Process language overview

You can use many different process languages in a BPM, these are also called resource languages. For each process language, a standard definition file is included and provides an interface between PowerDesigner and the process language so as to establish the best relationships between them.

Different types of resource files are used to complement or further define standard PowerDesigner features. If you need more information about resource files, see chapter The Resource Editor in the General Features Guide .

Caution
You should never modify the process languages shipped with PowerDesigner. For each original process language you want to modify, you should create a corresponding new process language. To do so, you have to create a new process language from the List of Process Languages, available from the Resources command in the Tools menu, then define a name and select the original file in the Copy From dropdown listbox. This allows you to create a new process language that is identical to the original file apart from the name.

What is a process language?

The process language is a required component when working with Business Process Models (BPM). Each process language has its own process language definition in XML format that contains specifications for a particular process language in a format understandable by a BPM. It provides with the syntax and guidelines for generating objects and implementing stereotypes, scripts and constants for a process language.

Each BPM is by default attached to one process language. When you create a new BPM, you must choose a process language. You can create a new process language or use the process languages delivered with the BPM.

The definition of a process language is available from its property sheet accessible from Tools→Resources→Process Languages. You can select and configure parameters used when defining objects or generating from a BPM.

What does a process language contain?

All process languages have the same structure made up of a number of categories. A category can contain other categories, entries, and values. These entries are parameters recognizable by a BPM.

The values for process language entries vary for each process language. Some entries may not be available if the feature does not apply to the process language.

Process language examples

Even if one particular process language is used to illustrate an example, the mechanism explained in this chapter applies to all process languages supported in a BPM.