property
• Manual correction: Change the organization unit in the Parent box in the
organization unit property sheet
• Automatic correction: None
Start Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of starts.
Check Description and Correction
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must contain only approved terms drawn
tains terms not in from the glossary.
glossary
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - None.
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Existence of out- Each start object must have at least one output flow.
put flow
• Manual correction: Create a flow from the start
• Automatic correction: None
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End Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of ends.
Check Description and Correction
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must contain only approved terms drawn
tains terms not in from the glossary.
glossary
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - None.
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Existence of input Each end object must have at least one input flow.
flow
• Manual correction: Create a flow to the end
• Automatic correction: None
Data Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of data.
Check Description and Correction
Name/Code contains terms not in glos- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must contain only
sary approved terms drawn from the glossary.
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain
only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - None.
Name/Code contains synonyms of [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain
glossary terms synonyms of glossary terms.
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain
only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their
associated glossary terms.
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Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Empty service Each service provider should own at least one service interface.
provider
• Manual correction: Create a service interface in the Interfaces tab of the
service provider property sheet
• Automatic correction: None
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Empty service in- Each service interface should own at least one operation.
terface
• Manual correction: Create an operation in the Operations tab of the service
interface property sheet
• Automatic correction: None
Operation Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of operations.
Check Description and Correction
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must contain only approved terms drawn
tains terms not in from the glossary.
glossary
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - None.
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Input or output Depending on the type of the operation, input and/or output messages are re-
message missing quired. A Notification operation requires an output message, a One-Way oper-
ation requires an input message, and a Request-Response or a Solicit Response
operation requires bot input and output messages.
• Manual correction: Change the operation type to be coherent with the mes-
sage definition or define the missing message
• Automatic correction: Updates the operation type to be coherent with the
current message definition, except when both input and output messages are
missing
Variable Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of variables.
Check Description and Correction
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must contain only approved terms drawn
tains terms not in from the glossary.
glossary
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - None.
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Variable used out The variable must be used in the scope where it is defined. When a variable is
of scope used in a different package or composite process from the one where it is defined,
a shortcut is created. The package or composite process that owns the shortcut
must be a child of the package or composite process that owns the variable object.
In other cases, the variable is not visible, as it is not defined in the parent scope.
• Manual correction: Move the variable under the common parent or duplicate
it
• Automatic correction: Moves the variable under the common ascendant
Data type coher- A variable mapped to a message should be of the same type as the message.
ence
• Manual correction: Change the type of the variable to be the same as the
messages to which it is mapped
• Automatic correction: Changes the variable type when it is mapped only
once to a message or mapped several times but to the same message
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
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CHAPTER 6: Checking a BPM
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Empty list of var- A correlation key must have at least one variable.
iables
• Manual correction: Attach a variable to the correlation key
• Automatic correction: None
Event Checks
PowerDesigner provides default model checks to verify the validity of events.
Check Description and Correction
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must contain only approved terms drawn
tains terms not in from the glossary.
glossary
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - None.
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
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CHAPTER 6: Checking a BPM
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Initiating or Re- Each choreography task must have both an initiating and responding participant
sponding partici- specified.
pant missing
• Manual correction: On the General tab of the choreography task property
sheet, specify the missing participant.
• Automatic correction: None
Initiating or Re- If the choreography task is associated with a conversation node, then the partic-
sponding partici- ipants specified on the task must be the same as those on the node.
pant not linked to
related node • Manual correction: On the General tab of the choreography task property
sheet, change the participants associated with the task to those associated
with the node.
• Automatic correction: None
Initiating mes- Each choreography task must have an initiating message specified.
sage missing
• Manual correction: On the General tab of the choreography task property
sheet, specify an appropriate initiating message.
• Automatic correction: None
Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
Inconsistent par- A sub-node must not be attached to participants that are not attached to its parent
ticipants with pa- node.
rent node
• Manual correction: Change the participants on the child node to those of the
parent node.
• Automatic correction: Changes the participants on the child node to those of
the parent node.
Correlation key Each conversation node must have a correlation key specified.
missing
• Manual correction: Specify a correlation key in the conversation node prop-
erty sheet.
• Automatic correction: None
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Name/Code con- [if glossary enabled] Names and codes must not contain synonyms of glossary
tains synonyms of terms.
glossary terms
• Manual correction - Modify the name or code to contain only glossary terms.
• Automatic correction - Replaces synonyms with their associated glossary
terms.
162 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 7 Generating and Reverse
Engineering Process Languages
PowerDesigner can generate objects from a BPM and reverse engineer into an existing or new
BPM.
BPMN 1.0 No files generated as this language is used for modeling purposes
only
Sybase WorkSpace Business .XML files, .XSD files, svc_xyz (service) files
Process 2.x
Service Oriented Architec- No files generated as this language is used to design the orchestration
ture of processes without being linked to any particular platform or or-
chestration language
1. Select Language > Generate language Code to open the Generation dialog:
2. Enter a directory in which to generate the files, and specify whether you want to perform a
model check (see Chapter 6, Checking a BPM on page 143).
3. [optional] Click the Selection tab and specify the objects that you want to generate from.
By default, all objects are generated.
4. [optional] Click the Options tab and set any necessary generation options. For more
information about these options, see the appropriate language chapter.
For information about editing the options that appear on this and the Tasks tab, see
Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner > Object, Process, and XML Language
Definition Files.
5. [optional] Click the Generated Files tab and specify which files will be generated. By
default, all files are generated.
For information about customizing the files that will be generated, see Customizing and
Extending PowerDesigner > Extension Files > Generated Files (Profile).
6. [optional] Click the Tasks tab and specify any additional generation tasks to perform. For
more information about these tasks, see the appropriate language chapter.
7. Click OK to begin generation.
164 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 7: Generating and Reverse Engineering Process Languages
A Progress box is displayed. The Result list displays the files that you can edit. The result is
also displayed in the Generation tab of the Output window, located in the bottom part of the
main window.
All files are generated in the destination directory.
Note: You can attach an extension file (.XEM) to your model to extend the generation
process. For more information, see Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner >
Extension Files.
1. Select File > Reverse Engineer > Process Language to display the New Business
Process Model dialog box.
2. Select a process language in the list and click the Share radio button.
3. [optional] Click the Select Extensions tab, and select any extensions you want to attach to
the new model.
4. Click OK to go to the appropriate, language-specific Reverse Engineering window. For
ebXML, a standard file selection box is displayed. For detailed information, see the
appropriate language chapter.
5. Click OK to start reverse engineering.
A progress box is displayed. The processes are added to your model.
1. Select Language > Reverse Engineer a file to display the Reverse Engineer dialog box.
2. [not ebXML] Select to reverse engineer files or directories from the Reverse Engineering
list.
3. [not ebXML] Click the Add button in the Selection tab to display a standard Open dialog
box.
4. Select the files or directory you want to reverse and click Open.
Note: For those languages that support multi-selection, you select several files
simultaneously using the Ctrl or Shift keys. You cannot select several directories.
The Reverse Engineer dialog box displays the files you selected.
5. [optional-BPEL4WS or WS-BPEL] Click the Options tab and specify any appropriate
options.
6. Click OK to begin reverse engineering.
A message in the Output window indicates that the specified file is fully reverse
engineered and the Merge Models window opens.
7. Review the objects that you will be importing, and the changes that they will make to the
model.
For more information on merging models, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Comparing and Merging Models.
8. Click OK to merge the selected changes into your model.
166 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 8 Generating Other Models from a
BPM
You can generate another BPM from your BPM. You can use the BPM to BPM generation to
generate an analysis or collaborative BPM into an implementation BPM designed for the
different orchestration process languages supported in PowerDesigner (BPEL4WS, WS-
BPEL, and SOA).
When changes are made to the source model, they can then be easily propagated to the
generated models using the Update Existing Model generation mode.
The generated model is the one that usually contains more information. For example, once the
Analyst team has designed the analysis model, the model can be submitted to the
Development team for implementation.
1. Select Tools > Generate Business Process Model (Ctrl+Shift+B) to open the BPM
Generation Options Window:
2. On the General tab, select a radio button to generate a new or update an existing model, and
complete the appropriate options.
3. [optional] Click the Detail tab and set any appropriate options. We recommend that you
select the Check model checkbox to check the model for errors and warnings before
generation.
4. [optional] Click the Target Models tab and specify the target models for any generated
shortcuts.
5. [optional] Click the Selection tab and select or deselect objects to generate.
6. Click OK to begin generation.
Note: For detailed information about the options available on the various tabs of the
Generation window, see Core Features Guide > Linking and Synchronizing Models >
Generating Models and Model Objects.
doing any object selection. (For more information, see Changing the Process Language of
a BPM on page 12).
When generating an orchestration BPM, some transformations are performed on the model to
make it compliant with the new target language. These transformations are logged into the
Output window.
168 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 8: Generating Other Models from a BPM
• Operation - Each language can restrict the type of operations that can be attached to a
process. In Sybase WorkSpace Business Process, the following operation types are
supported:
• One-Way
• Request-Response operation
• Top-level process - In Sybase WorkSpace Business Process, the top-level process is not
supported. The flow chart is moved to the top-level diagram and must contain at least a
start, a process and an end. In case of multiple top-level processes, these are all associated
with the same start and end.
• Package - In Sybase WorkSpace Business Process, packages are not supported, as the
model can contain only one process.
• Additional transformations - The following additional transformations are performed
from a BPEL BPM to a Sybase WorkSpace Business Process BPM:
BPEL WorkSpace Business Process
Flow with <<link>> stereotype. Not supported.
Single process with multiple output flows. Split between the single process and the multiple
output flows.
Single process with multiple input flows. Join between the single process and the multiple
input flows.
Start with multiple output flows. Choice between the start and the multiple output
flows.
End with multiple input flows. Join between the end and the multiple input flows.
"Receive request and reply" action type for "Receive request" action type for operation.
operation.
Switch decision. SingleRule decision with "If-Then-Else" expres-
sion.
Event handler (flow chart of processes to Composite process (containing the flow chart) with
handle an event). appropriate event handler stereotype.
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CHAPTER 8: Generating Other Models from a BPM
For more information on the Change Current Process Language command, see Changing the
Process Language of a BPM on page 12.
The following transformations are executed when you generate a data flow diagram from an
Analysis business process diagram:
• Decision objects are replaced with split/merge objects
• Organization unit objects are replaced with external entity objects
• Resource objects are replaced with data stores
• Organization unit objects in top-level diagrams linked to processes using role association
objects are replaced with external entity objects
• Composite processes with start and end objects are replaced with external entity objects or
process shortcut, depending on the input and output flows of the composite process. Data
items are preserved
172 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 9 Importing Visio Diagrams into
PowerDesigner
Importing your Visio diagrams into PowerDesigner's rich metadata environment enables you
to link your architectural objects with the objects that will implement them, and to profit from
PowerDesigner's powerful impact and lineage analysis features. You must have installed Visio
2002 or higher and have selected to install the Visio plug-in from the PowerDesigner installer.
Note: Only Visio diagrams created from the following standard templates can be imported
into PowerDesigner, and only objects available on the standard stencils will be imported.
Custom properties will be imported as extended attributes.
You can import the following diagrams into a PowerDesigner BPM or EAM:
Visio Template PowerDesigner Diagram
Audit Diagram BPM Analysis/ Business Process Diagram
1. Open your diagram in Visio and select PowerDesigner > Export to PowerDesigner
Model to open the PowerDesigner Export wizard:
2. Specify the type of model to which you want to export your diagram, enter a name for the
model to be created, and then click OK to start the export.
3. When the export is complete, click OK to close the wizard.
The diagram is opened as a new BPM or EAM in PowerDesigner.
174 PowerDesigner
PART II
The chapters in this part provide information specific to the business process languages
supported by PowerDesigner.
Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) 2.0 from the Object Management Group
(OMG) is a standardized graphical notation for modeling business processes. It is intended to
provide a notation that is readily understandable by all business users (including business
analysts, technical developers, and those who will manage and monitor the processes after
implementation) and to create a standardized bridge between business process design and
XML-based business execution languages.
Note: Support for BPMN v1 is deprecated.
BPMN 2.0 provides the following diagrams:
• Conversation diagrams - which provide an overview of the communications between
participants.
• Choreography diagrams - which focus on the detail of the conversation between two or
more participants, and which are often linked to specific conversation nodes.
• Collaboration diagrams - which focus on the messages that pass between participants. You
can show participants as black boxes or with processes inside them. PowerDesigner
supports collaboration diagrams as standard business process diagrams with a BPMN-
specific toolbox.
• Process diagrams - which focus on the sequence flow in a single process in a participant.
PowerDesigner supports process diagrams as standard business process diagrams with a
BPMN-specific toolbox.
Note: When creating reports for your BPMN 2.0 models, we recommend that you start from
one of the BPMN 2.0 report templates, which provide a framework for organizing all the
extensions in logical groups.
We recommend that you perform a model check on your completed model (or after major
changes) to verify the validity of your diagrams.
Note: PowerDesigner does not support the display of processes within participant symbols in
a conversation diagram.
The following tools are available in this diagram:
Tool Description
Participant - Organization, business unit, or role (see Participants (BPMN) on page 183).
Conversation Node - Sits between two participants and collects the messages exchanged
between them (see Conversation Nodes (BPMN) on page 183).
Conversation Link - Links participants via a conversation node (see Flows and Links
(BPMN) on page 193). Click in one participant and draw a link to another participant to
automatically create a conversation node between them.
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CHAPTER 10: Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)
Note: PowerDesigner does not support the display of participant swimlanes nor the display of
collaboration diagrams within choreography tasks. In addition, you cannot create
intermediate events in choreography diagrams, and only one initiating and one responding
participant are supported for atomic choreography tasks (though multiple participants are
calculated for a task containing sub-tasks).
The following tools are available in this diagram:
Tool Description
Start Events - Initiate a process (see Events and Event Definitions (BPMN) on page 185).
... The various types of start events each have their own tools.
End Events - Conclude a process (see Events and Event Definitions (BPMN) on page
... 185). The various types of end events each have their own tools.
Choreography Task - Interaction between two participants (see Choreography Tasks
(BPMN) on page 184).
Gateways - Merge or split the sequence flow (see Gateways (BPMN) on page 188). The
... various types of gateways each have their own tools.
Message - Message sent to the choreography task by a participant (see Messages (BPMN)
on page 192). If your task has participants specified, you can click on the task symbol to
create a message and message flow in one step.
Message Flow - Links a message to a participant in the choreography task (see Flows and
Links (BPMN) on page 193). The task must have participants defined before you can
attach a message to it.
Sequence Flow - Links two elements (events, activities, gateways) in a process (see Flows
and Links (BPMN) on page 193).
Note: You can change the type of an event or activity by right-clicking its symbol and selecting
the appropriate Change to... command.
diagrams and tasks associated with a conversation node are initialized with the participants
linked to the node.
There are various ways to create the link:
• To associate a choreography diagram with a conversation node from the choreography
diagram, right-click the diagram background and select Diagram > Properties, and then
select the appropriate node in the Related node list on the General tab of the diagram
property sheet. Any choreography tasks you create in the diagram will be initialized with
the participants associated with the node.
• To associate a choreography task with a conversation node from the task property sheet,
select the appropriate node in the Related node list on the General tab of the task property
sheet. The task participants will be set to the participants associated with the node.
• To associate a conversation node with an existing choreography diagram from the
conversation node symbol, right-click the symbol and select Related Diagram >
DiagramName. Alternately, you can create a new choreography diagram from a
conversation node, by selecting Related Diagram > New. In both cases, to complete the
link, you must open the choreography diagram property sheet and select the node in the
Related node list. Any choreography tasks you create in the diagram will be initialized
with the participants associated with the node.
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CHAPTER 10: Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)
In the following example process diagram, the booking process internal to a travel agency is
analyzed:
182 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 10: Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)
Tool Description
Sequence Flow - Links two elements (events, activities, gateways) in a process (see Flows
and Links (BPMN) on page 193).
Data Association - Links a data object to an activity or event (see Flows and Links (BPMN)
on page 193).
Note: You can change the type of an event, activity, or gateway by right-clicking its symbol
and selecting the appropriate Change to... command.
To create a new participant, select the Organization Unit Swimlane tool and click in empty
space in a collaboration diagram. This will create your participant with a single lane and an
associated process that willl contain all the associated events, activities, gateways, data and
flows. To add further lanes to the participant click on it with the Organization Unit Swimlane
tool.
Property Description
Name Specifies the name of the item, which should be clear and meaningful, and
should convey the item's purpose to non-technical users.
Code Specifies the technical name of the item, which is used for generating code or
scripts.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Composite status Specifies whether the task is a simple conversation or a sub-conversation (which
can itself contain conversation nodes, listed on the Conversation Nodes tab).
If you revert from a sub-conversation back to a communication, then any con-
versations that you have created inside it will be deleted.
For detailed information about decomposing objects, see Decomposing Pro-
cesses on page 42.
Reusable Specifies whether the conversation node may be reused in other contexts.
Reuse conversation Specifies the conversation node that is being reused in this context.
Correlation key [atomic conversations only] Specifies the correlation key (set of correlation
properties drawn from the message) used to associate the conversation to a
particular instance of a process (see Correlation Keys (BPM) on page 116).
Each flow connected to the node must have the same key as the node.
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Property Description
Code Specifies the technical name of the item, which is used for generating code or
scripts.
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Related node Specifies the conversation node with which the choreography task is associated.
Use the tools to the right of the list to create, browse for, or view the properties of
the currently selected conversation node.
Composite status Specifies whether the task is a choreography task or choreography sub-process
(which can itself contain choreography tasks, listed on the Choreography
Tasks tab).
If you revert from a choreography sub-process back to a choreography task,
then any tasks that you have created inside it will be deleted.
For detailed information about decomposing objects, see Decomposing Pro-
cesses on page 42.
Reuse task Specifies the choreography task that is being reused in this context.
Initiating and Re- [atomic tasks only] Specify the participants that interact through the choreog-
sponding partici- raphy task. The initiating participant and her message are colored white and the
pants responding participant and her message are colored grey. Use the tools to the
right of the list to create, browse for, or view the properties of the currently
selected participant. Select the Multiple checkbox to specify that there is more
than one initiating or responding participant.
Initiating and Re- [atomic tasks only] Specify the messages that the participants exchange through
turn messages the choreography task. Use the tools to the right of the list to create, browse for,
or view the properties of the currently selected message.
Loop characteris- Specifies that the task is a loop or multiple-instance (parallel or sequential)
tics choreography task.
a message) which will affect its sequence or timing. You can create events in collaboration,
process, and choreography diagrams.
The following types of events are available:
• None - Untyped events, which indicate start points, state changes, and final states.
• Message - Receiving and sending messages.
• Timer - Cyclic timer events, points in time, time spans, or timeouts.
• Escalation - Escalating to a higher level of responsibility.
• Conditional - Reacting to changed business conditions or integrating business rules.
• Link - Off-page connectors. Two corresponding link events equal a sequence flow.
• Error - Catching or throwing named errors.
• Cancel - Reacting to cancelled transactions or triggering cancellation.
• Compensation - Handling or triggering compensation.
• Signal - Signalling across different processes. A signal thrown can be caught multiple
times.
• Multiple - Catching one out of a set of events. Throwing all events defined.
• Parallel multiple - Catching all out of a set of parallel events.
• Terminate - Triggering the immediate termination of a process.
Creating Events
Each type of event can be created in one or more different contexts:
• Start events:
• Top-level - Create the event with its Toolbox tool.
• Event sub-process interrupting - Create the event with its Toolbox tool within an event
sub-process.
• Event sub-process non-interrupting - Create an interrupting event sub-process, right-
click the symbol, and select Change to Non-Interrupting.
Alternately, open the event property sheet and deselect the Interrupting checkbox.
• Intermediate events:
• Catching - Create the event with its Toolbox tool.
• Boundary interrupting - Right-click a sequence flow and select Add Boundary Event
> Type.
• Boundary non-interrupting - Create a boundary interrupting event, right click the
symbol, and select Change to Non-Interrupting.
Alternately, open the event property sheet and deselect the Interrupting checkbox.
• Throwing - Create a catching event, right-click the symbol, and select Change to
Throwing Event.
Alternately, open the event property sheet, click the Implementation tab, and select
Generate event in the Type field.
• End events - Create the event with its Toolbox tool.
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Event Types
The following table shows the symbols of all the types of events available in each context:
Type Start Intermediate End
Top- Event Sub-Proc- Catch- Boundary Throw-
Level ess ing ing
Inter- Non-In- Inter- Non-In-
rupting terrupt- rupting terrupt-
ing ing
None
Message
Timer
Escala-
tion
Condi-
tional
Link
Error
Cancel
Compen-
sation
Signal
Multiple
Parallel
Multiple
Termi-
nate
Events are based upon and share the properties of starts (see Starts (BPM ) on page 60),
processes, (see Processes (BPM) on page 30), events (see Events (BPM) on page 73), or ends
(see Ends (BPM ) on page 61), as appropriate.
Note: You can change the type of an event by right-clicking its symbol or Browser entry and
selecting the appropriate Change to... command.
Event Definitions
For multiple and parallel multiple events, click the Event Definitions tab and use the Add
Objects and Create an Object tools to reuse or create new event definitions to associate with
the event.
Gateways (BPMN)
Gateways control the sequence flow of the process, and can merge or split the flow as dictated
by the gateway conditions. You can create gateways in collaboration, process, and
choreography diagrams.
The following kinds of gateways are available:
Symbol Description
Basic/Exclusive gateway - When splitting, routes the flow to one outgoing branch.
When merging, waits for one incoming branch to complete before triggering the
outgoing flow.
Parallel gateway - When splitting, activates all outgoing branches simultaneously.
When merging, waits for all incoming branches to complete.
Inclusive gateway - When splitting, activates one or more branches. When merging,
waits for all incoming branches to complete before merging.
Event-based gateway - Followed by catching events or receive tasks and routes the
flow to whichever of these happens first.
Exclusive event-based gateway - Starts a new process instance for each occurrence of
a subsequent event.
Parallel event-based gateway - Starts a new process instance for the occurrence of all
subsequent events.
Gateways are based upon decisions (see Decisions (BPM ) on page 63), and have the
following additional property:
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Property Description
Direction Specifies how the gateway may be used. You can select:
• Unspecified - The gateway may have any number of incoming and outgoing
sequence flows.
• Converging - The gateway may have multiple incoming sequence flows but
must have no more than one outgoing sequence flow.
• Diverging - The gateway may have multiple outgoing sequence flows but must
have no more than one incoming sequence flow.
• Mixed - The gateway contains multiple outgoing and multiple incoming se-
quence flows.
Note: You can change the type of a gateway by right-clicking its symbol or Browser entry and
selecting the appropriate Change to... command.
Activities (BPMN)
Activities are work that is performed within a process. You can create activities in
collaboration and process diagrams.
The following types of activities are available:
Symbol Description
Abstract task - Basic unit of work.
Send task - Sends a message to a participant external to the process. Once the message
has been sent, the task is completed.
Receive task - Waits for a message to arrive from a participant external to the process.
Once the message has been received, the task is completed.
User task - A human performer performs the task with the assistance of a software
application and is scheduled through a task list manager of some sort.
Manual task - A task that is performed without the aid of any business process execution
engine or any application. For example, a telephone technician installing a telephone at a
customer location.
Business rule task - Sends input to a business rules engine and receives the output of the
engine's calculations.
Symbol Description
Transaction - Set of activities that logically belong together, and which might follow a
specific transaction protocol.
Call activity - Wrapper for a globally defined sub-process or task that is reused in the
current process.
Sub-process - An activity whose internal details have been modeled using activities,
gateways, events, and sequence flows.
Event sub-process - Placed into a process or sub-process and is activated when its start
event is triggered, and can interrupt the higher level process context or run in parallel
(non-interrupting) depending on the start event.
Ad hoc sub-process - A specialized type of sub-process that is a group of activities that
have no required sequence relationships, and whose sequence and number are deter-
mined by the performers of the activities.
Activities are based upon and share the properties of standard BPM processes (see Processes
(BPM) on page 30). They can be decomposed and contain their own collaboration diagrams in
the same way as processes (see Decomposing Processes on page 42).
Note: You can change the type of an activity by right-clicking its symbol or Browser entry and
selecting the appropriate Change to... command.
Data input / Collection data input - External input for the entire process, which can be
read by an activity.
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Symbol Description
Data output / Collection data output - Variable available as the result of the entire
process.
Data store - Place where the process can read or write data, such as a database or filing
cabinet, and which persists beyond the lifetime of the process instance.
To create a data object, use the appropriate Toolbox tool. To create a data reference, use the
Data Object Reference tool. When you click in the diagram, you will be prompted to choose
the data object to reuse.
State [data references] Specifies the state of the data object. You can select:
• Initial
• Processing
• Completed
Collection Specifies that the data object represents a collection of data, such as a list of order
items.
Note: You can change the type of a data object by right-clicking its symbol or Browser entry
and selecting the appropriate Change to... command.
Messages (BPMN)
A message represents the content of a communication between two participants, and is passed
along a message flow. In choreography diagrams, an initiating message is automatically
colored white, and a non-initiating message is automatically colored grey.
Messages are based upon and share the same properties as standard BPM message formats
(see Message Formats (BPM) on page 76).
To view all the messages exchanged between participants in your model, right-click the model
node in the Browser and select New > Message Flow Matrix. You can create and delete
messages directly in this matrix.
1. Open the property sheet of a process, activity, or event, and select the Item-Aware
Elements tab.
2. Click the Add a Row tool to create a element, and enter an appropriate name.
By default, the element is created as a property, which has only a name, code, and comment
for properties.
3. [optional] Right-click the item in the list, and select Change to > Element Type
The different types of element are available in the following types of object:
Object Property Data Object / Data Input Data Output
Data Refer-
ence
Composite pro- X X X X
cesses
Tasks X X X
Start events / In- X X
termediate catch-
ing events
End events / In- X X
termediate
throwing events
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Correlation proper- Specifies the correlation property that acts as the unique identifier for this
ty instance of the message (see Variables (BPM) on page 114).
Note: To set a sequence flow to the default flow, right-click the flow and select Set to Default
Flow. The source of a default flow must be of an origin of an inclusive, exclusive, or complex
gateway or an activity.
Property Description
Source / Target Specifies the item-aware element to be transferred.
item
Stereotype Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this
field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Conversation node Specifies the conversation node to which the link is joined. Use the tools to the
right of the list to create, browse for, or view the properties of the currently
selected conversation node.
Keywords Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple
keywords, separate them with commas.
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Supported Objects
The following BPMN2 choreography and conversation diagram objects are supported for
modeling in PowerDesigner but are not supported in import and export:
Modeling Objects Not Supported in Import/Export
The following BPMN2 objects are not supported for modeling or in import and export:
Unsupported Objects
1. Start SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio and expand the Process Modeling folder.
2. Expand the Process folder, right-click a process, and select Exporting for BPMN
2.0....
3. Select a file folder and name, and then click Export.
4. Open PowerDesigner and select File > Import > BPMN2 File, navigate to the file you
exported from NetWeaver, select it, and click Open to import it.
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1. In PowerDesigner, open your BPMN 2 model, and select File > Export > BPMN2 File,
select a file folder and name, and then click Save.
2. Start SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio and create a new Process Composer
Development Component project.
3. Expand the Process Modeling folder, right-click the Processes folder, and select
Importing BPMN 2.0 diagram....
4. Navigate to the file you exported from PowerDesigner, select it, and click Open to import
it.
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CHAPTER 11 SAP Solution Manager
SAP® Solution Manager is an environment for managing and monitoring business processes.
PowerDesigner provides support for round-trip import and export of Solution Manager v7.1
projects. A Solution Manager project is imported as a BPM model.
PowerDesigner supports the import, creation, modification, and export of the following types
of Solution Manager objects:
• Business scenarios
• Business processes
• Process steps
• Gateways
• Start, intermediate, and end events
• Flows
• Annotations and connections
PowerDesigner supports the import of the following objects and their attachment to scenarios
and processes, but does not support their creation or the export of modifications to them:
• Logical components
• Organization units
• Master data
• General and project documentation
• Transactions
A project contains a top-level diagram, which shows the business scenarios it contains:
Note: Though you should not create logical components, organization units, master data, or
project or general documentation in PowerDesigner, you can add existing instances of these
objects to your diagram by dragging and dropping them from the Browser.
Projects have the properties of standard BPMs (see BPM Properties on page 7) as well as the
following additional properties:
Property Description
Person respon- Specifies the owner of the project.
sable
Language Specifies the language for the project.
Type / Type Specifies the type of the project.
Name
Archive Model Specifies the path to the archive model used for determining model changes when
File Path updating Solution Manager.
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Note: Though you should not create logical components, organization units, master data, or
project or general documentation in PowerDesigner, you can add existing instances of these
objects to your diagram by dragging and dropping them from the Browser.
Tool Description
Process Step - the activity or work being performed. Can be a Human Process (activity with
user input), SubProcess (references and executes another process), or Automated Process
(system activity.)
Gateway - splits or merges the sequence flow. Can be a Parallel Gateway (AND) or Ex-
clusive Gateway (OR).
Start Event (the start of a process flow), Intermediate Event (a message is sent or received in
the process), and End Event (the end of the process flow).
Flow
Note: Though you should not create logical components, organization units, master data, or
project or general documentation in PowerDesigner, you can add existing instances of these
objects to your diagram by dragging and dropping them from the Browser.
Source / Source Specifies the name and location of the repository where the source is stored.
location
Original name Specifies the name of the process or step in Solution Manager
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CHAPTER 11: SAP Solution Manager
server, and then click the configuration file download link for the selected Solution
Manager Related Package, open the text file, and copy the ID from it.
3. Select the project that contains the processes you want to import, and then click Next.
4. Select the business scenarios and processes that you want to import from the list, and then
click Next.
By default, all scenarios and processes are selected, and the options to import organization
units, documents, and master data are also selected. The Archive model path field
provides the location where the archive model (which preserves the current state of the
project and is used during generation to help resolved conflicts in the case of concurrent
changes by other users) will be saved.
5. Review the objects that will be imported and then click Finish to import them to your
model. For large projects containing many scenarios and processes, the import may take
some considerable time.
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1. Select Language > Apply Model Changes to Solution Manager to open the wizard, and
click Next on the Welcome page.
The wizard checks your model for consistency and displays any errors which may
compromise the generation.
2. Enter your Solution Manager host name and port number, along with your user name and
password, and click Next. PowerDesigner automatically creates a default connection in
the Connection name list, and you can manage this and other Solution Manager
connections with the tools to the right of the list.
3. Select the business scenarios and processes you want to export, and click Next.
4. Review the objects that will be exported and then click Finish to generate them to Solution
Manager.
Note: If PowerDesigner detects conflicts between changes made in the model and changes
to the same objects on the server, then a merge dialog (see Core Features Guide > Modeling
with PowerDesigner > Comparing and Merging Models) will open to allow you to select,
for each conflict, which of the conflicting changes will prevail. The resolutions that you
select will first be applied to the model, and then your changes will be exported to the the
server.
206 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 12 Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
The Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of the flow of data through an
information system. It enables you to represent the processes in your information system from
the viewpoint of data. The DFD lets you visualize how the system operates, what the system
accomplishes and how it will be implemented, when it is refined with further specification.
Data flow diagrams are used by systems analysts to design information-processing systems
but also as a way to model whole organizations. You build a DFD at the very beginning of your
business process modeling in order to model the functions your system has to carry out and the
interaction between those functions together with focusing on data exchanges between
processes. You can associate data with conceptual, logical, and physical data models and
object-oriented models.
There are two types of DFDs, both of which support a top-down approach to systems analysis,
whereby analysts begin by developing a general understanding of the system and gradually
break components out into greater detail:
• Logical data flow diagrams - are implementation-independent and describe the system,
rather than how activities are accomplished.
• Physical data flow diagrams - are implementation-dependent and describe the actual
entities (devices, department, people, etc.) involved in the current system.
DFDs can also be grouped together to represent a sub-system of the system being analyzed.
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CHAPTER 12: Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
1. Select File > New Model, and choose to create a business process model from the Model
type list.
2. Select Business Process Diagram as the first diagram.
3. Select Data Flow Diagram from the Process language list and click OK.
Processes (DFD)
A process is an activity, which transforms and manipulates input data to produce output data.
For example, in a model about the publication of books, selecting a manuscript is a process.
Data is sent to the selection process in the form of a manuscript. During selection, the
manuscript is transformed either into a manuscript that goes directly to the printer, or into a
manuscript that must wait before it is printed.
Processes are based on standard BPM processes (see Processes (BPM) on page 30).
Flows from processes can go to external entities, data stores, split/merges, or other processes.
The Data tab in the property sheet displays the process CRUD accesses to data.
Synchronization of these data accesses with the data transported by the incoming and
outgoing flows of the process is made through the balancing check (see DFD Balancing on
page 212).
Flows (DFD)
A flow conveys data between processes, external entities, and data stores and represents data
in motion, such as computerized components, messages or bits, or non-computerized
components, such as eggs or cake.
Flows are based on standard flows (see Flows (BPM ) on page 68) or resource flows (see
Resource Flows (BPM) on page 94) with a Flow stereotype. Flows incoming to and outgoing
from data stores must be created with the Resource Flow tool in the Data Flow Diagram
toolbox.
A flow cannot directly link two data stores or two external entities without going through a
process or a split/merge.
Flows to data stores are interpreted as write, update, or delete access, while flows outgoing
from data stores are interpreted as read access
The Data tab in the property sheet displays the data transported by the flows.
Split/Merges (DFD)
A split/merge allows you to split a flow into several flows to send data to different destinations,
or merge flows from different sources into one flow.
Split/merges are based on synchronizations (see Synchronizations (BPM ) on page 66) with a
Split/Merge stereotype.
A split/merge can send a single incoming data flow to multiple destinations, for example,
when a complex packet of data is being split into several more elementary packets, each of
which is being sent to different parts of the system, or when duplicate copies of data packets
are being sent to different parts of the system:
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CHAPTER 12: Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
A split/merge can join flows from different sources into a single outgoing flow, for example,
when several data packets are joined together to form a more complex packet:
Numbering can be used in leveled data flow diagrams, where you decompose a process into
lower level processes, to more closely analyze the various transformations carried out by the
parent process (see Decomposing Processes on page 42). Child processes inherit the number
ID of their parent process, so that, for example, a top level DFD would have processes 1 2 3 4,
the sub-process of process 3 would have processes 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4, and the sub-process of
the sub-process 3. 2 would have components 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, and 3.2.4:
DFD Balancing
The concept of balancing states that all the incoming flows to a process and all the outgoing
flows from a process in the parent diagram should be preserved at the next level of
decomposition.
Process decomposition lets you organize your overall DFD in a series of levels so that each
level provides successively more detail about a portion of the level above it. Balancing helps
you to check your system internal consistency.
When you decompose a process, PowerDesigner helps you initialize, in the sub diagram, the
objects from the upper-level to link to the sub-process. PowerDesigner automatically retrieves
global objects, such as external entities or data stores and creates object shortcuts, if need be.
The following example shows a top level DFD, in which we are going to decompose the
Collect Payment process:
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CHAPTER 12: Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
The following example shows the default sub-process diagram of the Collect Payment
decomposed process containing its related objects coming from the upper-level. Then, you
have to link the objects. Each object you link afterwards to the parent process in the upper-
level is automatically displayed in the sub-process diagram:
PowerDesigner helps you ensure, using balancing checks, that each data on flows or in data
stores in the upper-level exist in the sub-diagram. To test balancing, select Tools > Check
Model, and select the balancing checks undet the Flow and Resource Flow objects.
214 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 13 Service Oriented Architecture
(SOA)
SOA is a logical orchestration process language that allows you to orchestrate your processes
without being linked to any platform or language. It belongs to the Service Orchestration
family.
The SOA process language is very close to BPEL4WS, except that:
• It has no generation and reverse functions
• Any type of operation can be attached to a process (BPEL4WS only supports One-Way
and Request-Response operations on processes)
• No correlation key can be defined for sent messages
An SOA BPM is a model that allows you to assemble software components that are designed
by a WSDL. Therefore, you can import WSDL files in an SOA BPM.
When you decide to use the Service Oriented Architecture process language, you generally do
not know yet which platform you are going to use to execute your processes. However, SOA
allows you to design the Web services orchestration by providing access to service providers,
service interfaces and operations.
You can afterwards use the Change Target command (see Changing the Process Language on
page 12) or Model-to-Model Generation (Chapter 8, Generating Other Models from a BPM
on page 167) to change to the appropriate platform or language.
216 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 14 BPEL4WS and WS-BPEL
BPEL4WS 1.1 (Business Process Execution Language for Web Services) and its successor
WS-BPEL 2.0 (Web Services for Business Process Execution Language) are business process
orchestration standards which let you describe your business processes under the form of Web
services, and specify how they are connected to each other to accomplish specific tasks.
PowerDesigner supports modeling for BPEL4WS 1.1 and WS-BPEL 2.0 and higher,
including round-trip engineering.
The following example shows a business process model diagram modeled with WS-BPEL 2.0
in which the control flow takes a different path whether the condition of the first decision is
true or false, then on the false path, the control flow takes a different path again whether the
condition of the second decision is true or false. All paths go to the same end:
Top-Level Diagrams
The PowerDesigner BPM provides support for the following elements in a top-level diagram,
when modeling a BPEL environment:
• Empty activities - used to specify top-level Processes which are global services, that
interact with partners (see Stereotype Activities in BPEL Choreography Diagrams on page
219).
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CHAPTER 14: BPEL4WS and WS-BPEL
BPEL4WS 1.1 models top-level processes (see Processes (BPM) on page 30) as standard
processes in top-level diagrams with additional properties (see BPEL Top-Level Process
Properties on page 225).
• Partners - represent consumers of a service provided by the business process (initiating
role) or providers of a service to the business process (responding role), and are connected
to a top-level process by partner link types.
PowerDesigner models partners as organization units represented as actors (see
Organization Units ( BPM) on page 50).
• Partner Link Types - represent interactions between top-level processes and business
partners.
PowerDesigner models partner link types as role associations (see Role Associations
(BPM) on page 71) with additional properties (see WS-BPEL 2.0 Object Properties on
page 226 and BPEL4WS 1.1 Object Properties on page 229).
• WSDL files - describe services provided by business partners and the way to access them.
WSDL files contain port types and operations.
PowerDesigner models WSDL files as standard service providers (see Service Providers
(BPM) on page 97), port types as standard service interfaces (see Service Interfaces
(BPM) on page 106), and operations as standard operations (see Operations (BPM) on
page 108).
• Start and ends in scopes - starts and terminate respectively the flow represented in the
diagram.
PowerDesigner models BPEL starts and ends as standard starts (see Starts (BPM ) on page
60) and ends (see Ends (BPM ) on page 61). If you need to immediately stop a business
process instance use the exit activity.
• Partners in scopes - specify the people, groups or organizations which are responsible for a
process.
PowerDesigner models partners as standard organization units represented as swimlanes
(see Organization Units ( BPM) on page 50).
Composite Activities
Composite activities specify activities modeled as composite processes in WS-BPEL 2.0:
Loop Activities
Loop activities specify activities modeled as composite processes with Loop implementation
type in WS-BPEL 2.0:
WS- WS-BPEL Description
BPEL 2.0 Symbol
2.0 Tool
While activities - specify that their nested activities must be repeated
until their specified <condition> becomes true.
BPEL4WS 1.1 models while activities as standard composite pro-
cesses with Loop implementation type and While loop type.
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CHAPTER 14: BPEL4WS and WS-BPEL
Rethrow activities [WS-BPEL 2.0] - rethrow the fault that was orig-
inally caught by the immediately enclosing <catch> and <catchAll>
elements within a <faultHandlers> element.
Note: WS-BPEL receive, reply (fault), and invoke activities let you
directly specify assignments on their Assignments tab to copy the
value of exchanged message variables into another or to calculate the
value of an expression, and store it in a variable (see Process Prop-
erties on page 32).
Stereotype Activities
Stereotype activities specify activities modeled as processes with stereotype with no
implementation type in WS-BPEL 2.0:
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CHAPTER 14: BPEL4WS and WS-BPEL
Other Activities
Other activities specify activities modeled as other objects than processes in WS-BPEL 2.0:
WS- WS-BPEL Description
BPEL 2.0 Symbol
2.0 Tool
If activities - select exactly one activity to execute from a set of activ-
ities.
You can also use composite processes with <<if>> stereotype for
modeling purposes.
BPEL4WS 1.1 models switch activities as standard decisions (see
Decisions (BPM ) on page 63) with <<switch>> stereotype.
BPEL Messages
The PowerDesigner BPM provides support for the following elements to build messages in a
choreography diagram, when modeling a BPEL environment.
The messages exchanged between activities are handled in the Implementation tab of the
processes property sheet:
• Messages - identify exchanged data between activities. PowerDesigner models messages
as standard message formats (see Message Formats (BPM) on page 76) with additional
properties (see WS-BPEL 2.0 Object Properties on page 226 and BPEL4WS 1.1 Object
Properties on page 229)
• Parameters - identify subdivisions of messages. PowerDesigner models messages as
standard message parts (see Message Parts (BPM) on page 79) .
• Variables - provide the means for holding messages that constitute a part of the state of a
business process. PowerDesigner models variables as standard variables (see Variables
(BPM) on page 114).
• Properties - refer to any parts of a variable. PowerDesigner models properties as standard
variables (see Variables (BPM) on page 114).
• Property aliases - provide the means to map a property to a field in a specific message part
or variable value. PowerDesigner models property aliases as standard data
transformations (see Data Transformations on page 118).
• Correlations - specify groups of properties that, taken together, serve to identify a message.
PowerDesigner models correlations as standard correlation keys (see Correlation Keys
(BPM) on page 116).
• XSD schema files - specify the data schemas handled by Web services, and act as
definitions of grammars which take precedence when a disagreement occurs.
PowerDesigner models XSD schema files as standard XSD documents (see XSD
Documents (BPM) on page 107). You can create an XSD document from the service
provider property sheet or import or reverse engineer a WSDL to obtain one.
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CHAPTER 14: BPEL4WS and WS-BPEL
Name Description
[BPEL4WS] Enable Specifies whether the process instance as a whole can be compensated by
instance compensa- platform-specific means.
tion
Default value: No
Scripting name: enableInstanceCompensation
[WS-BPEL] Exit on When set to "yes" on a scope, the process must exit immediately.
standard fault
Default value: No
Scripting name: ExitOnStandardFault
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CHAPTER 14: BPEL4WS and WS-BPEL
Name Description
Expression language Specifies the expression language used in expressions.
Default value: urn:oasis:names:tc:wsbpel:2.0:sublang:xpath1.0
Scripting name: expressionLanguage
Final counter expres- [forEach] Computes the final value of the counter variable used by the
sion <<forEach>> activity. It is evaluated when the activity starts.
Scripting name: FinalCounterExpression
First correlation pat- [invoke] When the first correlation is used by the invoke activity, you can
tern choose between one of the following values:
• request
• request-response
• response
Scripting name: InCorrelationPattern
Imported WSDL con- [WSDL file] Specifies the content of the original reversed WSDL file.
tent
Scripting name: ImportedWsdlContent
Isolated [scope, sequence, flow and if] When set to "yes", the scope provides con-
currency control in governing access to shared variables. Such a scope is
called a serializable scope. Serializable scopes must not be nested. A scope
marked with variableAccessSerializable (or isolated)="yes" must be a leaf
scope.
Default value: No
Scripting name: Isolated
Initiate correlation [receive, reply and reply fault] Specifies the initiation of the correlation used
by the receive activity. You can choose between one of the following values
to specify the initiate attribute:
• join, no, yes
Scripting name: InitiateCorrelation
Initiate input correla- [invoke] When the first correlation is used by the invoke activity, you can
tion choose between one of the following values for the initiate attribute:
• yes
• no
• join
Scripting name: InCorrelationInitiate
Name Description
Initiate output correla- [invoke] When the second correlation is used by the invoke activity, you can
tion choose between one of the following values for the initiate attribute:
• join
• no
• yes
Scripting name: OutCorrelationInitiate
Join condition Each activity has optional standard attributes: a name, a join condition, and
an indicator whether a join fault should be suppressed if it occurs. A join
condition is used to specify requirements about concurrent paths reaching at
an activity. The default value of the join condition (for the default expression
language XPath) is the logical OR of the link status of all incoming links of
this activity.
Scripting name: joinCondition
Multiple correlation Specifies a BPEL Invoke, Receive or Reply using multiple correlation keys.
Scripting name: MultipleCorrelation
Name [partner link type] Specifies the name of the partner link type.
Scripting name: PartnerLinkTypeName
Namespace prefix to [XSD document and WSDL file] Specifies the XML prefix used by the
use process to reference the schema definition or service provider.
Default variable: %wsdlUsedPref%
Scripting name: PrefixForUse
Organization unit role [partner link type] Specifies the role played by a partner in the collaboration.
When undefined, the generated role is the name of the organization unit.
Scripting name: OrganizationUnitRole
Process role [partner link type] Specifies the role played by the process in the collabo-
ration. When undefined, the generated role is the name of the process.
Scripting name: ProcessRole
Parallel [forEach] Specifies whether the activity is serial or parallel.
Default value: No
Scripting name: Parallel
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Name Description
Second correlation [invoke] When the second correlation is used by the invoke activity, you can
pattern choose between one of the following values:
• request
• request-response
• response
Scripting name: OutCorrelationPattern
Start counter expres- [forEach] Computes the initial value of the counter variable used by the
sion <<forEach>> activity. It is evaluated when the activity starts.
Scripting name: StartCounterExpression
Successful branches [forEach] Specifies whether to count all scopes or only those which have
only completed successfully. The <branches> element of the forEach activity
represents an unsigned-integer expression used to specify a completion
condition.
Default value: No
Scripting name: SuccessfulBranchesOnly
Suppress join failure Specifies whether the joinFailure fault will be suppressed for all activities in
the process. The effect of the attribute at the process level can be overridden
by an activity using a different value for the attribute.
Default value: No
Scripting name: suppressJoinFailure
Validate [Assign] Specifies whether the assign activity validates all the variables
being modified by the activity.
Default value: No
Scripting name: Validate
Name Description
Definition name- [message format] Specifies the namespace URI message that can only be used
space by BPEL variables.
Default variable: %ownerServiceNmspc%
Scripting name: DefinitionNamespace
Definition target [model and package] Specifies the target namespace.
namespace
Default value: %urnName%
Scripting name: DefinitionTargetNamespace
First correlation pat- [invoke] When the first correlation is used by the invoke activity, you can
tern choose between one of the following values:
• in
• in-out
• out
Scripting name: InCorrelationPattern
Imported WSDL [WSDL file] Specifies the content of the original reversed WSDL file.
content
Scripting name: ImportedWsdlContent
Initiate correlation [receive, reply and reply fault] Specifies the initiation of the correlation used
by the receive activity. You can choose between one of the following values to
specify the initiate attribute:
• true, false
Scripting name: InitiateCorrelation
Join condition Each activity has optional standard attributes: a name, a join condition, and an
indicator whether a join fault should be suppressed if it occurs. A join condi-
tion is used to specify requirements about concurrent paths reaching at an
activity. The default value of the join condition (for the default expression
language XPath) is the logical OR of the link status of all incoming links of this
activity.
Scripting name: joinCondition
Multiple correlation Specifies a BPEL Invoke, Receive or Reply using multiple correlation keys.
Scripting name: MultipleCorrelation
Name [partner link type] Specifies the name of the partner link type.
Scripting name: PartnerLinkTypeName
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Name Description
Namespace prefix to [WSDL file] Specifies the XML prefix used by the process to reference the
use service provider.
Default value: %wsdlUsedPref%
Scripting name: prefixForUse
Organization unit [partner link type] Specifies the role played by a partner in the collaboration.
role When undefined, the generated role is the name of the organization unit.
Scripting name: OrganizationUnitRole
Process role [partner link type] Specifies the role played by the process in the collaboration.
When undefined, the generated role is the name of the process.
Scripting name: ProcessRole
Second correlation [invoke] When the second correlation is used by the invoke activity, you can
pattern choose between one of the following values:
• in
• out-in
• out
Scripting name: OutCorrelationPattern
Suppress join failure Specifies whether the joinFailure fault will be suppressed for all activities in
the process. The effect of the attribute at the process level can be overridden by
an activity using a different value for the attribute.
Default value: No
Scripting name: suppressJoinFailure
Variable access seri- [scope, sequence and flow] When set to "yes", the scope provides concurrency
alizable control in governing access to shared variables. Such a scope is called a seri-
alizable scope. Serializable scopes must not be nested. A scope marked with
variableAccessSerializable (or Isolated)="yes" must be a leaf scope.
Default value: No
Scripting name: variableAccessSerializable
descriptions. A .WSDL file (process language definition file) for the entire model is also
generated.
1. Select Language > Generate BPEL4WS 1.1 [or WS-BPEL 2.0 ] code to open the
Generation dialog.
2. Specify a directory in which to generate the code.
3. [optional] Select the Check Model check box, if you want to verify the validity of your
model before generation.
4. On the Selection tab, select the objects that you want to generate. Use the sub-tabs to
navigate between separate lists of object types. The selections you make here will affect
the files that are available to select on the Generated Files tab.
5. [optional] On the Options tab, set the generation option as appropriate:
Option Description
Generate WSDL files You can choose between one of the following values:
• Local - Enforces the generation of the .WSDL file into a separate
local file which is referenced into the .BPEL definition file via the
[Import] clause.
• Import - Generates an [Import] clause into the .BPEL definition file.
• Embedded - Generates a .WSDL file into the .BPEL definition file,
and a .WSDL file is generated for each service provider.
1. Select Language > Reverse Engineer BPEL4WS [or WS-BPEL] File to display the
Reverse dialog.
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2. Select to reverse engineer files or directories from the Reverse Engineer list.
3. On the Selection tab, click the Add button to open a standard Open dialog.
4. Select the files or directory you want to reverse, and click Open to display the selected files
in the Reverse dialog.
You can muti-select files to reverser engineer using the Ctrl or Shift keys. All files will be
reversed in the same BPM.
5. [optional] On the Options tab, select the Create XML Model check box, whether you
want to automatically create an XML model for each schema of the WSDL file.
6. Click OK to close the Reverse dialog.
The reverse engineering begins, and the Merge Models dialog opens to let you control the
differences between your BPM and the reversed engineered files.
For more information about merging models, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Comparing and Merging Models.
7. Click OK to close the dialog.
The objects are added to your model.
Note: You can also reverse engineer BPEL files in a new BPM. For more information, see
Reverse Engineering Source Files into a BPM on page 165.
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CHAPTER 15 Sybase WorkSpace - Deprecated
You define a BPM with the Sybase WorkSpace Business Process language when you want to
design business processes and implement them using Business Process Service in Sybase
WorkSpace.
Note: Support for this language is deprecated.
The key concepts of Sybase WorkSpace Business Process are the following:
Key concepts In PowerDesigner
Service Interface to an external application or business process. Sybase Work-
Space supports many different kinds of services like SOAP, database,
EJB, Java, and transformation service.
One-way operation This kind of operation is invoked when a business process sends a
message to a service.
Request/Reply operation This kind of operation is invoked when a business process sends a
message to a service and waits for a response from the service.
Receive activity Activity that receives a request from an external user or application.
Assign activity Each assign activity is a sequence of atomic assign tasks. An assign task
is an XPath expression that copies value from a variable to another
variable.
Split-Join activity A split is a point in the business process where a single activity splits
into two or more parallel activities. A join is a point in the business
process where two or more parallel activities converge into a single
common activity.
Complex activity Activity made of atomic activities that imply drill-down capabilities.
Loop activity Iteration in a cycle involving the repetitive execution of one or more
activities until a condition is met. The loop is a sort of complex activity.
Terminal activity Defines different kinds of end activities in order to end the runtime
processing of a business process or a complex activity. The end object
only terminates a branch of the process.
Note: To check your Sybase WorkSpace BPM, select Tools > Check Model. The model
check may perform automatic corrections to your model or output errors and warnings to
manually correct. Custom checks appear under the different metaclasses in the Profile
category of the Sybase WorkSpace Business process language. Right-click these checks and
select Help to obtain information about the check.
Top-Down Design
A business analyst designs a model using the Analysis process language because he wants to
have a global perspective on the processes of an enterprise, and a developer recovers this
model to automate some of its processes.
1. Generate a BPM for Sybase WorkSpace Business Process - Select Tools > Generate
Business Process Model . The original Analysis model is preserved for future
regeneration. If the Analysis model contains several top-level processes, you need to
generate one model for each top-level process by deselecting the other processes in the
Selection tab of the Generation dialog. During generation, some semantic transformations
are performed on the model to make it compliant with Sybase WorkSpace Business
Process.
2. Identify <<Send>> and <<Receive>> Activities - Change the <<Undefined>>
processes corresponding to the reception of a service request to receive activities and those
corresponding to answers to these requests, to send activities and select their
<<Receive>> process.
3. Implement Other Services by Web service operations - If the operations are already
implemented in the WorkSpace environment, you can import them as service provider
operations and associate the service operations to <<Undefined>> processes (see
Importing WorkSpace Services on page 255). If the operations are not yet implemented,
right-click the <<Undefined>> process and select Invoke New ... Service to create an
empty operation that can be further defined using WorkSpace service editors. The
supported WorkSpace service types are: Java, Transformation, Database and Message (see
Invoking WorkSpace Services on page 256).
4. Decision Stereotype - A <<SingleRule>> decision is taken during the evaluation of a
boolean expression defined in the WorkSpace decision editor. Only two flows must come
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from the <<SingleRule>> decision and one of these flows must have a False
condition. A <<Choice>> decision is triggered by a receive activity. All the flows
coming from the <<Choice>> decision must target receive activities, and there can be
more than two flows.
5. Check the Model - To verify that it conforms to the Sybase WorkSpace Business Process
language standard.
6. Generate Sybase WorkSpace Business Process files - Select Language > Generate
Sybase WorkSpace Business Process 1.0 code. See Generating for Sybase WorkSpace
Business Process on page 256.
7. Use the Business Process Service Editor to continue process implementation. You will
have to define the type of received and sent messages, define <<SingleRule>>
condition expressions, and so on.
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3. Check the Model - To verify that it conforms to the Sybase WorkSpace Business Process
language standard.
4. Generate Sybase WorkSpace Business Process files - Select Language > Generate
Sybase WorkSpace Business Process 1.0 code. See Generating for Sybase WorkSpace
Business Process on page 256.
5. Use the Business Process Service Editor to continue process implementation.
Services
In Sybase WorkSpace, a service is an interface to an external application or a business process.
BSM (Sybase Base Service Model) is the native language used to describe a service. The BSM
file contains the description of the entire Web service expressed by several port types. Each
port type defines different operations. Sybase WorkSpace Business Process supports the
following types of Web service operations:
• OneWay receive operations with only input parameters and no return value
• RequestReply operations with input and output parameters
You design a Sybase WorkSpace Business Process service, port type and operation in the
following way:
Sybase WorkSpace Business PowerDesigner concept
Process concept
Service Service provider
Port type Interface
Operation Operation
Business Processes
A business process is a particular service implemented by the orchestration of other services
including several activities linked by a graph. This graph defines the choreography of the
Process. The business process may have fault, compensation, and timeout handlers that are not
linked to the main choreography.
You design each business process with a business process model in PowerDesigner.
Variables
Variables are named data type instances that are accessible by all activities within a business
process definition. Variables can have simple data types (string, integer, float, or boolean) or
XSD complex data types.
Context variables are modeled as follows:
• Variable with message type - Variable with a message format data type.
• Message parameter - Message part of the message format. The message part can be of
simple type or XSD type.
• Context variable with simple type - Variable with simple type.
• Context variable with complex type - Message format.
XSD schema files contain the definition of the complex data types used within the business
process, and are used to define context variables that are accessible by the different activities.
Each XSD file is a set of elements and complex types that can be used as a data type of a
variable. You can associate XML elements to BPM variables or message parts.
To use XSD types in a BPM you have to import WSDL files as service providers into your
model. The schema section of the WSDL file is imported as an XSD document (linked to an
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XML model) associated with a service provider. The input/output messages of the different
operations are imported as message formats containing parts of XSD type, which are used as
data types of context variables for receive or send messages. For context variables, the XSD
definition file is extracted and generated from the service provider DataSchema attribute.
When the DataSchema is empty the following extended attribute is available from the message
format with message parts property sheet:
Name Internal code Description
XSD file loca- XSDLocation Location of the XSD file that contains the definition of the
tion types used by the parts of the message.
Partner Links
You design partner links using organization units in the business process model.
Each organization unit will define a partner link. To associate a partner link with a receive,
send or invoke activity the user should use the Organization unit property of the process.
For more information on organization units, see Organization Units (BPM) on page 50.
Service Invocation
Services represent the interaction with internal and external applications, such as a database,
Java applications or an ERP system. A service may contain several interfaces and each
interface may contain multiple operations. Each operation has a schema in the service that
defines the operation inputs and outputs. A service interaction represents an activity that
invokes a service operation of the following type:
• One-Way: when a business process sends a message to a service
• Request/Reply: when a business process sends a message to a service and waits for a
response from the service
You design an activity that invokes a service operation using a business process with the
<<Invoke>> stereotype. This implies that you already have imported services from the
WorkSpace environment.
You also need to define the Execute operation implementation type and make sure it is
implemented by an operation in a service provider defined in the same model.
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The Message mapping property of the Invoke operation action corresponds to the invoke
variable defined in the Sybase WorkSpace Business Process service interaction. If you click
the New button beside the Message mapping box, you create a variable with the same name as
the received message.
You can associate one correlation key to the <<Invoke>> activity.
the New button beside the Message mapping box, you create a variable with the same name as
the received message.
Interface Activities
Receive and Send activities are interface activities. The first time you create a receive or a send
activity, a new service provider called ThisService is created, containing a Default
service interface that contains all the operations created automatically for <<Send>> and
<<Receive>> business processes.
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Note: You can right-click an <<Undefined>> process and select the Change to Receive
command.
• Creates a new variable with the same name as the sent message
If the activity sends a fault, you can right-click an <<Undefined>> process and select Change
to Send Fault in the contextual menu.
When you assign the <<Send>> stereotype to a business process, you are prompted to select a
corresponding Receive activity, because the Send is a reply to the Receive activity. In Sybase
WorkSpace Business Process, you cannot associate more than one Send activity to a Receive
activity.
Note: You can right-click an <<Undefined>> process and select the Change to Send
command.
Assign Activities
An assign activity is a sequence of atomic assign tasks. An assign task is an XPath expression
that copies value from a variable to another variable. The assign task can be: a regular assign
for setting the value of a context variable, a Get environment variable or a Get process Id that
copies its value to a context variable, a Graft that adds nodes to an XML tree or a Prune that
removes nodes from an XML tree.
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The type of the assign task depends on the source of the task whereas the target of the assign
task is always a context variable or an XPath expression.
To design an assign activity, it is strongly recommended to use the Insert Assign command in
the flow contextual menu. This command automatically creates an assign activity with the
correct input and assigned variables. You just need to define the source property (data
transformation input variable) and the target property (data transformation assigned variable)
part in the Assignments tab of the process property sheet.
Sybase WorkSpace Business PowerDesigner concept
Process concept
Assign activity Process with "Assign" implementation type.
Assign task Data transformation defined in the Assignments tab of the
process with "Assign" implementation type.
Sequence of assign tasks Several data transformations defined in the Assignments
tab of the process with "Assign" implementation type.
Source property for the assign task Input variable attribute of the data transformation.
Target property for the assign task Assigned variable attribute of the data transformation.
Part Assigned part attribute of the data transformation.
When you create an assign activity with the "Assign" implementation type, this triggers the
display of the Assignments tab:
Note: You can right-click an <<Undefined>> process and select the Change to Assign
command.
Split-Join Activities
A split is a point in the business process where a single activity splits into two or more parallel
activities. A join is a point in the business process where two or more parallel activities
converge into a single common activity.
Sybase WorkSpace Business PowerDesigner concept
Process concept
Join activity Synchronization with the <<Join>> stereotype. A
<<Join>> synchronization must have only one outgoing
link.
Single rule activity (DataXORSplit) Decision with the <<SingleRule>> stereotype. The deci-
sion must have two outgoing flows. The default output of
the decision is defined by setting the "false" value in the
condition alias of the flow outgoing from the decision.
The rule expression cannot be defined in the BPM except
when a business process is generated from a BPEL proc-
ess; in this case the BPEL expression is reported in the
condition expression of the decision.
Split activity (ANDSplit) Synchronization with the <<Split>> stereotype.
Choice activity (EventXOR) Decision with the <<Choice>> stereotype. When the In-
stantiate extended attribute is set to True, it indicates that
the event creates an instance of the process. Outgoing
flows must have the <<Exception>> stereotype.
Complex Activities
A complex activity is made of atomic activities. Complex activities can end normally, after a
timeout event, or after a fault event. The complex activity catches exception events (exception,
compensation, or timeout) by using exception handlers, compensation handler and timeout
handler.
In Sybase WorkSpace Business Process, a complex activity defines a sub-process element that
includes context variables: one default exception handler and optionally one handler per fault,
one compensation handler, and several timeout handlers. These handlers are complex
activities executed when the corresponding event happens.
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Complex activity exits are designed as flows outgoing from the composite process:
• A flow with a <<Fault>> event targets a <<FaultHandler>> activity
• A flow with a <<Timer>> event targets a <<TimeoutHandler>> activity
• A flow with a <<Compensation>> event targets a <<CompensationHandler>> activity
If you right-click the composite process, you can see different menu commands for creating
these exits: Add Compensation Handler, Add Exception Handler, Add Timeout Handler, and
Add Default Exception Handler.
Loop Activities
A loop activity is a complex activity with iterations.
Sybase WorkSpace Business PowerDesigner concept
Process concept
Loop activity Composite process with a Loop implementation type.
Loop condition Use the Loop Expression box in the Implementation tab of
the loop process.
The sub-diagram of a loop activity can contain a Break activity. You design this break activity
as an end object with the <<Break>> stereotype.
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You can create these activities using the corresponding tool in the Sybase WorkSpace
Business Process toolbox.
Using a process that generates a <<Fault>> event is useful if the fault name is explicitly
catched by the exception handler of the parent complex activity. The name of the fault event
will be the name of the fault catched by the exception handler.
Correlations
A correlation is a set of identifying properties used by Sybase WorkSpace engine to identify
the instance of a business process concerned by a received or a sent message.
You design a correlation using a correlation key. You create a correlation key from the List of
Correlation Keys or using the New command in the model contextual menu, and you add
variables to the correlation key from the Variables tab of the correlation key property sheet.
Correlation variables must have the <<CorrelationProperty>> stereotype.
Receive, send and invoke activities share the correlation keys designed under the model or the
parent complex activity. You can select a reception correlation for a receive activity, an
emission correlation for a send activity, and the reception and emission correlation for an
invoke activity.
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Before associating a correlation key to an activity, you must design a data transformation that
expresses how to obtain the properties of the correlation from the received or the sent message.
You create one or several data transformations with the <<propertyAlias>> stereotype for
each activity that uses a correlation key; each data transformation must have the reception/
emission message mapping variable as the input variable:
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1. Right-click the BPM in the Model Explorer and select Import WorkSpace Services, or
select Tools > Import WorkSpace Services.
2. Select the project containing the services you want to import in the Import Sybase
WorkSpace Services dialog box and click Finish.
The services are imported as service providers in the model.
Note: If you re-import services from the same project into the same model, a merge dialog
box is displayed to let you select the services you want to update into your model. In the left
pane you can see the services available in WorkSpace, in the right pane you can see
services in your model. Use the right pane to carefully define the result you want to obtain
into your model.
For more information about the merge feature, see Core Features Guide > Modeling with
PowerDesigner > Comparing and Merging Models.
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Option Description
Overwrite resource files (serv- These files are called resources in Sybase WorkSpace and are
ices, xsd, wsdl, java, map and generated by PowerDesigner. You can choose to generate them
ruleml) once and not to overwrite them during next generations.
If the generated files have already been used in Sybase WorkSpace Business Process for
implementation purpose, it is strongly recommended to avoid overwriting them the next time
you generate from PowerDesigner as they may contain implementation details that may be
lost during overwriting. Make sure you re-generate into a separate file or select the task
"Increment version number of the generated files" in the Tasks tab.
Generation Task
The task "Increment version number of the generated files" can be used to add a version
number to all the files generated from the current model. This is to avoid overwriting files that
you have already started implementing in Sybase WorkSpace Business Process.
When you select this generation task, the GenerationVersionNumber extended attribute of the
model and the service providers is automatically incremented each time you generate the
model.
Generation Path
You must generate in an existing project folder, or in a folder at the Eclipse workspace root
directory, in this case, this folder becomes a project folder. The following folder hierarchy is
not allowed as folder1 is not a project folder:
d:\Sybase\WorkSpace\Eclipse\workspace\folder1\folder2
• The bpmn.gem file is an XML file is generated from the default business process diagram
of the model.
• Service files (svc_xyz) for new services.
• An XSD file is generated for each BPM message format having message parts, this file is
used by a service provider.
Note: It is recommended to use the Check Model feature before generating in order to check
the validity of your model.
1. Select Language > Generate Sybase WorkSpace Business Process 1.0 Code to display
the Generation dialog box.
2. Type a destination directory for the generated file in the Directory box.
or
Click the Select a Path button to the right of the Directory box and browse to select a
directory path.
3. Select the Check Model check box if you want to verify the validity of your model before
generation.
4. Click the Selection tab and select the objects to include in the generation from the sub-tabs
at the bottom of the page.
Note: All processes of the model, are selected and displayed by default. You use the Select
tools to the right of the Folder Selection list to modify the selection.
5. Click the Options tab and select a value for each required option.
6. Click OK to generate.
A Progress box is displayed. The Result list displays the files that you can edit. The result is
also displayed in the Generation tab of the Output window, located at the bottom of the
main window.
All Sybase WorkSpace Business Process files are generated in the destination directory.
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CHAPTER 16 Electronic Business XML
(EbXML) - Deprecated
For information about composite views, see Working with Composite Views on page
47.
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Tool Description
Binary Collaboration - Creates a default composite process bearing a Binary Collab-
oration stereotype with a sub-process in composite view mode, attaches two organi-
zation units as initiating and responding roles, and creates an initial choreography
inside the Binary Collaboration process. You must complete the choreography by
specifying a Business Transaction process for implementation.
Business Transaction
Each Business Transaction consists in one or two predefined Business document flows. A
Business Transaction may be additionally supported by one or more Business Signals.
A Business Transaction is the atomic interaction (in a trading arrangement) between two
business partners. One party plays the Requesting role, the other plays the Responding role.
This interaction always results in one Business Document Flow from the requesting role to the
responding role and possibly one or more Business Document Flow in the inverse sense. A
Business Transaction may be additionally supported by one or more Business Signals.
Like the Binary Collaboration, a Business Transaction is a reuseable protocol between two
roles. The protocol is reused by referencing it from a Binary Collaboration, through the use of
a Business Transaction Activity. In a Business Transaction Activity the roles of the Binary
Collaboration are assigned to the execution of the Business Transaction.
Business Collaboration
A Business Collaboration consists in a set of roles that interact through Business Transactions
by exchanging Business Documents.
Business Collaboration can either be a:
• Binary Collaboration between two roles only
• MultiParty Collaboration between more than two roles, but such MultiParty
Collaborations are always a synthesis from two or more Binary Collaborations
Binary Collaborations are expressed as a set of Business Activities, which can consist in
conducting a Business Transaction (Business Transaction Activity) or another complete
Binary Collaboration (Collaboration Activity). The business activities are sequenced in a
choreography. Placing a purchase order or requesting a catalog can be an example of a
Business Transaction Activity; negotiating a contract can be an example of a Collaboration
Activity.
The ability of a Binary Collaboration to have activities that execute other Binary
Collaborations is the key to recursive compositions of Binary Collaboration, and to the re-use
of Binary Collaborations.
A Binary Collaboration must have exactly two associated roles (Initiating and Responding).
To do so, you must define role associations in the top-level diagram.
Only one start is allowed in a Binary Collaboration. Its sub-processes must always be
implemented by a Business Transaction process or a Binary Collaboration process. Decision
objects are not allowed and the activities must be created using Alt+drag and drop.
MultiParty collaboration is a set of Binary Collaboration between business partners. Each
partner plays one or more roles in the collaboration.
A MultiParty collaboration can only contain organization units with the icon representation
and shortcuts of Binary Collaborations linked to each other using extended dependencies.
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The actual document definition is achieved using the ebXML core component specifications,
or by some methodology external to ebXML but resulting in a DTD or Schema that an ebXML
Business Process Specification can point to. This schema is referenced with a message format
object.
Choreography
The Business Transaction Choreography describes the ordering and transitions between
business transactions or sub-collaborations within a binary collaboration. The choreography
is described in the ebXML Business Process Specification Schema using activity diagram
concepts such as start state, completion state, activities, synchronizations, transitions between
activities, and guards on the transitions.
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The Signals are designed with flows between Requesting and Responding activities. The
<<ReceiptAck>> and <<AcceptanceAck>> flow stereotypes allow the design of a Receipt
Acknowledgment Signal and Acceptance Acknowledgment Signal. The Request Document
and Response Document are also designed with flows with message formats that design the
document format.
The following extended attributes (accessible from the Extended Attributes tab of the process
property sheet) apply to both the Requesting and Responding Business Activity processes:
Name Description
Requires authorization If a partner role needs authorization to request a business action or to
respond to a business action, then the sending partner role must sign the
business document exchanged and the receiving partner role must validate
this business control and approve the authorizer. A responding partner
must signal an authorization exception if the sending partner role is not
authorized to perform the business activity. A sending partner must send
notification of failed authorization if a responding partner is not author-
ized to perform the responding business activity
Default value: false
Scripting name: IsAuthorizationRequired
Name Description
Requires intelligible Receiving partner role must check that a requesting document is not gar-
check bled (unreadable, unintelligible) before sending acknowledgement of re-
ceipt
Default value: false
Scripting name: IsIntelligibleCheckRequired
Requires non repudia- If non-repudiation of origin and content is required, then the business
tion activity must store the business document in its original form for the
duration mutually agreed to in a trading partner agreement. A responding
partner must signal a business control exception if the sending partner role
has not properly delivered their business document. A requesting partner
must send notification of failed business control if a responding partner
has not properly delivered their business document
Default value: false
Scripting name: IsNonRepudiationRequired
Requires non repudia- Both partners agree to mutually verify the receipt of a requesting business
tion receipt document and that the receipt must be non-reputable. A receiving partner
must send notification of failed business control (possibly revoking a
contractual offer) if a responding partner has not properly delivered its
business document. Non-repudiation of receipt provides the following
audit controls: Verify responding role identity (authenticate) – Verify the
identity of the responding role (individual or organization) that received
the requesting business document Verify content integrity – Verify the
integrity of the original content of the business document request
Default value: false
Scripting name: isNonRepudiationReceiptRequired
Time to acknowledge ac- The time a receiving role has to acknowledge business acceptance of a
ceptance business document
Scripting name: TimeToAcknowledgeAcceptance (specific to the Re-
questing Activity)
Time to acknowledge re- The time a receiving role has to acknowledge receipt of a business docu-
ceipt ment
Scripting name: TimeToAcknowledgeReceipt
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Name Description
Number of retries Business level retries. For requesting business activity and available only
for BPSS 1.04
Default value: false
Scripting name: retryCount
A specific ebXML toolbox allows you to directly create a Business Transaction composite
process in the current diagram and initialize the composite process with the Requesting and
Responding Activities. The following table summarizes the distinct flows that exist between
the Requesting and the Responding Activity:
Flow Request Re- Receipt on Acceptance Receipt on
Document sponse Response on Re- Request
Docu- sponse
ment
Without re- Yes No No No No
sponse
Document Envelope
A Document Envelope conveys business information between the two roles in a Business
Transaction. One Document Envelope conveys the request from the requesting role to the
responding role, and another Document Envelope conveys the response (if any) from the
responding role back to the requesting role. This concept is designed with a flow and a
message format in the Business Process Model.
The following extended attributes (accessible from the Extended Attributes tab of the message
format property sheet) apply to the Document Envelope:
Name Description
DocTypeDocumentation Documentation of DocumentType
Scripting name: DocTypeDocumentation
Name Description
Is positive response If TRUE the Document Envelope is intended as a positive response to
the request. This parameter is only relevant on the response envelope
Scripting name: IsPositiveResponse
Is authenticated There is a digital certificate associated with the document entity. This
provides proof of the signatory identity
Default value: false
Scripting name: isAuthenticated
Is tamper proof The information entity has an encrypted message digest that can be
used to check if the message has been tampered with. This requires a
digital signature (sender's digital certificate and encrypted message
digest) associated with the document entity
Default value: false
Scripting name: isTamperProof
The following extended attributes (accessible from the Extended Attributes tab of the process
property sheet) apply to the Binary Collaboration process:
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CHAPTER 16: Electronic Business XML (EbXML) - Deprecated
Name Description
Pattern Optional name of the pattern on which this binary collaboration is based
Scripting name: Pattern
Pre conditions Description of a state external to this collaboration/transaction that is re-
quired before this collaboration/transaction ends
Scripting name: preConditions
Post conditions Description of a state that does not exist before the execution of this col-
laboration/transaction but will exist as a result of the execution of this
collaboration/transaction
Scripting name: postConditions
Begins when Description of an event external to the collaboration/transaction that nor-
mally causes this collaboration/transaction to start
Scripting name: beginsWhen
Ends when Description of an event external to this collaboration/transaction that nor-
mally causes this collaboration/transaction to end
Scripting name: endsWhen
Choreography
The Binary Collaboration is a composite process with a sub-diagram designing the
choreography:
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CHAPTER 16: Electronic Business XML (EbXML) - Deprecated
The following extended attributes (accessible from the Extended Attributes tab of the process
property sheet) apply to the Business Transaction Activity process. The table shows what
attributes are available for ebXML BPSS 1.01 or for ebXML BPSS 1.04 process language:
Name Description
Is concurrent If the business transaction activity is concurrent, then more than one
business transaction can be opened at a time. If the business trans-
action activity is not concurrent, then only one business transaction
activity can be opened at a time
Default value: false
Scripting name: isConcurrent
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CHAPTER 16: Electronic Business XML (EbXML) - Deprecated
Name Description
isSynchronous The Business Transaction is intended to be performed by this ac-
tivity in a synchronous way
Default value: false
Scripting name: isSynchronous
Pre conditions [BPSS 1.04] A description of a state external to this transaction that
is required before this transaction can start
Scripting name: preConditions
Post conditions [BPSS 1.04] A description of a state that does not exist before the
execution of this transaction but will exist as a result of the execu-
tion of this transaction
Scripting name: postConditions
TimeToPerform
The timeToPerform is the duration from the time a Business Transaction Activity initiates the
first Business Transaction until there is a transition back to the initiating Business Transaction
Activity. To define timeToPerform for a Business Transaction Activity you can use the
Duration attribute in the property sheet of the process.
Flow
The flows in the choreography specify transitions between activities. The following extended
attributes (accessible from the Extended Attributes tab of the flow property sheet) apply to the
flow:
Name Description
On initiation Used to specify a nested BusinessTransactionActivity and a second transac-
tion is performed before returning to this transaction to send the response back
to the original requestor
Default value: false
Scripting name: onInitiation
Expression language Specifies the language in which the condition expression has been written
Scripting name: expressionLanguage
Condition guard The condition that guards the transition. This attribute is available only for
model with BPSS 1.04; it can take one of the following values: ProtocolSuc-
cess, AnyProtocolFailure, RequestReceiptFailure, RequestAcceptanceFai-
lure, ResponseReceiptFailure, ResponseAcceptanceFailure, SignalTimeout,
ResponseTimeout, BusinessSuccess, BusinessFailure, Success, Failure. (For
BPSS 1.01, the type of the flow indicates the condition)
Scripting name: conditionGuard
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CHAPTER 16: Electronic Business XML (EbXML) - Deprecated
This sub-diagram uses organization units to design the Business Partner Roles and role
associations to design the Performs link between organization units and processes. The
processes used in this MultiParty Collaboration diagram are Binary Collaboration processes.
We use shortcuts of processes to reuse Binary Collaborations defined under another package
or model.
1. Select Language > Generate ebXML Code to display the ebXML generation dialog
box.
2. Type a destination directory for the generated file in the Directory box.
or
Click the Select a Path tool to the right of the Directory box and browse to select a directory
path.
3. <optional> Select the Check Model check box if you want to verify the validity of your
model before generation.
4. Click the Selection tab and select the objects to include in the generation from the different
sub-tabs.
Note: All objects of the model, including those grouped into packages, are selected and
displayed by default. You use the selection tools to the right of the Select Location list to
modify the selection. The Include Sub-Packages tool allows you to include all objects
located within packages.
5. Click the Options tab and select a value for each required option.
6. Click OK to generate.
A Progress box is displayed. The Result list displays the files that you can edit. The result is
also displayed in the Generation tab of the Output window, located in the bottom part of the
main window.
All ebXML files are generated in the destination directory.
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CHAPTER 16: Electronic Business XML (EbXML) - Deprecated
channel protocol and security, or message packaging. PowerDesigner provides CPA specific
extended attributes to define these technical parameters.
An ebXML Collaboration Protocol Profile defines a business partner's technical capabilities
to engage in electronic business collaborations with other partners by exchanging electronic
messages. An ebXML CPA documents the technical agreement between two (or more)
partners to engage in electronic business collaboration. The CPA can be seen as an intersection
of the collaborative partners CPP (Collaborative Partner Profile).
The Collaborative Partner Agreement captures critical information for communications
between applications and business processes and also records specific technical parameters
for conducting electronic business.
Information agreed by the two parties includes BPSS documents, choreography (Requests,
Responses, ordering), and parameters for exchanging messages: transport (protocol, security,
addresses), document exchange (protocol, security), and message packaging.
A CPA document can be produced in the following ways:
• Based on the same BPSS document instance, two partners negotiate technical and/or
functional details of their collaboration and draw up the result in the form of a CPA
• Based on the CPP of each partner, two partners try to match their technical capabilities at
the various levels of the collaboration protocol and put the matching results in the CPA
document
• One trading partner registers a CPA template document based on the BPSS document and
the technical parameters he can support. In this "almost complete" CPA, some items must
be completed or negotiated. Other items (such as endpoint address) should be provided by
another party
PowerDesigner supports the generation of both BPSS documents and a CPA template. The
generated CPA document cannot be directly registered; you must open it in a text editor and
modify manually the parts that are in commentary.
Since a CPA document is based on a BPSS document, the two documents share some
parameters such as roles, business transaction activities, or business transactions
characteristics (business actions, business documents and messages ordering, times to
acknowledge receipt, times to acknowledge acceptance). However, CPA values often override
BPSS values. PowerDesigner generates both BPSS and CPA documents from the same BPM,
so the shared items have the same value. In order to save BPSS and CPA values separately, you
should:
• Design a BPM with the ebXML BPSS 1.04 process language to generate a BPSS
document
• Generate another BPM from the first one by using the Save As function or the model-to-
model generation function, and use this new model to define CPA-specific values and
generate the CPA document template.
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280 PowerDesigner
CHAPTER 16: Electronic Business XML (EbXML) - Deprecated
The Action identification parameters Sender/ Receiver Action ID and Name are not required.
Indeed PowerDesigner generates a default ID by combining the name of the Requesting or
Responding business activity and a default string.
This default string can be:
• Send or Receive for the business document (Purchase Order Request Action_Send_ID)
• ReceiptAck or AcceptanceAck for business signals (Purchase Order Request
Action_Receive_ReceiptAck_ID)
The Sender/Receiver message packaging ID is the string that represents the reference to one
packaging element in the CPA. PowerDesigner uses this ID to generate a default packaging
template.
The Sender/Receiver channel ID references a detailed delivery channel that should have been
defined by a resource object having <<Delivery Channel>> as stereotype.
Name Description
Eliminates duplicate Possible values are: always, never, or perMessage
Scripting name: MsgCharacteristicsDuplicateElimination
Requests acknowledge- Possible values are: always, never, or perMessage
ment signature
Scripting name: MsgCharacteristicsAckSignatureRequested
Actor Possible values are: urn:oasis:names:tc:ebxml-msg:actor:nextMSH or
urn:oasis:names:tc:ebxml-msg:actor:toPartyMSH
Scripting name: actor
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CHAPTER 16: Electronic Business XML (EbXML) - Deprecated
Name Description
Protocol Specifies the transport protocol used by the Sender/Receiver.
Default value: HTTP
Scripting name: SenderTransport_Protocol, ReceiverTran-
sport_Protocol
Protocol version Specifies the transport protocol version used by the Sender/Receiv-
er.
Default value: 1
Scripting name: SenderTransport_Protocol_Version, Receiver-
Transport_Protocol_Version
Access authentication Specifies the authentication mechanism used by the sender/receiver
transport server.
Default value: basic
Scripting name: SenderTransport_AccessAuthentication, Recei-
verTransport_AccessAuthentication
Endpoint Specifies the receiver transport endpoint (URI address).
Scripting name: ReceiverTransport_Endpoint
Endpoint type Specifies the type of the receiver transport endpoint.
Default value: allPurpose
Scripting name: ReceiverTransport_Endpoint_type
Security protocol Identifies the transport layer security protocol for the sender/re-
ceiver.
Default value: SSL
Scripting name: SenderTransport_TransportClientSecurity_Trans-
portSecurityProtocol, ReceiverTransport_TransportServerSecuri-
ty_TransportSecurityProtocol
Security protocol version Identifies the version of the transport layer security protocol for the
sender/receiver.
Default value: 3
Scripting name: SenderTransport_TransportClientSecurity_Trans-
portSecurityProtocol_Version, ReceiverTransport_TransportSer-
verSecurity_TransportSecurityProtocol_Version
Name Description
Client/Server certificate refer- Specifies a reference to the certificate to be used by the sender/
ence receiver transport security module.
Scripting name: SenderTransport_TransportClientSecurity_Client-
CertificateRef, ReceiverTransport_TransportServerSecurity_Serv-
erCertificateRef
Server/Client security details Specifies a reference to security details applied by the sender/re-
reference ceiver transport server.
Scripting name: SenderTransport_TransportClientSecurity_Serv-
erSecurityDetailsRef, ReceiverTransport_TransportServerSecuri-
ty_ClientSecurityDetailsRef
Unsupported Concepts
Some of the concepts of the ebXML collaboration protocol agreement are not supported.
However you can generate a CPA template that includes for each CPA element, a default XML
code that you can modify to meet your needs.
The non-supported elements are:
• DocExchange
• SecurityDetails
• Packagings
• Certificates
• SimpleParts
• Signature
All DocExchange and Packaging elements referenced by CanSend/CanReceive elements and
deliveryChannel are generated. The generated XML code constitutes a sample code that you
should modify.
For the remaining elements, PowerDesigner generates a sample code brought from the
ebXML CPA-CPP specification.
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For more information on generation options, see Selecting ebXML generation options on
page 276.
286 PowerDesigner
Index
Index
A BPMN 2.0 177
activity 189
activity 189 choreography diagram 178, 179
Add Compensation Handler 248 choreography task 179, 184
Add Default Exception Handler 248 collaboration diagram 180
Add Exception Handler 248 conversation diagram 177
Add Timeout Handler 248 conversation link 193
Analysis (process language) 163 conversation node 179, 183
Assign activity 246 correlation key 191
atomic process (decomposed process) 43 correlation property 191
data 190
B data association 193
event 185
balancing 212
event definition 185
Binary Collaboration
gateway 188
ebXML language 268
item-aware element 192
generate orchestration BPM 169
lane 183
Binary Collaboration (ebXML BPSS) 260
message 192
BPEL4WS
message flow 193
build message 224
participant 183
create environment 218
property 192
generate 231
sequence flow 193
generation 163
task 189
introduction 217
BPMN process language 163
object modeling 219
browse for WSDL on UDDI 103
object properties 229
Business Collaboration (ebXML BPSS) 260
process language 163
Business Document (ebXML BPSS) 260
reverse engineering 232
business process 201
top-level process 225
designed for Sybase WorkSpace Business
workflow 218
Process 239
BPM
variables 240
analysis 3
business process diagram
BPMN 2.0 process language 177
choreography diagram 21
business process diagram 19
data 82
changing 12
data flow diagram 30
check model 143
message format 76
collaborative 3
organization unit 50
create 5
process 30
data flow diagram 207
resource 92
edit definition file 11
resource flow 94
orchestration 3
service interface 106
process hierarchy diagram 15
start 60, 61, 63
process service diagram 123
top-level diagram 20
simulate 130
business process model 3
BPM objects
business scenario 200
convert to SIMUL8 objects 127
288 PowerDesigner
Index
290 PowerDesigner
Index
292 PowerDesigner
Index
294 PowerDesigner
Index
V workflow 218
WS-BPEL process language 163
variable WSDL
check model 155 import 102
code uniqueness 114 reverse engineering 102
create 115 WSDL URL 102
define 114
move 114
name uniqueness 114 X
properties 115
xem 12
Visio
XML model
import 173
attaching to an XSD document 107
XS8
W import file 133
web service import SIMUL8 file 133
imported in BPM 104 SIMUL8 file 130, 133
WorkSpace services 255 XSD data type 240, 241
WS-BPEL XSD document
build message 224 attaching an XML model 107
create environment 218 create 107
generate 231 define 107
generation 163 properties 107
introduction 217
object modeling 219
object properties 226
Y
reverse engineering 232 Yourdon symbols 207
top-level process 225
296 PowerDesigner