How to Refresh the Oracle BPM MDS Repository How to Publish a Project or Project Template to Oracle BPM MDS

Working with Processes and the Process Editor 5-1 5 Working with Processes and the Process Editor This chapter provides information about creating and using business processes in Oracle BPM. It provides a general introduction to business processes and describes the process editor window. It also provides procedural information for creating and using processes. This chapter includes the following sections: ■ Section 5.1, Working with Processes ■ Section 5.2, Introduction to the Process Editor ■ Section 5.3, Working with Flow Objects in Your Process ■ Section 5.4, Documenting Your Process

5.1 Working with Processes

This section provides information about creating and using business processes in Oracle BPM Studio.

5.1.1 Introduction to Business Processes

A business process can be generally defined as a sequence of tasks that after it performed result in a well-defined outcome. Business processes are the core components of process-based business applications created with the Oracle BPM Suite. Although projects are higher level wrappers that contain all the resources of a business application, the processes within the project determine how the application works. This flow is defined by various BPMN flow objects. Business processes are generally created by process analysts who determine the business requirements that must be addressed and define the corresponding process flow.

5.1.1.1 Types of Processes

Oracle BPM enables you to create different types of BPMN processes depending on what work the process must perform. Table 5–1 describes the different types of processes supported by Oracle BPM. 5-2 Modeling and Implementation Guide for Oracle Business Process Management

5.1.2 How to Create a New Business Process

Business processes are created within an Oracle BPM project. You can add one or more processes to your project. To create a new business process 1. Open your project. 2. Expand the node for your project in the BPM Project Navigator.

3. Right-click Processes, then select New then Process.

4. Select the type of process you want to create, then click Next.

See Section 5.1.1.1, Types of Processes for more information on process types. 5. Enter a name and optional description.

6. Click Ok.

The new process is opened in the process editor. New business processes are created with a start and end event connected by a default sequence flow. The type of start and end events depend on the type of process you created.

5.1.3 How to Open a Business Process

After opening an Oracle BPM project, you can open any of the processes it contains. Processes are opened in the process editor window. To open a business process 1. Open your project.

2. Expand the project node in the Project Navigator.

3. Expand Processes.

4. Double-click the process you want to open.

The process opens in the process editor window. See Section 5.2, Introduction to the Process Editor for more information on working with processes in the process editor. Table 5–1 Process Types Process Type Description Synchronous Service Synchronous services are processes that can be invoked from other processes or services synchronously. In a synchronous service, the calling process waits until the process completes before continuing. Asynchronous Service Asynchronous services are processes that can be invoked from other processes or services asynchronously. In an asynchronous service, the calling process does not wait until the process completes before continuing. Manual Process Manual processes are processes that require user interaction. Manual processes begin and end with none start and end events. Reusable Process A process that can be invoked from a call activity. reusable processes can only be invoked using the call activity.