Process Editor

The Process editor is used to design and edit the different process kinds (mostly business and User Dialog logic processes). The Process editor consists of two parts:

  • the Editor Area, where the process logic is constructed element for element

  • the Tool Bar, where some tools are located and also all elements, which can be added to the process

  • the Viewport Tool Bar, where some tools for the viewport are located

image2

Accessibility

Axon Ivy Project Tree > double click on a process node inside the project tree (image3)

Tool Bar

The Tool Bar collects all tools that can be helpful for working with the process editor:

Left

Selection Tool:

The default selection tool.

Marquee Tool:

Grabbing tool to select multiple elements.

Tip

The Marquee Tool can also be started if you hold Shift or you can select multiple elements by hold Ctrl.

Undo:

Undo your last changes.

Redo:

Redo your last changes.

Center

Create Element:

You can create many different elements, by select the wished element and add it to a position in the diagram. To keep the overview they are divided into different categories:

  • All Elements

  • Events

  • Gateways

  • Activities

  • Artifacts

  • Connectors

Viewport Tool Bar

Origin View:

Reset process editor to the origin viewport.

Fit to Screen:

Fit the whole diagram (or your current selection) to the process editor screen.

Center:

Center the whole diagram (or your current selection) in the process editor screen.

Zoom level:

Displays the current zoom level of the process editor.

Editor Area

Processes are designed, drawn and modified in the process editor area. Select an element from the palette, then click in the process editor area to place it. Click and drag elements to move them.

Connectors are drawn between two elements by using the Connector Tool in the Tool Bar or clicking on the first element and select the Connector Tool over the Quick Action Menu. You can also add more bend waypoints to a connector or move them, by select the connector and drag the handles. To reconnect a existing connector select the connector and move the target handle to another element.

On each element you have a Quick Action Menu, which provides useful actions to edit the element. If you select multiple elements, you have access to the Multi-Selection Quick Action Menu. And also on connectors and swimlanes you will get a Quick Action Menu.

To scroll in the process editor simply drag the diagram. If you want to Zoom, use your mouse wheel. To undo/redo or copy/paste you can use the Edit menu of the IDE or use the default shortcuts (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + P, etc.).

Quick Action Menu

To open the Quick Action Menu simply select an element in the editor. The available actions can be different based on the element type:

Delete:

Delete the current selection.

Start Process:

Only available on the Start Element

Run the selected process.

Information:

Information about the current selection (problem markers, name, description, PID, conditions, etc.).

Edit:

Opens the inscription mask for the current selected element.

Search callers of this process:

Only available on some start events

Search for all usages of this start event.

Toggle Breakpoint:

To suspend the execution, Process Element Breakpoints can be added to process elements.

Jump:

Only available on elements with an reference to another process

Enters the embedded or referenced process and shows the encapsulated process.

Unwrap embedded subprocess:

Only available on Embedded Subprocess or BPMN Activity Elements

The elements encapsulated by the embedded subprocess are placed into the current process.

Edit Label:

Opens an inline editor for the label of the currently selected element.

Edit Source:

Only available on elements with a referenced view or java class

Jump to the referenced view or java class.

Custom Icon:

Change the icon of the process element. If the icon is already a custom icon the click will reset it to the default icon. Any image of the project can be used as decorator icons.

Select color:

Change color of an element.

Tip

To define new colors or edit existing ones, press the plus or the edit buttons in the color palette. Valid colors are every possible css color.

Add Element:

Directly insert an element to the process workflow. There are three categories of elements:

Tip

Press the key A to get a list of all elements. You can also navigate through the list with the Arrow keys and add an element with the Enter key.

Connect:

Only available if the element has no outgoing connector or supports multiple outgoing connectors

The Connection Tool can connect the current element with another.

Multi-Selection Quick Action Menu

If you select multiple elements, e.g with the Marquee Tool of the Tool Bar, you get access to a Multi-Selection Quick Action Menu. The following actions are available:

Delete:

Delete the current selection.

Wrap to embedded process:

Wrap the current selection into an embedded process.

Auto align:

Aligns the selected elements horizontally and vertically.

Select color:

Change color of an element.

Tip

To define new colors or edit existing ones, press the plus or the edit buttons in the color palette. Valid colors are every possible css color.

Connector Quick Action Menu

To open the Connector Quick Action Menu select a connector. The following actions are available:

Delete:

Delete the current selection.

Information:

Information about the current selection (problem markers, name, description, PID, conditions, etc.).

Straighten:

Change layout of the arrow path to a straight line.

Bend:

Change layout of the arrow path to horizontal and vertical lines with 90° angles.

Edit Label:

Opens an inline editor for the label of the currently selected element.

Select color:

Change color of an element.

Tip

To define new colors or edit existing ones, press the plus or the edit buttons in the color palette. Valid colors are every possible css color.

Reconnect:

Trigger a reconnection of the selected connector, by selecting a new target element.

Tip

You can also trigger a reconnection by pressing the target handle on the selected connector

Swimlane Quick Action Menu

To open the Swimlane Quick Action Menu select a pool or a lane. The following actions are available:

Delete:

Delete the current selection.

Edit Label:

Opens an inline editor for the label of the currently selected element.

Select color:

Change color of an element.

Tip

To define new colors or edit existing ones, press the plus or the edit buttons in the color palette. Valid colors are every possible css color.

Add Lane

Only available on pools

Add a lane to the current pool.

Shortcut Keys

Some of the tools and quick actions are available with shortcut keys. To use them, select the element, then press the associated key.

Jump out

Only active if you’re in an embedded subprocess

Visible in the top left of the Editor Area to jump out of an embedded subprocess to the process that contains the Embedded Sub element.