In this lesson, we will use Process Designer to create a diagram of a simplified car loan application process. The workflow will extract data from a loan application document, check the credit of the applicant, evaluate any down payment, evaluate the income level, and then make a decision whether to deny or approve the loan, and at what interest rate.
While the diagram is not a functional workflow, it helps the business user to communicate the important activities in the processes to other interested persons and to the business analyst who will implement the process. In later lessons we will complete the implementation and run the process using fictional data.
To access Diagram mode in Process Designer, you must be a member of PWDiagram access role.
To create the car loan application diagram:
Process Designer has two modes of operation:
In the Properties pane, enter a name for the workflow (CarLoanApplication) and enter a description of the purpose of this workflow. The name will be the default name of the workflow definition file; the description provides information for the IT analyst.
In the Properties pane, enter a name for this activity (CheckCredit) and enter a description of this activity.
![]() |
Create a route from the LaunchStep to the CheckCredit step. Point to the edge of the LaunchStep until the cursor indicates route creation, and then drag to the CheckCredit step and release the mouse button. |
Add a name and description for each step and route as necessary to communicate the intent of the step or route. In the image, the SetRate step is selected. The Description field contains a description of how this step is intended to run. The Instructions field contains the instructions for the user who processes this step.
In the Description for Contact Employer, add information about the types of information you will request, such as length of employment.
(This is not much of a sub-process, but it demonstrates how to create one.)
Using the Create map toolbar button in the Properties pane automatically associates the map to the step.
Enter text in the Message box in the Properties pane. You can associate the annotation with a step or route, if appropriate, by pointing to the edge of the annotation and dragging a line to the step or route.
At this point you can use the following steps to print the workflow map, as well as the descriptions and other properties you entered.