Visio import example - BPMN diagram with sub-process

For this example, we will use the shapes on the BPMN stencil to create the Visio diagram. These shapes are mapped to Process Designer objects.

BPMN stencil

The following are among the most frequently used:

In addition to the shapes on the BPMN stencil, you can also use shapes on other Visio stencils to create process diagrams to import into Process Designer. Many of these standard Visio shapes are also mapped to Process Designer objects. You can override the mapping to Process Designer objects to accommodate your diagrams, and you can create custom shapes and map them to Process Designer objects as you see fit.

BPMN example

This example shows a simple product support process that includes two options: (1) get assistance with a problem, or (2) order a part, which has a sub-process to check stock, check price, ship, and so on.

  BPMN diagram

To make this process more substantial, we add data, CustName, PartNum, and Cost (Data shape), associated with the appropriate tasks using Association shapes. Each Data object will convert to a string data field in Process Designer, so it helps to use concise names, and to be consistent in the spelling.

  BPMN diagram with data objects

Save the diagram in Visio XML format (.vdx) for import into Process Designer.

In Process Designer, use Visio Import (File menu) to import the process as a workflow definition. Since all of the shapes used in this diagram are already mapped to Process Designer objects, the import should be relatively smooth, but if errors are detected during the procedure, you should correct them in the Visio diagram and then try again.

The imported process appears as follows in Process Designer.

  Imported Visio diagram

The following tasks remain to make the imported process into a valid workflow definition: