Creating a BPM using the New model option

Chapter 3 Business Process Model Basics

Creating a BPM using the New model option

When you create a new BPM using the New model option, you have to define the following:

The name of the model. The code of the model, which may be used for script or code generation, is derived from this name according to the model naming conventions. You can modify the name and/or code at any time from the model property sheet by right-clicking the model entry in the Browser and selecting Properties from the contextual menu.
Select a process language
Select a diagram type

Process Language selection

In PowerDesigner, the current process language is a text file in XML format that contains all the syntax and specifications for a target language.

PowerDesigner has a process language file for each supported language. Each process language allows you to design the following corresponding views of a BPM.

Process language	Corresponding BPM view
Analysis	Analysis
BPMN	Analysis (with Web services in mind)
ebXML BPSS	Collaborative
BPEL4WS, Sybase Unwired Orchestrator and SOA, and Sybase WorkSpace Business Process	Executable

You can customize your process language. All process languages are stored in the Process Languages directory in your installation path.

For more information on customizing a process language, see section Understanding the process language editor, in chapter Process Languages Reference Guide in the Advanced User Documentation.

Each process language has the extension .XPL which signifies XML Process Language.

You have to attach the new BPM to a target language, for example Analysis or ebXML BPSS. When you attach a process language to a model, you can choose one of the following options:

Option	Definition
Share	Current process language constantly refers to the process language stored in the Resource Files\Process Languages directory. Any changes made to the process language are shared by all linked BPM
Copy	Current process language is a unique copy of the process language stored in the Resource Files\Process Languages directory. The current process language is independent of the original process language, so modifications made to the process language in the Process Languages directory are not available to the BPM. The copied process language is saved with the BPM and cannot be used without it

Diagram selection

You also have to select the type of the first diagram in the new model. The First Diagram dropdown listbox lets you select one of the following diagrams:

Process hierarchy diagram to identify the atomic business tasks, review the whole process of a business project and focus on redundant or missing tasks
Business process diagram to define the orchestration of processes

The first type of diagram selected remains in memory: the next time you create a new model, the same type of diagram appears in the First Diagram dropdown listbox.

To create a BPM using the New model option:

Select File→New to display the New dialog box.

Select Business Process Model in the list of model types.

Select the New model radio button in the upper right part of the dialog box.

Type a model name in the Model name box.

Select a process language from the Process language dropdown listbox of the General page.

For more information on process language properties, see section Understanding the process language editor, in chapter Process Languages Reference Guide in the Advanced User Documentation.

Select either Share or Copy.

Select the type of the first diagram in the First Diagram dropdown listbox.

<optional> If you want to attach one or more extended model definitions to complement the selected process language, click the Extended Model Definitions tab, and select the extended model definitions of your choice.

For more information on attaching extended model definition to a model, see section Selecting extended model definitions at model creation.

Click OK.

A new BPM opens in the current Workspace.

Select Model→Model Properties.

or

Right-click any empty space in the diagram window and select Properties from the contextual menu.

The model property sheet appears.

Type a model name and model code.

Click OK.

Demo example
An example of a BPM is available in the Examples directory.