About Process Modeler

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Process Modeler is a tool that provides the tools necessary for modeling business processes. These are the activities in which a business engages in order to create or add some kind of value for its customers.

The Process Modeler tool comprises a graphical modeling tool, together with all the features of the Repository Administrator toolset. More specifically, Process Modeler is also the name given to the graphical process modeling tool itself.

Using Process Modeler you can:

•	define the key processes used by a business

•	model any or all of these processes in detail

•	identify processes that need improvement

•	model new processes before they are implemented

Process Modeler enables both technical and non-technical users to describe business processes quickly and easily, using point-and-click methods to position the various elements of a process on the screen. Popup windows permit the recording of details such as time and cost data for subsequent analysis.

The Process Modeler provides:

•	a diagramming tool for creating and maintaining, in a multi-user repository, definitions of business processes

•	access to the repository, via the Repository Object Navigator, for creating and maintaining definitions of business processes

•	animation features to illustrate process flows dynamically

•	multimedia features to enhance a Process Diagram with icons, sound, images and video clips

•	access to other related Oracle Designer tools


Basic features of Process Modeler

Process Modeler enables you to produce a Process Diagram, a visual representation of a business process. You do this by drawing the process as a diagram on the screen, choosing from a library of predefined symbols. Each symbol on this Process Diagram represents a particular stage of the process you are drawing. Symbols are provided to represent the various types of diagram element, which are:

Element	Description
Organization unit	The business division, department or unit responsible for a particular stage of the process
Process step	A task, activity or function that represents a particular stage of the process
Flow	The movement of data or materials between stages of the process
Store	A collection of information or materials used in the process
Trigger	An event that initiates the process
Outcome	An event that results from the process
These diagram elements and their sub-types allow you a high degree of precision in illustrating your processes.

Different ways of displaying the diagram

Process Modeler provides three ways of viewing a Process Diagram:

•	symbol mode

•	enhanced symbol mode

•	iconic mode

In symbol mode, the various diagram element types are represented by basic shapes, such as rectangles for process steps and lines with arrowheads for flows.

	Click here to see what a Process Diagram looks like in symbol mode. Note the time values displayed for the various elements.
Enhanced symbol mode is the same as symbol mode but also includes specific symbols for the diagram element sub-types.

	Click here to see what the same Process Diagram looks like in enhanced symbol mode. Notice how some of the symbols have changed, indicating that those elements are sub-types. Note also that time values are not displayed in enhanced symbol mode.
In iconic mode, the symbols are replaced by icons.

	Click here to see what the Process Diagram looks like in iconic mode, using some of the predefined icons supplied with the product.
You can choose from a wide range of symbols and icons on a Process Diagram, or even create your own icons to use.

What happens when you model a process

The first stage of modeling a business process with Process Modeler is to create the new process in a container in the repository. The repository is a central location that holds definitions of all Oracle Designer elements. To do this, you start up Process Modeler and create a new diagram.

When you create a new process, Process Modeler automatically creates a new diagram ready for you to start entering details of the process. The new diagram is empty and has no name. When you save the diagram for the first time, you give it a name so that you can view or update it again. You can change the name subsequently.

The container is where you store all the information that you enter on your Process Diagrams. In fact, a Process Diagram is simply a view of a business process that has been defined in the container. When you create a new Process Diagram, you can define elements (process steps, stores, flows and so on) to represent the various stages of the business process, and you can include elements that have already been defined in the container by other users.

Other Oracle Designer tools can use the same container to store details of your business requirements, and to design and generate database applications from those definitions.

Organization units

A business process normally involves the efforts of more than one person, and frequently of more than one operation or enterprise (for example, your own organization, your suppliers and your customers). You can show this on a Process Diagram by defining different organization units, each of which corresponds to one aspect of the process.

Drawing the Process Diagram

When the new Process Diagram is created, the diagram window appears with a single organization unit, named "Unspecified", and a blank area where you draw the Process Diagram. You can use any number of elements to build up the diagram.

You create these elements by means of the drawing toolbar from which you choose an item to place on the diagram. Using the mouse, you select a toolbar button to add the corresponding item, and position the symbol or icon where you want it on the screen.

Using icons on the diagram

Process Modeler provides a large number of predefined icons that you can use instead of the default icons if you choose to display the diagram in iconic mode. You simply choose the icon you want and associate the icon with the diagram element (process step, store or flow) that it illustrates.

You can also define and use your own icons if you like. For example, a manufacturing Process Diagram for the consumer products industry might require an icon of a washing machine for one or more of its process steps. You can draw such an icon using a graphics package, or you can use compatible graphics files from any source.

Animating the diagram

A static diagram can illustrate a business process very well, but a diagram becomes much more effective when you can actually see information and materials moving through the process. Diagram animation is one of the major features provided by Process Modeler. With just one menu selection, you can bring the diagram symbols to life in a dramatic illustration of how the business process works.

For each process step, store or flow, the icon is animated and an associated sound clip can be played (though you can turn the sound off during animation if you like). This continues for a time proportional to the time value specified for that diagram item. Subsequent steps, flows and stores are animated automatically in turn for the appropriate time. The elapsed time since the start of animation is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the screen.

If a process step has more than one flow coming out of it, all the flow branches are animated unless you mark one or more branches to be inactive during animation.

If more than one flow feeds into a process step, you can choose when to start animation of the step. By using logical operators (AND and OR), you can determine that animation starts when either the first or the last flow reaches the step.

During animation, a process step flashes in a different color if it is waiting for previous processes or flows to complete before it can start. This feature is extremely useful in highlighting bottlenecks in a process.

For large diagrams that extend beyond the edges of the Process Modeler window, you can choose to follow the process flow automatically. This feature causes the diagram to scroll automatically so that the element that is currently being animated is always visible.

User-defined commands

Without leaving Process Modeler, you can execute one of up to five previously-defined commands just by selecting a menu option. These can be any commands that your system understands, such as a command to start a particular application, run a report, bring up a Windows utility, or anything else that you can normally do from your workstation.

As soon as you specify a user-defined command, you can run that command from the Tools menu in Process Modeler.


Advanced features of Process Modeler

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Process Modeler incorporates a number of advanced features that enable you to:

•	add multimedia capabilities to a diagram

•	use different display preference sets

•	perform critical path analysis

•	define time and cost data for a process

•	export diagram data to other applications

•	link and embed OLE objects

Adding multimedia capabilities to the diagram

Through the use of multimedia features on an animated diagram, Process Modeler really excels as a communication aid. For each process step, store or flow, Process Modeler can do the following:

•	play a sound

•	display a photographic or other image

•	play a brief video

•	run a program

A sound can be simple, such as the sound of a telephone ringing, or more complex, such as a recorded description of a process or step.

An image might be a scanned photograph of the person who normally performs a particular step, or perhaps a scanned image of a form that you use at that stage of the process.

A video might illustrate something that would be too complicated to describe graphically or verbally, such as an assembly process for manufactured goods.

A program that you call up can be anything available on your system, from the on-screen Windows calculator to a complex spreadsheet or business presentation.

You achieve these effects for a diagram item by associating a sound, image, video or program with that point on the diagram. You can associate any or all of these features with any process step, store or flow.

For each diagram item, the icon is animated, and the associated sound (if any) is played, when the animation reaches that point on the diagram. You can also play sounds, display images or run videos or programs at any time by selecting the diagram item with the mouse and then clicking on the appropriate button on the standard toolbar.

For multimedia features to work correctly on your Process Diagrams, you must ensure that your computer conforms to the system requirements for multimedia.

Using preference sets

Process Modeler allows you to customize a Process Diagram by setting any of a number of graphical preferences. This enables you to give a Process Diagram exactly the appearance you want. For example, you can give all process steps a yellow background, or you can display all annotations with a distinctive text font, and so on.

You can save a collection of preference settings as a preference set. You can then apply a particular preference set to an existing Process Diagram, or to all new Process Diagrams created subsequently. Doing so enables you to give all your Process Diagrams the same "look and feel". Alternatively, you can use a number of different preference sets for different effects.

A preference set can also be useful, for example, if you use a Process Diagram developed by someone else and for which different preferences have been defined. You can apply your own preferences to elements on the active diagram.

Performing critical path analysis

If you have a process with parallel paths, the duration of one of the paths may be longer than that of the others. The path with the longest duration is known as the critical path. You can display the critical path on a Process Diagram in the color of your choice.

Defining time and cost data

You can add time and cost information to a diagram element to record details of expected durations and costs of performing the task represented by that element. Animation time is directly related to the time values entered here.

One of the Process Modeler reports (the Activity Based Costing report) shows time and cost information for individual diagram elements, together with total times and costs for the entire diagram.

You can also export time and cost data to another application, such as a spreadsheet (see below), in order to analyze times, costs or other process data.

Exporting diagram data

You can export data from a Process Diagram in various formats. This enables Process Diagram data to be used in spreadsheets, for example.

Linking and embedding OLE objects

You can add OLE objects to a Process Diagram. Examples of such objects are:

•	another Oracle Designer diagram

•	a Lotus 1-2-3 or Microsoft Excel spreadsheet

•	a Lotus Freelance or Microsoft PowerPoint presentation

•	a Microsoft Project chart

•	a Microsoft Word document

When you add an OLE object in this way, a graphic depicting the contents of the object is overlaid on top of the Process Diagram.

Linking allows you to change the object only from outside the diagram.

Embedding allows you to make changes to the object directly from the diagram.

In both cases, any changes made to the object are immediately reflected in the graphic on your diagram as soon as the changes are saved.


Integrating Process Modeler with other Oracle Designer tools

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The data from a Process Diagram is stored in a container in the repository. If you have other Oracle Designer tools on your system, such as the Dataflow Diagrammer or the Function Hierarchy Diagrammer, you can connect to the same repository using those tools. You can even use one of those tools to display or change data that appears in the Process Diagram if it is more convenient to use another tool at a particular time. However, only Process Modeler allows you to animate a Process Diagram and add multimedia features to it.

The equivalent terms used for Process Diagram elements in other Oracle Designer tools are:

Process Modeler term	Term used in other Oracle Designer tools
base process	frame function
flow	dataflow
organization unit	business unit
outcome	event
process step	business function
root process	root function
store	datastore
trigger	event
Another useful feature of integrated tools is that you can include on a Process Diagram any of the above elements from the current application system, whether those elements were created using Process Modeler or some other tool. For example, you can create business functions using the Function Hierarchy Diagrammer and include one or more of them on a Process Diagram as process steps.


About process modeling

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Process modeling involves developing a diagram to show the activities of your business and the sequence in which they take place. Most businesses are relatively complex, so a model is likely to consist of a number of diagrams, each showing part of a process, with perhaps one diagram showing an overview of the whole process at the top level. These diagrams are known as Process Diagrams.

 Modeling your business processes helps you understand how your organization functions. The simple act of drawing up a Process Diagram can turn out to be quite difficult in practice, as it is often the first time this has been done across the departments in a company. Developing a business process model helps communicate the understanding of the process among the participants.

The model provides a focus for people to agree changes to improve the process. The model could illustrate how efficient the process is, or it could highlight a process as overly complicated, cumbersome, or even redundant. If the process is something new that your business is planning to do, the model can help ensure its efficiency from the start.

 For example, an insurance company might decide that providing quotes for automobile insurance is one of its processes that needs improvement. This may involve the sales department, risk assessors, the accounts department and the claims department all developing the process model together. Doing so will show how the different departments work currently to satisfy the customer.

With an appreciation of the current process, the group can work together to improve it, possibly by eliminating duplicate work, by speeding up the flow of information, or by some other means. In this whole exercise, a common understanding of the process among all the participants is a key factor of success. The process model helps to communicate that understanding.

 Communicating the process efficiently to others is vital. You can design the most efficient methods for achieving your business goals, but if you cannot communicate them to others, particularly to those who are intended to implement them, your efforts will be fruitless.

Good, clear process models are the key to communication. A good model may not help a badly-designed process, but a poor model can obscure all the advantages of a well-designed process.

Deciding which method to use

A number of business improvement methods are popular currently. Business Process Re-engineering (BPR), Business Process Redesign, Total Quality Management (TQM) and Kaizen (the Japanese method of continuous, gradual improvement) are probably the best-known examples at the moment, joining more traditional methods such as Cost-Benefit Analysis and Organizational Change Management.

Whatever method you choose, Process Modeler can help you use it to its best effect.


About business processes

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A business process is an activity, or collection of activities, in which a business engages in order to create or add some kind of value for its customers. The process has well-defined start and end points, each of which is associated with a customer.

Note, business processes that must either be completed successfully or be backed out so that any changes it made up to the point of failure are undone as though they had never happened, are referred to as elementary processes.

It might be helpful to think of business processes as a hierarchical arrangement, with major processes at the top, each composed of a number of sub-processes. A typical business might have between five and nine major business processes, and these can operate across corporate departments or divisions.

Anything that your business does can be a business process. Take the case of a bank that has defined one of its major processes as "Provide a profitable, high-quality banking service to customers". In this case, some of the sub-processes that make up this major process might be "Open an account", "Make a deposit", "Withdraw cash" and so on.

This means that everything your business does can be seen in terms of business processes, from ordering stationery to releasing a major new product line.

Thinking in terms of business processes enables you to create models that help you understand what currently happens. With this understanding, it is easier to propose improvements to these processes, or even to design completely new ones.


How to identify business processes

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The key here is to identify the major business processes that your business performs. These can be derived directly from the statement of the overall business mission. Each of these major processes might be made up of a number of lower-level processes. However, there will be typically between five and ten major processes.

For example, a video rental business might have the following mission statement:

Run a profitable video and computer games rental business

From this can be derived the major business processes, such as:

•	Manage the daily operation of renting products to members of rental stores

•	Market the business at national and regional level

•	Set product purchasing policy and carry out central purchasing

•	Maintain financial accounts

•	Implement the human resource policy

It is important to start with a complete picture of what the business does, even if the picture is not very detailed at the outset. With nothing more than the names of the major processes, you might still be able to focus on the areas that need improvement. If not, you can start breaking down the major processes into lower-level processes. For example, the process called "Manage the daily operation of renting products to members of rental stores" might be further broken down into the following processes:

•	Maintain a list of new and existing members and encourage product rental

•	Maintain the product range, inventory and suppliers list and establish price levels for product rentals

•	Manage the rental of products to members

•	Support the management of products and members of a rental store

These are processes in their own right, and can be modeled as such. Each of these, however, can be further broken down. You can continue to analyze your business in this way until you discover one or more processes that you think might benefit from detailed modeling.

Within Oracle Designer, both the Process Modeler and the Function Hierarchy Diagrammer can help you define and record the procedures and operations in an organization. You may be recording an existing business process or defining one that you intend to implement as a result of a business process re-engineering project. You may equally be describing the structure of a computer system to support a business process. Both tools use the same basic element (known as a process or process step to the Process Modeler and a function or business function to the Function Hierarchy Diagrammer) and can be used to manage hierarchies of these elements.

The Process Modeler represents the dependencies between the elements which makes it particularly useful for classic business process modeling. The function hierarchy diagrammer records the usages of entities and attributes in the performance of a function or process step (the detailed function definition).

Typically, you will use function hierarchies for a system oriented, purely decompositional approach and process models for a more business process oriented approach. However, this is not enforced and you can combine your use of the tools to ensure that the business users understand and can contribute to the models (process models primarily) and that there is sufficient implementation detail for transformation and refinement into software implementations (function hierarchies and definitions).


Deciding which processes to model

When you have identified your business processes, you can decide which of them to model in detail.

 For example, in a manufacturing business, you can model an entire order fulfilment process or you can model the process for procuring the nuts and bolts that go into the product that is ordered. The key is to choose the process or processes that will give you the greatest return for the effort you put into modeling them. These could be major processes, very small sub-processes or anything in between.

The answer might be obvious. You may have processes that are long overdue for improvement. Everyone knows that they are inefficient, your staff dislike them and you are losing money because of them, but nobody has investigated closely enough to know why all this is happening.

Perhaps you have identified your major processes and you suspect that one or two of them could use some improvement. Model these. You will soon find out whether they can be improved or not.

 You might be considering the introduction of a brand new process, perhaps for a new line of business that you are thinking of entering. This is an ideal candidate for modeling, because the model can help you eliminate potential inefficiencies from the start.

If you have not done process modeling before, begin modestly. Take a small-scale process, or perhaps just a small part of a larger process, such as assessing the credit rating of a supplier. As your modeling experience grows, you can become more ambitious in your choice of candidates for process modeling.


Modeling business processes: A quick guide

Processes play a critical role in the way your business works. You might want to model the processes in your business in order to:

•	understand a process

•	fix or improve an existing process

•	redesign a process gradually, aiming for continual improvement

•	design a new and different process

You model a business process using a Process Diagram. The diagram shows the sequence of process steps that create a product or service within your business. Some products and services may be for customers outside your organization. Other processes provide internal benefit and help you manage your business.

The benefits of modeling your business processes include:

•	improved levels of service

•	reduced errors

•	reduced costs

•	faster processing

•	improved capacity

Modeling business processes involves the following stages:

1. Understanding the business environment

2. Identifying business processes

3. Modeling the steps in a business process

4. Analyzing a business process

5. Redesigning a business process

6. Testing a redesigned business process


Understanding the business environment (Process Modeler)
Stage 1: Understanding the business environment

Before you start to model processes, gather background information on how your business operates and what it aims to achieve in the future. You can supplement these business aims and objectives with analysis of critical success factors and key performance indicators.  This is your business direction model.

Another useful input is a current organization chart of the business.

You may be able to locate much of this information by studying existing sources, such as the latest annual report or analyses prepared by management consultants.

There is no real substitute, though, for interviewing the managers who are responsible for the business. Use your interview notes or your recollection of the interviews to understand how the business works and to identify its short- and long-term aims and objectives.

You will need an application system in the repository. You can create a new container to represent the application system using the Repository Object Navigator.

Which tools to use

You will probably find it easiest to use Process Modeler to show the structure of your organization units graphically. You could also use the Repository Object Navigator to define the business units in your organization chart. The organization units will then be available to include into your Process Diagrams.

The Organization Unit toolbar button in Process Modeler creates a new organization unit. If you then click on the Unspecified organization unit, you get a new, free-standing organization unit. If you click on an existing organization unit, you get a lower-level organization unit.

Use these operations to create the organization structure. Enter the name of the organization unit into the dialog box. You can change the organization structure by selecting a new parent for an organization unit. Double-click on an existing organization unit and select a different parent.

Use the Repository Object Navigator to record details of objectives, aims, critical success factors and key performance indicators. You can break your objectives down into lower level objectives. This is also possible with your critical success factors and key performance indicators.

The Matrix Diagrammer makes it easy to show which objectives are affected by which critical success factors. In the intersection cells of the matrix, document your understanding of why the objective may be compromised. If you think of a new objective or success factor while modeling the matrix, just add a new definition to the relevant axis of the matrix. Then do the same for the key performance indicators that measure the achievement of objectives.

What you do

Analyze the documents and interview notes that you have gathered.

Look for:

•	statements of direction

•	business aims

•	business objectives

•	critical success factors, which affect the chances of achieving objectives

•	key performance indicators, which quantify the achievement of business objectives

Link the success factors and performance indicators to the business objectives that they govern. This can add to your understanding of what the business considers to be important. If a business process does not help to achieve a business objective, then why use it? Can you measure the processes against your key performance indicators?

You can also build up a model of the structure of your organization within the container. The organization structure will then be available for use in all of your Process Diagrams.

You have now created a business direction model, which is a good place to start your process modeling. It shows the context for modeling a business process - after all, the purpose of a business process should be to help achieve stated business objectives.

You record your business direction model in the container. The model contains some or all of the following elements:

•	a structure of organization units (also called business units by the Repository Object Navigator)

•	prioritized business objectives and aims

•	critical success factors, which affect the chances of achieving objectives

•	key performance indicators, which quantify the achievement of business objectives

Oracle Designer offers you a range of reports that show the elements in your business direction model. However, you probably want to report your understanding of the business to senior managers in an executive overview. You may, therefore, prefer to export the information from Process Modeler, using the Export Data utility, and use other PC applications to reformat it into a suitable layout.


Identifying business processes
Stage 2: Identifying business processes

You are recommended to start process modeling when you have documented your understanding of the business in a business direction model. When identifying processes, try to show the link to the direction of the business. This will certainly help in deciding whether processes are candidates for business process re-engineering.

It is more important, however, to identify and understand the business processes in your business. A business process is something you do to add value for your customers. Customers may be external to your business, or internal. A good place to start is to identify your customers and what they want, and then ask what your business does to help satisfy those demands.

Do not think, though, that all business processes are of the same importance. A few can be thought of as "key" business processes. These are the ones that the business requires in order to survive; they also help to distinguish the business from its competitors. And these are the processes that must operate effectively for the business to flourish.

Other processes may be "supporting" business processes; their effect is internal to the business. An example of a supporting business process is hiring personnel for your business.

Gather information about both "key" and "supporting" business processes.

Which tools to use

Start by entering details of the process steps in each business process into Process Modeler. If the Function Hierarchy Diagrammer is available to you, you could use it to build up an outline list of the processes that you have decided to model. This is useful if you know what the processes are, but have not yet analyzed the steps.

The Process Step toolbar button in Process Modeler creates a new process step. You have to give the process step a name. You might also need to enter a meaningful short name, although you can set up the system to enter a short name for you.

To make sure you know why the business is carrying out those processes, try to relate them all to the business objectives in your business direction model, using the Matrix Diagrammer.

Whichever tool you use to enter your process steps, the definitions go into the container. You can then access the information using one of the other tools. So, if you enter the steps with Process Modeler, they will be there if you display business functions in the Function Hierarchy Diagrammer or the Matrix Diagrammer. "Process step" and "business function" are two names for the same thing, used at different stages of system development.

What you do

Decide what your top-level business processes are and record them in the container. You can now break them down; model, analyze and understand them; then redesign them to perform better.

There are a number of ways to identify top-level business processes. Here are a few ideas to start you off.

Consider your business from the perspective of one of your customers. What points of contact (also known as "requests") does the customer have? What outcome does the customer want to receive for each request? A business process is simply what happens between the request and the outcome!

Remember that customers do not have to be outside the business - a manager might be the "customer" for the hiring process.

Consider the business direction, business aims and objectives and then ask: "What must we do to achieve those objectives?". This may lead to identification of the key business processes in your business.

Think of your business as part of a chain from raw material to final product (this works better for manufacturing companies than service organizations). Identify things that you do that add value to the chain. Break down what your business does into core processes. The core processes usually follow on from one another. Name each as a process (for example: Purchase raw materials, Store raw materials, Manufacture product, Sell product, Install and service product).

Look for processes in your business that fit into the following categories or "clusters":

•	Innovation (example: designing a new product)

•	Delivery (example: making and marketing the product)

•	Support (example: providing resources to assist with other processes)

You should now have a list of significant business processes that you can define in more detail later.

You might use this list to decide where to focus further analysis effort. Or it could help in deciding where the most business improvement is achievable.

You may also now have a matrix of business objectives against the business processes that you have identified. The matrix may be incomplete at this stage. This can be useful, as it may highlight business processes that do not contribute very well to business objectives. These are candidates for business process re-engineering.

You may also have produced some initial Process Diagrams that show how your business processes work. But beware of the temptation to draw diagrams before you have gathered sufficient background information.


Modeling the steps in a business process
 Stage 3: Modeling the steps in a business process

You will need to decide which business processes to model in detail, and what the priorities are for analyzing and revising processes. This should have emerged as you gathered background information for your business direction model.

An organization chart and understanding of departmental responsibilities will also help.

The key requirement for modeling the process steps in a business process is an understanding of what actually happens within that process. You should analyze which activities are carried out and, if possible, which part of the organization carries out each step.

You may be aiming for continuous improvement in an existing business process, using a TQM (Total Quality Management) approach. The people involved in the process must understand and accept their responsibility to improve the process over time.

Which tools to use

Use Process Modeler to create a Process Diagram for a process that you have already defined in the container, or create a new root process for a diagram. You can "include" into your diagram (that is, copy in) organization units that you have already defined in the container. You can also create new organization units, and show their position within the organization structure.

You create process steps in the swim lanes. This indicates that a particular organization unit carries out a process step. If you do not know which department performs a particular step, then use the special swim lane called "Unspecified". You can examine this assignment of process steps to organization units by using the Matrix Diagrammer, where the matrix is known as a business function to business unit matrix.

As you enter process steps, decide whether each one is a data entry step, a decision point, a report point, or just a plain process step. Add triggers and outcomes to the initial and final steps in the process.

Then indicate the dependencies between process steps as flows. Decide whether they are material flows or data flows. If you know exactly what information is being transmitted in a data flow (and if you have an information model of the entities and attributes used in the business), you could use the Dataflow Diagrammer to add this additional detail to your flows.

The Flow toolbar button creates a flow between processes. You then click on the source (which may be a process step or a store) and the destination. You should give your flow a meaningful name in the dialog box.

Finally, use the Matrix Diagrammer to keep your model of business objectives up to date.

What you do

Identify the major process steps that currently take place in the business process. These steps will flow from an initial trigger to the final outcome. You indicate a first step by showing a trigger against it, and a final step by identifying the outcome from the process. You can have more than one trigger and more than one outcome.

Each process step is an activity within the process. Draw the process steps on your diagram. By convention, the main sequence normally runs from left to right, with the triggers at the left edge of a diagram.

Draw flows to show the sequence of process steps. A flow appears as a line connecting steps, with an arrow to indicate the direction of flow. The flow lines represent materials or information flowing between the steps in your process. A flow of information could be a paper form, or data flowing around a computer system. A further type of flow is known as a temporal flow, which simply means that something has to happen before a particular process step can start. You are recommended to name your flows.

Flows are important to understanding the Process Diagram, because a step cannot start until the material or information contained in the flow is available. You will see this when you use animation to graphically illustrate the sequence of steps in the diagram.

Often, the process step will need information or materials held in a store (a data store could be a filing cabinet, or a computer database). You can draw these stores on your Process Diagram, and show flows going from process steps to stores and from stores to process steps.

Use the swim lanes on your Process Diagram to show which organization units carry out the process steps. You can also position a store in a swim lane to show that it is the responsibility of that organization unit.

If you are aiming for continuous improvement in an existing business process, using a Total Quality Management approach, break down your organization units and process steps until each step is carried out by a single person.

Use multimedia to help your users and colleagues to visualize the steps in the business process.

You can also indicate how each process step helps the business achieve its objectives by updating your existing matrix.

You now have a model of the steps that make up your business process. You can see how a customer triggers the process, and what the outcome or outcomes are for the customer.

Display the diagram in "enhanced symbol" view mode to get a flowchart-type view of the business process.

You can also see what each part of the organization contributes to the process. You get a visual impression of how complex the process is from the number of swim lanes and process steps that the process involves.


Analyzing an existing business process
Stage 4: Analyzing an existing business process

Now you have drawn your Process Diagram, analyze the steps.

The information you need to gather is the cost, time and measures of quality for each step in the business process. You can obtain this by measuring a process step as it is actually being performed. For instance, observe someone taking telephone orders.

You can also select a document and follow it through a business process. For instance, tag a purchase order and follow it as it passes from place to place. Record how much time it takes in each step of the business process. Record also how many people it involves and how often errors occur and need correcting.

It is a good idea to compare the way you do things now with the way other organizations do them. You will need business process models that show how those organizations do things.

Which tools to use

Double-click on process steps in Process Modeler to enter detailed cost, time and quality measures against them. You could also enter this information using the Repository Object Navigator or the Matrix Diagrammer.

Use either Process Modeler or the Repository Object Navigator to record problems experienced with a process, or opportunities for improving the process steps.

You can animate a process in Process Modeler. The animation looks better if you have updated the multimedia properties of your process steps to use appropriate icons.

Select the start point for the animation, click on the Animation button and watch. The process animates a step at a time to help you locate delays, bottlenecks, wasteful steps or other problems.

Run the Critical Path utility in Process Modeler. This highlights the critical path, usually in red, on your diagram.

Use the Export Data utility to extract information from Process Modeler, then use a spreadsheet program to draw graphs of the quantitative process measures. You can highlight problems related to the cost, time or quality of any step in the process. You can learn a lot from a graph that shows exactly where the time is being spent in a business process.

Use the Activity-Based Costing report to highlight the activities in a process that are proportionately the longest, costliest and least productive, and which might therefore be good candidates for improvement.

What you do

You can use your Process Diagram to record the findings from in-depth analysis of a business process. You are more likely to analyze the details of an existing process than those of a new one that you have designed yourself, although animation is a great way to share your vision for a new process.

Analyze your business process model by:

•	inspecting it

•	animating it

•	measuring the cost, time and quality information for each step

•	producing graphs of the measurements you have made

•	comparing with other process models

When interviewing, ask what problems there are with the current process, and how it might be improved.

First, record cost, time and quality information about each step in your process. Process Modeler supports various ways of stating how each process step contributes to the "value chain" of the process.

If you are aiming for continuous improvement in an existing business process, using a Total Quality Management approach, make individual people responsible for collecting time, cost and quality information on the steps that they perform.

Compare your business process model with a model of a comparable process from a different organization. Find differences and try to analyze which is the better way of working.

Use the animation features of Process Modeler to "walk through" the process model. This helps to identify any bottlenecks in the process. During animation, a process step flashes if it is waiting for an input flow before it can start.

Find the critical path through your process, where any delay in processing will cause the whole process to take longer to complete.

You can export data from Process Modeler, and create graphs that illustrate where time is spent in a business process, or which show how costs add up. You can also create graphs that show comparisons between business processes.

Be sure to discuss your observations with colleagues. You could even hold a workshop to analyze your process models.

Analyzing a business process should produce most or all of the following results:

•	A complete model of your business process with measurements of cost, time and quality for each process step

•	A comparison of your business process against the way other organizations do the same thing

•	Graphs showing how the cost, time and quality measurements evolve throughout the business process

•	A list of problems and opportunities for improving a current business process


Redesigning a business process
Stage 5: Redesigning a business process

You need a good understanding of the business direction, the business aims, objectives and key performance indicators. After all, this is usually the reason why you are redesigning a business process.

Stay focused on the business direction. Consider only those design options that you think will help to improve the business in terms of its stated direction.

You should, by now, have a good understanding of your business process, its problems and possible improvements.

You will find a current organization chart useful for understanding which part of the organization carries out which process step.

Try also to gather an understanding of the way other businesses carry out the business processes you are working on. This is not essential, but some research into how others have tackled the problems that you face may be helpful.

Ensure the involvement and commitment of those "stakeholders" in the business who will have to make any changes work in practice. A day-to-day knowledge of business operations provides a practical basis for process design.

Remember, also, that people may be resistant to change, and one good way to help overcome any resistance is to involve from the start those people who will actually make the changes happen.

Which tools to use

Start out using a whiteboard or paper to scribble out ideas very quickly. Before long you will want to start capturing these ideas with modeling tools so that you can easily modify and build on them later.

Use Process Modeler to model and explain alternative designs. You can develop a new model for each of your designs. Illustrate your models with images, sound clips and other multimedia items to make explaining your new design easier.

For effective visualization, create a library of multimedia files that you can call upon quickly, without interrupting your flow of thought. Why not create your own video clips? This makes you act out part of the business process in the way you think it should be. This "role-play" usually leads to more questions and stimulates other new ideas.

Use the Export Data utility to extract information from Process Modeler, then use a spreadsheet program to carry out "what if" analysis on the cost, time and quality data that you have collected. You can show how your design improves on the current business process by using a graph to show the difference between them. You can show the impact of your design in cost, time and quality on a graph.

Use Process Modeler to place process steps in the swim lane of the part of the organization that will carry out the step. You can achieve the same effect in the container with the Matrix Diagrammer. Use Process Modeler or the Repository Object Navigator to add details of the cost, time and quality measures that you expect of the redesigned business process.

What you do

To redesign a business process, you need to innovate! You have to come up with creative new ways of doing things. You need to challenge assumptions, break molds, and consider radical new ways to get better performance from your business. This is the essence of business process re-engineering.

Hold workshops, design sessions and other events to stimulate ideas. These sessions could be small, with people working in pairs, or large with workshops of 15-20 people. Use techniques that generate ideas, such as:

•	brainstorming

•	role-play

•	testing assumptions

Record all the ideas, even if they seem crazy at the time! You can discard ideas later if they are not workable.

Discuss different design ideas. Consider the options, and dismiss impractical or unworkable ones. Decide on a new design for the business process that you will adopt.

Note that ideas may be impractical for many reasons, including:

•	lack of resources

•	lack of skills

•	expense

•	long lead time

•	lack of compatibility with the image or culture of the organization

A really creative team will work around these problems and propose workable designs that will greatly improve performance. As a test, check to make sure that your redesigned business process can handle the same triggers and produce the same outcomes as the current ones. You might also question whether you need all those outcomes!

Look for radical and creative changes as well as obvious quick fixes that can be applied at low cost.

If you are aiming for continuous improvement in an existing business process, using a Total Quality Management approach, ask the question: "Can I make this step more efficient or more effective?"  Aim for improvement in the overall business process, not just individual process steps.

At this stage you may also want to consider how the business will be organized to run the new process. You can develop a new organization structure and map the new business process design onto it.

As the process design becomes clearer, you can detail the time, cost and quality measures that you expect the new process to produce.

Your aim is a model of a business process that will radically improve on current performance.

To help communicate and "sell" your vision of the redesigned process, you will have created a visual illustration of how the redesigned business process will work in practice. This may include video, sound and images related to steps in the business process.

You can now display a cost, time and quality profile of your business process. You may have produced a comparison of these measures against the current business process.

You may have a suggestion for a new organization structure, better able to run the redesigned business process. You should also have a cross-reference of each step in the process to the organization structure.


Testing a redesigned business process
Stage 6: Testing a redesigned business process

You now have a model of the redesigned business process in which you can have confidence.

Once again, a revised model of the organization structure may help. Sometimes the organization structure cannot change. This constraint makes it more difficult to redesign a business process.

Look for good "process thinkers" to validate your design. Some people find it easy to think this way, others do not. Try to find people with skill and experience of process design to test your model. Try to locate reviewers in the business who have the practical experience to detect reasons why a business process may not work.

Which tools to use

Use animation in Process Modeler to run through the business process step by step. Animation and multimedia will help you to explain your intentions to others. This makes it easy to communicate the new business process design more widely.

Process Modeler video clips make the new business process design come alive. Use a video clip to illustrate critical parts of a business process that are hard to describe in words. For example, a critical process step might involve understanding the real needs of a client when a sales consultant takes down an order. A video clip of an interview between consultant and client can show how this could be an improvement over current process.

Use sound and image multimedia files in Process Modeler to show what a step in the business process might be like in practice. A sound clip might show a procedure for answering a telephone call, or how to deal with an angry customer. An image might show an order form as it flows through the business process, or even a picture of a screen from your computer system.

You can use the Oracle Designer design transformers and Generator products to create prototypes that show how an information system can support a process. You can even execute the prototypes from within Process Modeler to illustrate a process step.

What you do

You have now designed a business process that should improve on current performance. You still need to test your design to see if it will work. This is very hard to do, but you can take some practical steps to help identify where the business process might not work well. This will help you improve your design.

The main point in this exercise is to try and break your design. Expose the problems and faults in your design, then correct them.

Run through the redesigned business process step by step. You can just talk through the process steps, or act them out like a stage play. As a guide, work from the business process model that you have built up so far. Expect it to change, though, as you discover better ways to do things.

Imagine what might go wrong at each step. This makes sure that you have thought of all outcomes. Think of things that might cause the process to fail. Think of errors that might occur in the business process. Look for errors, faults and reasons why the new business process will not work, and for ways in which you could improve it.

If you are aiming for continuous improvement in an existing business process, using a Total Quality Management approach, encourage people to experiment with different ways of performing each process step.  Monitor the effect of these "live trials" on the cost, time and quality of the process. The end result of your process modeling is a tested business process design that is fully documented in the container.

Use this model to communicate and explain the new process to other people.

You may also have generated prototypes that show how information systems can support a business process. If users like these prototypes, they can form part of the specification for new information systems.


Using shortcut keys to work with the Systems Modeler diagrammers

Shortcuts for menu options

To		Press		As a shortcut for
Create a new diagram		CTRL+N		File→New
Open an existing diagram		CTRL+O		File→Open
Close the active diagram		CTRL+W		File→Close
Saves the active diagram		CTRL+S		File→Save Diagram
Print the active diagram		CTRL+P		File→Print
Undo the last operation performed		CTRL+Z		Edit→Undo
Remove the selected item or items and place the selection on the Clipboard		CTRL+X		Edit→Cut
Copy the selected item or items to the Clipboard		CTRL+C		Edit→Copy
Place the contents of the Clipboard into the active window		CTRL+V		Edit→Paste
Delete the selected elements from the diagram and from the repository		DELETE		Edit→Delete From Repository
Select all the elements on the diagram		CTRL+A		Edit→Select All
Edit the properties of the selected element		ENTER		Edit→Properties
Zoom in		CTRL++		View→Zoom In
Zoom out		CTRL+ -		View→Zoom Out
Show this shortcut key help topic		CTRL+K		Help→Show Keys
Shortcuts when using windows

To		Press
Make the next window active		CTRL+F6
Edit properties		ENTER
Shortcuts when using dialogs

To		Press
Go to the next control		TAB
Go to the previous control		SHFT+TAB
Go to the next page		CTRL+TAB
Go to the previous page		SHFT+CTRL+TAB


Process Modeler - diagram elements and notation

Related Topics

The appearance of the elements on a diagram can be altered by changing the graphical preferences for either selected elements, or all elements of a specified element type.

On Process Diagrams, the collective name for the organization units listed to the left of the diagram is the organization list. The organization list shows all the organization units involved in the current business process. If you read the diagram horizontally from an organization unit, you can see which diagram elements belonging to that organization unit are involved in the current process.

Organization Units

Process Steps

Flows

Stores

Triggers

Outcomes


About swim lanes

Related Topics

A swim lane shows the boundaries of responsibility between different organization units on a diagram. A process step or a store is placed in a swim lane to show that it is the responsibility of the corresponding organization unit. A flow may occur within a single swim lane, or it may cross one or more swim lane boundaries to go to a different organization unit.


About root processes and base processes

Related Topics

When you create a completely new business process, it is known as a root process. This term refers to a business process that has no parent process in the container in which you are working.

You can define a business process with a completely flat structure, with each element having the same level of importance and appearing on the same Process Diagram.

Alternatively, you can define a business process in a hierarchical manner, in which a process step at the highest level of the hierarchy can be made up of lower-level process steps that are referred to as child processes. On a Process Diagram, both parent and child processes are represented by process steps.

Any business process for which you create a process model, in the form of a Process Diagram, is referred to as a base process. You can create a Process Diagram for a process at any level in a process hierarchy.

The following illustration shows these various types of process:


About process hierarchies

To understand how a process hierarchy works, and how useful it can be to depict one in a Process Diagram, consider a video rental business that has the following mission statement:

Run a profitable video and computer games rental business

From this can be derived the major business processes, which can correspond to the various divisions of the business, for example:

•	Manage the daily operation of renting products to members of rental stores (Operations)

•	Market the business at national and regional level (Marketing)

•	Set product purchasing policy and carry out central purchasing (Purchasing)

•	Maintain financial accounts (Accounts)

•	Implement the human resource policy (Personnel)

Modeling a major business process

Now we can begin to construct a model for each of the major business processes. Let's take the first one, which for simplicity we'll call Operations. We'll model Operations as a root process, since we're not concerned about showing its parent (the mission statement) on a Process Diagram.

The Operations process might consist of a number of individual day-to-day processes, like this:

These individual processes might be as follows:

Process	Description
MEMBERS	Maintain a list of new and existing members and encourage product rental
PRODUCTS	Maintain the product range, inventory and suppliers list and establish price levels for product rentals
RENTALS	Manage the rental of products to members
ADMIN	Support the management of products and members of a rental store
When we created Operations as a root process, we automatically created an empty Process Diagram. On this diagram, we can show the individual processes that make up Operations, like this:

We've used the process description as the short definition of the process step, so that it appears inside the process step symbol. We've also used the process name (MEMBERS, PRODUCTS and so on) as an annotation, so that it also appears on the diagram.

Modeling the individual processes that make up a major process

We can model any or all of these individual processes by means of their own Process Diagrams, linked to the diagram for Operations. Let's choose the RENTALS process.

When we come to analyze it, the RENTALS process turns out to be quite complex:

RENTALS itself consists of a number of different processes, some of which have sub-processes, as follows:

Process	Description	Notes
RENT1	Accept booking of a title for rental and notify member when a copy becomes available	Has three sub-processes (RENT1.1 to RENT1.3)
RENT2	Rent a copy to a current member
RENT3	Return a copy after rental	Has two sub-processes (RENT3.1 and RENT3.2)
RENT4	Identify overdue rentals
The Process Diagram for RENTALS shows all of its component processes, though not the sub-processes, as follows:

Modeling at the detailed level

However, even at this level the Process Diagram doesn't show anything in detail. To model what actually happens, we have to go down at least one more level of detail. Let's model the process named RENT2 (Rent a copy to a current member). It doesn't have any sub-processes, and we can create a detailed Process Diagram for it:

Now we are modeling real people doing things in the real world. We've created organization units that correspond to areas of responsibility, and in their corresponding swim lanes we've created process steps, stores, and flows to show how the process works.

Putting it all together

You would actually go about modeling these various levels of the process hierarchy as follows.

To model the various levels of the process hierarchy:

1.	Create a new (root) process called Operations. This automatically creates a new Process Diagram.

2.	On the diagram, create four process steps, corresponding to MEMBERS, PRODUCTS, RENTALS and ADMIN.

3.	Select the RENTALS process step.

4.	Select File→Open Down.

5.	On the empty diagram that is displayed, create four process steps, corresponding to RENT1 to RENT4.

6.	Select the RENT2 process step.

7.	Select File→Open Down.

8.	On the empty diagram that is displayed, create the various elements, such as "Look for title", "Reserve a copy" and so on.

9.	Save the diagram.


About organization units

Related Topics

When depicting your business processes, you will almost certainly find that a process involves the efforts of more than one group of people. For example, one department of your business might order raw materials from an external supplier, or a process occurring entirely within your own business or organization might involve different departments, workgroups or individuals.

Process Modeler allows you to define these businesses, departments, workgroups and individuals. You show each one on the Process Diagram as a separate organization unit. Each organization unit involved in a process is displayed down the side of the diagram:

You need to create an organization unit (that is, define its details) before it will appear on a diagram. In the same way, you can also define the structure of your business, or of the organizations with which you do business. For example, if you have a business composed of departments, each of which is composed of workgroups, you can create these in a hierarchical fashion. The hierarchy is then shown as indented organization units on the diagram, like this:

Organization units are not restricted to departments that appear on an organization chart. They can represent any type of classification within a business. For example, you might use an organization unit to represent a role, such as Account Manager or Customer Service Representative. Alternatively, an organization unit can be used to model an aspect of the organizations or businesses with which you interact, such as a supplier or regulatory organization.

You do not have to define the organization units immediately. When the diagram is created, there is a default organization unit named "Unspecified". If you want to draw the diagram quickly, you can use this organization unit for all the diagram elements to start with, then define specific organization units and move each diagram element to the appropriate one.


About process steps

Related Topics

A process step represents an individual task within a business process.  Process Diagrams show:

•	process steps and their sub types

•	global process steps

Each business process that your organization undertakes can be broken down into individual process steps, or stages. For example, in a video rental business, you might have a business process named "Rent a video" which could be made up of process steps such as "Look for title", "Create rental", "Print rental details" and so on. You could represent this on a Process Diagram like this:

You join one step to another, or to a store, by creating a flow.

Process steps and their sub types

You can define a business process in a hierarchical manner. Any process step can be made up of sub-steps, down to as many levels as you like. A process step that is composed of lower-level steps in this way is shown on the diagram with an ellipsis (...) in the bottom corner.

Process Modeler allows you to distinguish between certain types of process step.

You may have noticed that some process steps in the example above have different symbols. This is because the symbols represent different sub-types of process step. If you change the diagram display to enhanced symbol mode, the diagram symbols automatically differentiate between certain sub-types of process steps and stores. In regular symbol mode, the process step symbol is used for all types of process step.

The sub-types available for a process step are:

Sub-Type	Description	Enhanced Symbol Mode representation
Data entry	Represents a data entry operation, such as typing data into a computer system
Decision point	Indicates a place in the process flow where there is a choice of possible paths
Report	Represents written or printed output produced as part of a business process
Global process steps

A process diagram can include any process step that is currently defined in the repository and is available to a user through their workarea. A process step that is not a child of the process diagram's root process step is known as a global process step.

To include a global process step onto a process diagram, invoke the context menu for the diagram and select Include > Global Process Step. The dialog shows a list of candidate global process steps. Note that any global process steps already included on the diagram are excluded from the list.


About flows

Related Topics

A flow represents the movement of information between individual diagram elements. In this way you can show on the diagram how information moves from one step of the process to another, or from a step into a store, or from a store to a step. You can also use flows to show the order in which steps are performed:

Tip:	When creating a flow that goes into a store, always create another flow that goes out of the store, otherwise the diagram indicates that the contents of the store are never used.

Flow Sub-Types

Process Modeler allows you to distinguish between certain types of flow. The sub-types available for a flow are:

Sub-Type	Description
Data flow	Represents the flow of information between two elements.
Material flow	Represents the flow of tangible objects between two elements.
Temporal flow	Represents a time-based dependency, indicating that the process step at the destination of the flow cannot begin until a process step at the source of the flow has been completed
Flow-Specific Properties

In all display modes, certain flow-specific properties (significant at source, significant at destination, inactive during animation and OR logic) are indicated by additional symbols on the flow arrow. These properties are defined on the Specific tab of the Edit Flow dialog box, and appear on the diagram as follows:

Flows and Animation

Normally, a flow is activated during process animation. You can choose to deactivate individual flows on a diagram in order to test their effect on the overall process flow.

If more than one flow feeds into a process step, you can choose when to start animation of the step. By using logical operators (AND and OR), you can determine that animation starts when either the first or the last flow reaches the step.

The following diagram shows three flows, each of which has an OR operator. In this case, Step 4 can start as soon as any one of Steps 1 to 3 has completed.

The following diagram shows three flows, with a mixture of AND and OR operators. In this case, Step 4 can start as soon as either Step 1 has completed or both Steps 2 and 3 have completed.

The following diagram shows each of which has an AND operator. In this case, Step 4 must wait to start until Steps 1, 2 and 3 have all completed.

Flow Significance

You can indicate whether you regard this flow as particularly significant in some way. This is most useful in the case of a diagram element that has more than one flow coming into it or out of it (or both). You might, for example, want to mark one of these flows as significant if it is more frequently used than the others. You can mark a flow as being significant at its source, at its destination, or both.

Displaying Flow-Related Information

You can choose whether to show or hide the name of the flow, the time value defined for it, and (for displaying the diagram in iconic mode) the icon associated with it.

Conditional Flows

Process Modeler allows you to specify details for conditional flows, that is, flows that are followed only if certain conditions are true.

You can define the rule according to which the process follows a particular flow rather than another flow from the same diagram element. You can choose whether to show the text of the rule on the diagram itself.

For example, your diagram might include a decision point that tests whether the cost of a particular operation is greater than a certain amount. The decision point could then have two flows attached, for example one with a rule labeled "Cost >= 5000" and one with a rule labeled "Cost < 5000". You could then construct different process paths to illustrate what happens in either case.

You can also define the flow percentage, that is, the number of times (as a percentage of the total) that the process follows a particular path as opposed to another.


About stores

Related Topics

A store on a Process Diagram represents a collection of information or materials. For example, a store can represent a warehouse containing finished goods inventory, a filing cabinet containing proofs of delivery, or a database containing client details.

A store normally has one or more flows going into it, and should normally have at least one flow coming out of it, otherwise the diagram appears to indicate that the contents of the store are never used. An exception to this might be a store that is used at the end of a process, such as a process that ends with goods being delivered to a warehouse.

You can have a flow going into or out of a store from a process step, but not from another store or any other diagram element.

Store Sub-Types

Process Modeler allows you to distinguish between certain types of store. The sub-types available for a store are:

Sub-Type	Description	Enhanced Symbol Mode representation
Data store	Represents a store of data, such as a computer system
Material store	Represents a store of materials, such as a warehouse
If you use sub-types for flows and stores, these should be consistent. For example, a material store should have a material flow going into it, not a data flow.

Store Volume

You can specify volume details for the contents of the store. Process Modeler allows you to enter maximum, average and minimum values for the store contents.


About triggers for process steps

Related Topics

A trigger is an event that initiates the business process that a Process Diagram illustrates. For example, the following diagram for a video rental store illustrates a process named "Rent a video":

In this case the trigger for the whole process might be when a customer enters the store.

A Process Diagram can have more than one trigger (although a diagram does not need to have any). For example, on a Process Diagram illustrating an order fulfilment process, there might be one trigger labeled "Receive order by mail" and another labeled "Take order over telephone". In this way, you can design a Process Diagram to cover all the possible origins of a process.

You can apply a trigger only to a process step. Only one trigger can be shown on the diagram for each process step.

Types of Trigger

Process Modeler allows you to distinguish between different types of trigger, as follows:

Type	Process initiated by
System	Something in the business reaching a certain state, such as stock reaching a particular level.
Time	(default) A particular date or time being reached, such as month-end or year-end.
Other	Some other factor, such as something happening outside the control of the business but significant to the process.
The type name is displayed on the diagram if the display mode is Symbol or Enhanced Symbol, but not if it is Iconic. Where the type is Time, the frequency is displayed rather than the type name.

Trigger frequency

You can specify the frequency with which the trigger occurs, for example, once a day, ten times a year, and so on. This value appears on the diagram if the display mode is Symbol or Enhanced Symbol, but not if it is Iconic.


About outcomes

Related Topics

An outcome is an event that results from the business process that a Process Diagram illustrates. For example, in the following diagram for a video rental store, the outcome shows the satisfactory completion of the video rental process:

A Process Diagram can have more than one outcome (although a diagram does not need to have any). For example, on a Process Diagram illustrating an order fulfilment process, there might be one outcome labeled "Order accepted" and another labeled "Order rejected". In this way, you can design a Process Diagram to cover all possible outcomes of a process.

You can apply an outcome only to a process step. Only one outcome can be shown on the diagram for each process step.

Types of outcome

Process Modeler allows you to distinguish between different types of outcome, as follows:

Type	Process results in
System	Something in the business reaching a certain state, such as stock reaching a particular level.
Time	(default) A particular date or time being reached, such as month-end or year-end.
Other	Some other factor, such as something happening outside the control of the business but significant to the process.
The type name is displayed on the diagram if the display mode is Symbol or Enhanced Symbol, but not if it is Iconic. Where the type is Time, the frequency is displayed rather than the type name.

Outcome frequency

You can specify the frequency with which the outcome occurs, for example, once a day, ten times a year, and so on. This value appears on the diagram if the display mode is Symbol or Enhanced Symbol, but not if it is Iconic.


Symbols and icons on a Process Diagram

Related Topics

The symbols and icons for the various diagram element types are listed below.

The icons shown are the factory defaults for the different element types. You can choose a different default icon for an element type, and you can associate any icon you wish with an individual diagram element.

Process Steps
		Process step
		Data entry (enhanced symbol mode)
		Decision point (enhanced symbol mode)
		Report (enhanced symbol mode)
Flows
		Flow
Stores
		Store
		Data store (enhanced symbol mode)
Events
		Trigger
		Outcome


Create <element type> Dialog Box

Related Topics

Allows you quickly to specify the basic properties of a new business process, organization unit, process step, store or flow.

Note:	A new business process is treated as a process step.

You can edit the diagram element later, if you want to change these properties or specify additional ones.

The name or short name of each element in a container must be unique. Otherwise a “uniqueness violation” error message appears. (This might happen, for example, if you set Process Modeler to generate short names automatically and it generates a short name that is not unique in this diagram.)

Name (organization unit, store, flow)
Short Definition (process step)

The name of the diagram element you are creating. For an organization unit, process step or store, this text appears in the symbol on the diagram. For a flow, you can add specific information about the flow to determine whether the flow name is displayed or hidden on the diagram.

You must supply a name for a business process, organization unit, process step and store. You can omit the name for a flow, except where you create more than one flow between the same two elements. In this case you must assign different names to the flows, although one name can be blank.

Names for organization units and stores are displayed in uppercase characters.

Short Name (organization unit)
Label (process step)
ID (store)

For a business process, organization unit, process step or store, an abbreviated name (up to 10 characters) for the item you are creating.

You can set Process Modeler to generate short names automatically. If automatic short name generation is not active, you must supply the short name for each organization unit, process step and store that you create.

If you are creating a flow, this field does not appear.

Type

The type of element you are creating (organization unit, process step, store or flow). This field shows the main element type that you selected from the drawing toolbar.

If you are creating a process step, store or flow, you can change the main element type to one of the available element sub-types. For example, you could change a process step to a data entry, decision point or report. Alternatively, you can edit the type later if desired.

You cannot change the type for an organization unit.

Total Time

The total time taken to complete the task represented by this element. You can leave a value of 0 for now and add the time information later.

The time units displayed initially are those specified when setting the default time units. You can use the list to choose a different time unit for this particular element.

This field is used only with process steps, stores and flows.

Total Cost

The total cost per time unit of the task represented by this element. You can leave a value of 0 for now and add the cost information later.

The time units are initially the default time units. You can use the list to choose different time units for cost calculations involving this particular element.


Edit Dialog Box

Related Topics

Allows you to view or edit the properties of a particular process step, store or flow. The various tabs of the dialog box are:

Main

Specific

Resources

Multimedia

Text


Edit - Specific

Allows you to view or edit various properties specific to the element type:

Process step-specific properties

Flow-specific properties

Store-specific properties


Edit - Specific (Flow)

Allows you to record various details of the flow, such as whether the flow is activated during animation, how parallel flows are handled and whether any text is displayed for the flow.

Name

The name of the flow. This text appears on the diagram if you select Name in the Display group. The default text is "No Name".

Type

The element type or sub-type of the item you are updating.

You can change this field to any of the available values shown in the list. If this field currently shows Flow, you can change it to one of its sub-types: data flow, material flow or temporal flow.

If the field currently shows a sub-type, you can change it to another of the available sub-types, or back to Flow.

Note:	If you change this field to Data Flow, the Main tab of the dialog box becomes inactive, as time and cost data is not relevant for a data flow. If you subsequently edit the flow, the Specific tab is the first one displayed.

Activate During Animation

Specifies whether this flow is activated during process animation. You can use this feature to test the effect of a particular flow where a diagram element has more than one flow attached to it. Checking this box for the current flow, and unchecking it for the other flows, shows the effect of just the current flow at this point during animation.

Logic option group

This group of option buttons specifies what happens if the process step or store at the destination of this flow has more than one flow coming into it.

Selecting the OR option button specifies that the destination is activated as soon as either this flow or another flow (or group of flows that are ANDed together) is completed.

Selecting the AND option button specifies that the destination is activated only when all the flows marked AND are completed.

Significant group

This group of boxes allows you to indicate whether you regard this flow as particularly significant in some way. This is most useful in the case of a diagram element that has more than one flow coming into it or out of it (or both). You might, for example, want to mark one of these flows as significant if it is more frequently used than the others.

Consider the case of a process step that has three flows coming into it, but one of the flows is more significant than the other two. You can mark the more significant flow as significant at destination.

Similarly, if a process step has two flows coming out of it, but one of the flows is more significant than the other, you can mark the more significant flow as significant at source.

At Source

Specifies that this flow is more significant at its source than flows for which this option is not set.

At Destination

Specifies that this flow is more significant at its destination than flows for which this option is not set.

Display group

This group of boxes determines what associated text, if any, is to be displayed on the diagram for this flow.

Name

Specifies whether the flow name is to appear on the diagram.

Time + Units

Specifies whether the diagram displays the total time details for this flow. These details are the contents of the Total fields in the Time group on the Edit - Main tab.

Icon (Iconic Mode)

Specifies whether the icon associated with this flow is to be displayed on the diagram when the display is in iconic mode. If you uncheck this box, the flow is displayed as a continuous line, as in symbol or enhanced symbol modes.

Rule group

This group of fields allows you to specify details for conditional flows. The first of these fields allows you to indicate the rule according to which the process follows this flow rather than another from the same diagram element.

As an example, your diagram might include a decision point that tests whether the cost of a particular operation is greater than a certain amount. The decision point could then have two flows attached, for example one with a rule labeled "Cost >= 5000" and one with a rule labeled "Cost < 5000". You could then construct different process paths to illustrate what happens in either case.

Flow Percentage

The number of times, as a percentage of the total, that the process follows this path as opposed to another.

For example, if your diagram includes a decision point with two flows attached and one flow is followed three times as often as the other, you might enter a value of 75 for the more frequently used flow and 25 for the other one.

Display

Specifies whether the text entered in the Rule field is displayed on the diagram.


Edit - Specific (Process Step)

Allows you to view or edit properties specific to a process step.

Short Definition

The name of the process step. This text appears on the diagram, and you can change the text here.

Type

The element type or sub-type of the item you are updating.

You can change this field to any of the available values shown in the list. If this field currently shows Process Step, you can change it to one of its sub-types: data entry, decision point or report.

If the field currently shows a sub-type, you can change it to another of the available sub-types, or back to Process Step.

Global Process Step

Indicates whether this is a global process step, that is, a copy of one that is available to all users. When checked, you cannot update the properties here, as only the original can be updated.

Label

An abbreviated name (up to 10 characters) for the process step.

To be automated

Indicates whether the process step is to be an automated (rather than manual) process step. This property is for information purposes only.


Edit - Specific (Store)

Allows you to record details about the maximum, average and minimum quantities for the contents of the store.

Name

The name of the store. You can change the name here if you wish. This text appears on the diagram.

Type

The element type or sub-type of the item you are updating.

You can change this field to any of the available values shown in the list. If this field currently shows Store, you can change it to one of its sub-types: data store or material store.

If the field currently shows a sub-type, you can change it to another of the available sub-types, or back to Store.

Note:	If you change this field to Data Store, the Main tab of the dialog box becomes inactive, as time and cost data is not relevant for a data store. If you subsequently edit the store, the Specific tab is the first one displayed.

ID

An abbreviated name (up to 10 characters) for the store.

Volume group

This group of fields specifies maximum, average and minimum quantities for the contents of the store. Values can be from 0 to 32767.


Edit - Main

Related Topics

Allows you to record the following details for the task or function represented by the current diagram element:

•	duration

•	cost

•	frequency of occurrence in the business process

You can also display details of the following for the diagram element:

•	organization unit

•	critical path

Time group

This group of fields allows you to specify the duration of the task or function represented by this diagram element.

Prior Delay

The delay time, if any, that occurs before work begins on the task or function that this diagram element represents. For example, the length of time a piece of paper remains in an "In" tray before being worked on might be interpreted as prior delay.

If you account for delay time when calculating task durations, it is good practice to use either prior delay or post delay, but not both. Thus if you specify a value here, the value of Post Delay should be 0.

Work

The time taken to do the work for this task or function.

Quality Check

The time taken in checking the quality of the work for this task or function. For example, time taken in quality checks for manufactured goods might be entered here.

Post Delay

The delay time, if any, that occurs after the work and quality checking are finished on this task or function. For example, the length of time a piece of paper remains in an "Out" tray after work and quality checking on it are complete might be interpreted as post delay.

If you account for delay time when calculating task durations, it is good practice to use either prior delay or post delay, but not both. Thus if you specify a value here, the value of Prior Delay should be 0.

Total

The total duration of this task or function.

The Total field is updated automatically as you enter values in the Time group of fields (Prior Delay, Work, Quality Check and Post Delay). You can just enter a value directly in the Total field if you do not want to use time breakdown. However, if you subsequently enter a value in any of the time breakdown fields, the contents of the Total field are overwritten.

Measured Time group

Allows you to specify up to two comparison times for this task or function. For example, you could record a shortest and a longest expected time. The times and their significance are entirely user-defined, and have no effect on other times.

Critical Path Times group

This group of fields shows the estimated start and finish date and time for this process step, store or flow. These values are calculated by Process Modeler from the critical path start date and time, and the duration specified in the Total field in the Time group.

Start

The estimated start date and time for this process step, store or flow.

Finish

The estimated finish date and time for this process step, store or flow.

Cost group

This group of fields allows you to specify the costs associated with the task or function represented by the current diagram element.

The Total field is updated automatically as you enter values in the Person and Overhead fields, or you can enter a value directly in the Total field. The value of the Additional field is not included in the Total calculation, because you might want to specify a unit cost for it rather than a cost per time unit.

Person

The cost of using the person or persons involved in performing this task or function.

Overhead

The cost of any overheads (for example, heating or lighting) involved in performing this task or function.

Total

The total costs involved in performing this task or function.

Additional

Any additional costs involved in performing this task or function besides those for Person and Overhead. For example, you could use this field to show the cost of materials per unit, even though other costs are calculated per time unit.

Organization Unit group

The first field contains the name of the organization unit, if any, associated with this task or function.

% Of Time Spent

Allows you to indicate, for reporting purposes, the percentage of total working time spent on this task or function by the organization unit indicated.

Frequency group

The first two fields allow you to specify, for reporting purposes, the frequency with which this task or function occurs in the current process.

On Critical Path

Indicates whether this task or function is currently on the critical path of this process.


Edit - Multimedia

Related Topics

Allows you to associate an icon, sound, image, video, program or annotation with the current diagram element.

The message "Not saving multimedia to database" is displayed if the multimedia file associations are not currently being stored in the repository. To begin storing these associations, select Options→Customize→Graphics to display the Customize - Graphics dialog box, then check the Use Multimedia on Database .

Animation group

This group of fields enables you to associate an icon or sound with this diagram element. When you subsequently start diagram animation, the icon will appear in animated form and the sound will play.

Icon

The filename of the icon you want to associate with this diagram element. Icons are visible only if you change the diagram display to icons or if you start animation.

If you just want to associate an icon with this element, choose one from the list of those available. The list shows the icon files available in the default directory at the location specified for icon files.

If you want to change details of the icon, preview it, or use an icon from a directory other than the default, choose the Select button next to this field.

Sound

The filename of the sound you want to associate with this diagram element.

If you just want to associate a sound with this element, choose one from the list of those available. The list shows the sound files available in the default directory at the location specified for sound files.

If you want to change details of the sound, listen to it, or use a sound from a directory other than the default, choose the Select button next to this field.

Example group

This group of fields enables you to associate an image or video with this diagram element. You can subsequently call up the image, video or both on the diagram as examples to illustrate the item.

Image

The filename of an image that you want to associate with this diagram element.

If you just want to associate an image, choose one from the list of those available. The list shows the image files available in the directory at the location specified for image files.

If you want to change details of the image, preview it, or use an image from a different directory, choose the Select button next to this field.

Video

The filename of a video that you want to associate with this diagram element.

If you just want to associate a video, choose one from the list of those available. The list shows the video files available in the directory at the location specified for video files.

If you want to change details of the video, preview it, or use a video from a different directory, choose the Select button next to this field.

Execution String group

The field enables you to associate a program with this diagram element. Subsequently you can run the associated program directly from the diagram. You can specify any program to which you have access. For example, entering calc would allow you to run the Windows Calculator tool from this element on the diagram.

Browse button

Displays the Open dialog box, allowing you to search for and select an executable file containing a program to associate with the element.

Annotation group

This group of fields allows you to create or edit an annotation for the element.

Type

The annotation type. Annotations can be text, graphics, or text and graphics combined.

Text

The text of the annotation. If the annotation type is Text or Text & Graphic, the text appears on the diagram. If the annotation type is Graphic, this field is not used.

Graphic File

The filename of a graphic for use as an annotation. You can specify a .BMP or .DIB file. This field is available only if the annotation type is Graphic or Text & Graphic.

Browse button

Displays the Open dialog box, allowing you to search for and select a graphic file to use as an annotation.


Edit - Text

Allows you to enter:

•	a description of the element

•	general notes about the element

•	details of any problems that might be associated with this element

•	the level of value added by the task or function that this element represents

For process steps only, you can also enter:

•	notes that help application developers to identify entities, attributes and other modeling data relevant to this element

Text Type dropdown list

Identifies the type of text that is being specified for the element.

Description

A description of this diagram element.

Notes

Any general notes you want to make about this element.

Value Chain Analysis

Notes about the value chain for this diagram element. The term "value chain" refers to the incremental value added by each successive stage of the business process.

Competitive Index Notes

(For process steps only) Notes about how well, in relation to your competitors, you think your business performs the type of task or function that this diagram element represents. You can also enter notes about the index value, such as the reasons behind it, suggestions for improvement and so on.

Problem Areas

Details of any problems that might be encountered when using this element.

Simple Rules

Notes about the rules followed by whatever this element represents. For example, you can record the underlying reasons for the choices offered by a decision point on the Process Diagram.

Entity Notes

(For process steps only) You can use this field to enter modeling-related notes about this element. This helps application developers to identify entities, attributes and other modeling data relevant to this element.

Text Editor button

Invokes a text editor for you to enter text.

HTML Editor button

Invokes an HTML editor for you to enter text.


Edit - Resources

Related Topics

Allows you to record details of the following in relation to the task or function that this diagram element represents:

•	resources required

•	quality factor

Resources group

This group of fields specifies resources required for the task or function that this diagram element represents. Each of the four fields can specify either a single resource or a quantity of similar resources, for example: a fax machine, 15 aircraft engines, 100 tonnes of potatoes.

Yield (Quality Percentage)

The quality factor for this task or function as performed by your business. For example, assume that this diagram element is a process step named "Manufacture wheel bearing" and, on average, 9 out of 10 wheel bearings that leave the production line are of acceptable quality. The yield in this case would be 90.


Include <element type> Dialog Box

Related Topics

Allows you to include in the current diagram any elements of a chosen type that:

•	have been cut from a Process Diagram

•	exist in the container but do not appear on the diagram

The chosen type is the one that you select on the menu to display this dialog box, for example, Process Step or Flow.

Using this dialog box, you can restore to the display any diagram elements that you have cut from the diagram. You can also display elements from the container that were created by yourself or by others as part of a different diagram. Such elements might have been created with Process Modeler, or with another Oracle Designer tool, such as the Dataflow Diagrammer or the Function Hierarchy Diagrammer.

Triggers or outcomes that have been cut from a Process Diagram are shown in the list together with the name of the process step to which they were attached. Including this type of element will reattach the trigger or outcome to the process step. However, if the process step has been cut from the diagram as well, the attached trigger or outcome does not appear in the dialog box list until you restore the process step to the diagram.

Item list

Lists the elements of the chosen type that you can select for inclusion on the current diagram.

Include Flows (displayed for global process steps, process steps and stores only)

Allows you to include any attached flows if the element or elements you select are process steps or stores.

Note:	The element at the other end of the flow must be visible on the diagram for the flow to be included.

Include Short labels (displayed for global process steps only)

When checked, additionally displays global process steps labels in the list.

Show Unnamed Flows (displayed for flows only)

If you chose Flow as the element type, allows you to specify how the list is to identify any flows that have been created without a name. You can choose to list these flows either by the name of their source (from element) or by the name of their destination (to element).

Only Elementary Processes (displayed for global process steps and process steps)

Identifies whether only elementary processes are shown in the list box. An elementary process is one that, if started must be completed. It cannot exist in an intermediate stage and cannot be further decomposed. The flag that determines whether an element is elementary can be set in the Repository Object Navigator.

Select All

Selects all the items in the list.


Multimedia Select Dialog Box

Related Topics

Displays the names of the multimedia files for the selected type that are available under the defined default path.

Default Path

The default directory for this type of multimedia file. You can define this directory when you specify the location of multimedia files.

Files group

This group of fields displays details about the multimedia files of the selected type, and enables you to set sizing and scaling factors for icon and image files.

The dropdown list shows the files in the default directory specified for this type of multimedia file. Clicking on a filename in this list displays the icon or image, or plays the sound or video, as appropriate. For image or video files, you must first specify a program for previewing these files.

Rescan button

Updates the file list. If you add or delete a multimedia file in the directory shown by Default Path while this dialog box is displayed, the list does not show the change until you select this button. The file extension must be correct for this type of multimedia file, otherwise the file does not appear in the list. The correct extensions are:

Type	Extension

Icon	.BMP or .DIB

Sound	.WAV

Image	.GIF

Video	.AVI

Preview Area

For icon files, shows what a selected icon looks like at actual size. Clicking on the name of an icon file in the Files list displays the icon here. A standard 32 x 32 pixel icon will occupy only the top corner of the preview area. If you have a large icon that extends beyond the preview area boundary, use the Full Size button to see the complete icon.

The preview area is not used for sound, image or video files.

OK button

Saves any changes you may have made and closes the dialog box.

Cancel button

Cancels the dialog box without saving any changes you may have made.

Full Size button

For icon files, shows what a selected icon looks like, with the display scaled to fit the preview area. You highlight the name of an icon file in the Files list and then select this button. This feature is particularly useful if you have a large icon that would otherwise extend beyond the preview area boundary.

This button is not used for sound, image or video files.

Edit/New button

Enables you to edit an existing multimedia item, or to create a new one of your own. You must first specify an editing program, otherwise this button has no effect.

Help button

Displays help information about the dialog box.


Named Element Preference Set Dialog Box

Allows you to save the current diagram preferences in a file as a preference set, which you can subsequently apply to a diagram.

Note:	Preference set names must start with BP, and have a .CFG file extension, e.g., BPNEW.CFG.

Selecting the name of an existing preference set when saving will overwrite that set with the current preferences.

Entering a new name when saving will create a new preference set file in the Oracle home directory.

Selecting the name of an existing preference set when restoring will apply that set to the active diagram.


Organization Unit - Specific Dialog Box

Related Topics

Allows you to edit the details of the current organization unit.

Name

The name of the organization unit as it appears on the diagram. You can change the name here.

Short Name

An abbreviated name (up to 10 characters) for the organization unit.

Location

The geographical location of the organization unit. You can use this field, for example, to indicate the business office or site where the organization unit resides.

Parent

Identifies the parent of the current organization unit. You can choose a new parent from the list

Note: If ****** is displayed, the parent of the organization unit is not visible to this workarea and cannot be changed.

Head Count

The number of people in this organization unit. If the organization unit represents an individual, you can use this field to specify the number of people who report to that individual.

Display Route To Parent

Specifies whether you want the diagram to show the parent of the current organization unit, if the current one is a lower-level organization unit.

Role

Indicates whether details have been defined of roles within the organization, in terms of responsibilities, cost rates and skills. Checking this box activates the Role button, which displays the Organization - Role dialog box where you can define these details.


Organization - Role Dialog Box

Related Topics

Specifies details of the functions performed by the current organization unit. If the organization unit represents an individual, you can specify details about that person's role or roles within their workgroup, department or wider organization unit.

Name

The name of the current organization unit. You cannot change this field here.

Person

Enables you to define a contact name, for example, the name of the person fulfilling this role.

Cost Rate

The cost rate for this organization unit. This can be the cost of running the unit, or an individual's rate of pay, or whatever you would like to record for the cost rate.

The first field contains the amount. The second field defines the time unit for this amount. You can choose from the list to indicate the cost amount per second, minute, hour, day, week, month, quarter, half-year, year or unit.

Responsibilities

The main duties of the organization unit. If the unit represents an individual, you can use this field to specify details of the duties that this person performs.

Skills

Defines any relevant skills possessed by the organization unit. Typically you would use this if the organizaton unit represents an individual. You can then define skills this person has that are related to the business process you are depicting on the diagram.


Create/Edit Outcome Dialog Box
Create Outcome Dialog Box

Related Topics

Allows you to create an outcome.

Name

The name of the outcome. This text is displayed on the diagram.

Type

The type of outcome:

Type	Result of Process
System	Something in the business reaching a certain state, such as stock reaching a particular level.
Time	(default) A specific date and time being reached, such as month-end or year-end.
Other	Some other factor, such as something happening outside the control of the business but significant to the process.
The type name is displayed on the diagram if the display mode is Symbol or Enhanced Symbol, but not if it is Iconic. Where the type is Time, the frequency is displayed rather than the type name.

Frequency

The frequency with which this outcome occurs. Thus you can specify that this particular event occurs once a day, or ten times a year, and so on.


Create/Edit Trigger Dialog Box
Create Trigger Dialog Box

Related Topics

Allows you to create a trigger.

Name

The name of the trigger. This text appears on the diagram.

Type

The type of trigger:

Type	Process Initiated By
System	Something in the business reaching a certain state, such as stock reaching a particular level.
Time	(default) A specific date and time being reached, such as month-end or year-end.
Other	Some other factor, such as something happening outside the control of the business but significant to the process.
The type name is displayed on the diagram if the display mode is Symbol or Enhanced Symbol, but not if it is Iconic. Where the type is Time, the frequency is displayed rather than the type name.

Frequency

The frequency with which this trigger occurs. Thus you can specify that this particular event occurs once a day, or ten times a year, and so on.


Edit Trigger/Outcome - Specific Dialog Box
Edit - Specific (Trigger/Outcome)

Related Topics

Allows you to edit the properties of a  trigger or outcome.

Name

The name of the trigger/outcome. This text appears on the diagram.

Type

The type of trigger/outcome:

Type	Process Initiated By
System	Something in the business reaching a certain state, such as stock reaching a particular level.
Time	(default) A specific date and time being reached, such as month-end or year-end.
Other	Some other factor, such as something happening outside the control of the business but significant to the process.
The type name is displayed on the diagram if the display mode is Symbol or Enhanced Symbol, but not if it is Iconic. Where the type is Time, the frequency is displayed rather than the type name.

Frequency

The frequency with which this trigger/outcome occurs. Thus you can specify that this particular event occurs once a day, or ten times a year, and so on.


Update Selected Dialog Box

Allows you to edit properties of all selected elements.

Use in Application Development

Indicates whether the selected elements are likely to be used when designing a database application based on data from this diagram. For example, a process step named "Return video to shelf" is unlikely to feature in such an application, but one named "Enter customer details on computer" will almost certainly do so. This field is used for information purposes only, and has no effect on the diagram.

Type list box

The type or sub-type of the elements you are editing.

You can change the element type to any of the available values shown in the list. If this field currently shows a main element type (process step, store or flow), you can change it to one of its sub-types as shown in the list. For example, you could change a process step to a data entry, decision point or report.

If the field currently shows a sub-type, you can change it to another of the available sub-types, or back to the main type.

Icon group

The field shows the filename of the icon you want to associate with the selected elements. Icons are visible only if you change the diagram display to icons or if you start animation.

You associate an icon with the selected elements by choosing one from the list of those available. The list shows the icon files available in the default directory at the location specified for icon files.

Flow Specific group

Allows you to edit properties specific to flows.

Activate during Animation

Specifies whether the selected flows are activated during process animation. You can use this feature to test the effect of the selected flows.

Logic option group

These option buttons specify what happens if the process steps or stores at the destination of the selected flows have more than one flow coming into them.

Selecting the OR option button specifies that the destination is activated as soon as either the selected flows or another flow (or group of flows that are ANDed together) is completed.

Selecting the AND option button specifies that the destination is activated only when all the selected flows marked AND are completed.

Display group

This group of boxes determines what associated text, if any, is to be displayed on the diagram for the selected flows.

Checkbox	Effect if Checked
Icon	The icon associated with the selected flows is to be displayed on the diagram when the display is in iconic mode. If you uncheck this box, the selected flows are displayed as a continuous line, as in symbol or enhanced symbol modes.
Time + Units	The diagram displays the total time details for the selected flows. These details are the contents of the Total fields in the Time group on the Edit - Main tab.
Rule	The diagram displays the text of the rule for the selected flows. This text is the contents of the Rule field on the Edit - Specific tab.
Name	The diagram displays the flow name for the selected flows. This text is the contents of the Name field on the Edit - Specific tab.
Organization Specific group

Allows you to edit properties specific to organization units.

Route to Parent

Specifies whether you want the diagram to indicate the parents of all organization units that are lower-level units.


About preferences for Process Modeler

Process Modeler allows you to set any of a large number of graphical preferences. This enables you to customize a Process Diagram to give it the appearance you want. The preferences also allow you to give all your Process Diagrams the same "look and feel"; for example, you can give all process steps a yellow background, or you can display all annotations with a distinctive text font, and so on.

You can save a collection of preference settings as a preference set. You can then apply a particular preference set to an existing Process Diagram, or to all new Process Diagrams created subsequently.

This feature can be useful, for example, if you use a Process Diagram developed by someone else and for which different preferences have been defined. You can apply your own preferences to elements on the active diagram.

Preferences are stored in two types of file. One, with the extension .CFG, contains the preferences for diagram elements; the other, named BPMOD10.INI, contains the preferences for swim lanes, layout and animation units, as well as other display preferences.

The default .CFG file is named BPMOD10.CFG. You can specify and save one or more of your own preference set .CFG files.

The .CFG files and the BPMOD10.INI file are created by default in the Oracle home directory on your PC or workstation. If you use Process Modeler over a network, you can use preference set files stored in the same directory from which you start Process Modeler.

Example of Preference Set Usage

Suppose that you have a Process Diagram that uses the default set of graphical preferences supplied with Process Modeler. All the diagram elements have white backgrounds. The diagram contains several process steps and a decision point. You decide that you would like your diagram to display all decision points with green backgrounds.

First, decide whether you want to make these changes to the default preference set supplied with Process Modeler, or make them to another preference set file. If you want to change a file other than the default one, specify the file by selecting Options→Customize→Advanced and selecting the file from the Use Element Preference Set dropdown list. If you are changing the default preference set, this step is not necessary.

Next, you need to change the color of the diagram item concerned. In this case, you are changing the fill color of all decision points, so you select Options→Customize→Graphics to get the Customize - Graphics dialog box, click on the Type listbox and select Decision Point, then click on the Fill field in the Color group. Click on the shade of green you want in the Color dialog box and select OK on it. Notice how the Fill field, and the background of the Font and 2nd Font fields, has changed to green.

Now you can save this as part of a preference set by clicking on the Save button on the Customize - Graphics dialog box. If you specified a preference set file other than the default one, the Named Element Preference Set dialog box appears, with one or more filenames in its list. These are the files that contain the different preference sets. Select a preference set filename, or enter a new one, and click on OK. If you chose to use the default preference set file, clicking on Save updates the default preference set file immediately.

The dialog box disappears, and nothing happens to your diagram! This is just as it should be, because the changes you have just made do not affect anything that is already on the diagram. However, if you create any new decision points from now on, they will have green backgrounds.

But what about the original decision point, the one that was already on the diagram before you started changing colors? It still has a white background and you want it to have a green background like all the others. The quickest way to achieve this is to select Edit→Select All, then select Utilities→Restore Graphical Preferences. This utility applies the current preference set to any diagram items that are selected. When you select the utility, the original decision point changes to have a green background. You can now save the diagram.

What if you have an old Process Diagram that still has decision points with white backgrounds? If you want to make their backgrounds green as well, you follow a similar process. First you need to choose a preference set for the old diagram. Open the diagram and select Options→Customize→Graphics to display the Customize - Graphics dialog box. Click on the Restore All button and, if you are given a choice, select the preference set that has the green background for decision points.

Click on OK to redisplay the old diagram. Choose Edit→Select All from the menu, then select Utilities→Restore Graphical Preferences. The backgrounds of the decision points change to green, and any new decision points you create on this diagram will automatically have green backgrounds. You can now save the old diagram with its new colors.


Multimedia and Process Modeling

Related Topics

Some of the most powerful features of Process Modeler are its multimedia capabilities. This help topic provides information about these features and how Process Modeler allows you to make use of them. Details are given about the following:

•	Multimedia items (icons, sounds, images, videos and programs)

•	Drawing your own icons

•	Recording your own sounds

•	Scanning in your own images

•	Recording your own videos

Multimedia items

Process Modeler provides five different kinds of multimedia items for you to include on your diagrams: icons, sounds, images, videos and programs.

Diagram elements that can be illustrated with these items are process steps, stores and flows. Triggers and outcomes are always shown as a large arrow, and organization units appear as rectangles to the side of the diagram.

If a diagram element has an associated sound, image, video or program, the Play Sound, Display Image, Play Video and/or Run Program button on the standard toolbar is highlighted, as appropriate, when you select that element. You can also indicate that a diagram element has one or more of these items associated by means of an annotation. This is particularly useful if a sound, image or video indicates how to perform a particular task that the diagram element represents.

Icons

An icon is a small, stylized graphic that you can use to illustrate a particular element on a Process Diagram.

When you create a Process Diagram, Process Modeler automatically assigns a default icon to each process step, store or flow that you create. The default icons simply indicate the element type. For example, all process steps share the same default icon, all flows share another default icon, and so on.

For each individual diagram element, you can assign the icon of your choice. You can choose an icon from the predefined set supplied with Process Modeler. For example, you could use a picture of a factory to represent a process step in which goods are manufactured, or a picture of a truck to illustrate a flow in which goods are transported from a factory to a warehouse. Alternatively, you can use an icon that you create yourself.

When you associate an icon with a diagram element, the icon is animated when the animation reaches that point on the diagram. In iconic mode, an icon is visible on the diagram as soon as it is associated with an element. When you start diagram animation, the display switches to iconic mode automatically.

The effect of icon animation is achieved with three files, each slightly different from the others. For example, the telephone icon supplied with Process Modeler uses three files, PHONE1.BMP, PHONE2.BMP and PHONE3.BMP. The first shows the receiver in its cradle, the second shows the receiver slightly raised, and the third shows the receiver lifted clear of the handset. During animation, Process Modeler cycles through these three drawings repeatedly, giving the impression that the receiver is moving up and down.

Sounds

You can associate a sound with a diagram element to draw attention audibly to that particular stage of the business process. You can choose an appropriate sound from the predefined set supplied with Process Modeler.

For example, for a process step in which a customer telephones an order for goods, you could associate the sound of a telephone ringing. You can even record and use your own sounds, or use publicly available ones. For example, you might want to use a sample conversation with a customer, or a verbal description of a process step.

When you associate a sound with a diagram element, the sound will play when the animation reaches that point on the diagram, if sound has been turned on for the diagram. You can also play the sound at any time from the Process Diagram, without the need to start animation.

If a diagram element has a sound associated, the Play Sound button on the standard toolbar is highlighted when you select that element. You can also indicate that a diagram element has a sound associated by means of an annotation. This is particularly useful if the sound is a verbal description of how to perform a particular task that the diagram element represents.

Images

You can associate an image with a diagram element to provide a static illustration of that particular stage of the business process.

An image is a picture or other graphic used to illustrate a diagram element. An image can be, for example, a photographic image or a drawing of the person who normally performs a process step, or a picture of a document generated by that step.

When you associate an image with a diagram element, you can display the image at any time from the Process Diagram.

Videos

You can associate a video with a diagram element to provide a dynamic illustration of that particular stage of the business process.

A video can be, for example, a recorded message from a particular person, or perhaps a demonstration of how to perform a particular task.

When you associate a video with a diagram element, you can play the video at any time from the Process Diagram.

Programs

You can associate a program with a diagram element to perform any desired processing related to that particular stage of the business process. You can associate any program to which your system has access.

For example, you might want to allow users to call up a particular spreadsheet, or perhaps an on-screen presentation, at a certain point in a Process Diagram. You do this simply by entering in a dialog box the command to run the program.

As another example, if you are using a Process Diagram to model the development of a database application, you could enter the command to call up a screen layout within Oracle Forms, so that diagram users can modify that screen directly from the Process Diagram.

When you associate a program with a diagram element, you can run the program at any time from the Process Diagram.

Drawing your own icons

If you want to use icons other than those supplied with Process Modeler, you can create your own by using graphics software, such as Windows Paintbrush.

The recommended size for an icon graphic is a 32 x 32 pixel format. You can use graphics larger than this for icons, although they will occupy more disk space. You will need to create three files for each icon, as described in the "Icons" section above.

Save your files in .BMP or .DIB format. The filenames for each of the three files must be identical except for the last character, which must be one of 1, 2 or 3, to indicate sequence; the file extension should be .BMP or .DIB, as appropriate.

You can even use scanned-in images, or frames from videos, as icons by displaying them in a window, copying the window contents to the Clipboard in Windows, then pasting the window contents into a graphics package and saving them as a .BMP or .DIB file. However, you will probably lose some clarity in this process, so the image you start with must be of high quality.

Recording your own sounds

If you have access to a PC with a microphone and sound card, you can record your own sounds and use them in addition to those supplied with Process Modeler.

To record the sound, follow the instructions supplied with your sound card. You might need to experiment in order to get an audible volume level. The software supplied with your sound card might have a volume control for recording, or you can use the Windows Volume Control.

Save your sound files in .WAV format.

Scanning in your own images

If you have access to a PC with a scanner attached, you can scan in your own images and use them in addition to those supplied with Process Modeler. You can use anything as an image: artwork, photographs, your company logo, pictures from magazines, and so on.

When the image is scanned in, you can manipulate it with an image processing software package until it looks the way you want it.

Save your image files in .GIF format.

Recording your own videos

If you have access to a PC with a video card and a video camera, video casette recorder (VCR), laser disk or other video device that you can attach to it, you can create your own videos and use them in addition to those supplied with Process Modeler.

With a video camera and video card you can:

•	record the video directly, with the video camera attached to the video card

•	edit the video using editing software supplied with the video card

•	record onto a video tape, edit the tape offline as required, and play the tape back via a VCR attached to the video card

Save your video files in .AVI format.


System requirements for multimedia

The recommended disk and system requirements for Process Modeler are as follows:

Disk Requirements for Multimedia Files

Some multimedia files can occupy a large amount of disk space. If your disk space is limited, you might want to know the size of these files, especially if you create your own.

The following table shows some typical disk space requirements for each type of multimedia file. These figures are given as a guide only.

File Type	Typical Disk Space Required
Icon	200 to 600 bytes (32 x 32 pixels) 3KB to 32KB (320 x 240 pixels) 300KB (640 x 480 pixels) Space required depends on number of colors used
Sound (16 bits per sample)	22KB per second (11 kHz rate - voice quality) 44KB per second (22 kHz rate - AM quality) 88KB per second (44 kHz rate - CD quality)
Image	8KB to 32KB (320 x 240 pixels, 256 colors) 300KB (1024 x 576 pixels, 256 colors)
Video	10MB per minute (compressed)
System Requirements for Sound

To play or edit sounds associated with diagram elements, your PC needs the following:

•	a sound card (Sound Blaster or compatible) and its driver software

•	a pair of speakers or headphones, attached to the sound card

•	the Windows Sound Recorder software (or equivalent)

Sounds must be in .WAV format before they can be played or edited from within Process Modeler.

To record sounds, your PC needs, in addition to the above:

•	a microphone, attached to the sound card

System Requirements for Images

To view images associated with diagram elements, you must install on the PC an image viewing program capable of viewing files in .GIF format. Image viewers are not supplied with Process Modeler or Windows, but are obtainable from your supplier. Two common shareware image viewers for Windows are:

•	WinGIF

•	LView

Images must be in .GIF format before they can be viewed from within Process Modeler.

To record images, your PC will need a scanner (Hewlett-Packard ScanJet or compatible) and its driver software.

To edit images, your PC will need image editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop.

System Requirements for Video

To use video under Windows 3.1, you need to install Microsoft Video for Windows on your PC.

To play or edit videos associated with diagram elements, your PC needs the following:

•	the Windows Media Player software (or equivalent)

•	requirements as for playing and editing sounds

Videos must be in .AVI format before they can be played or edited from within Process Modeler.

To record videos, your PC must be at least a 486SX-25, and should ideally be a 486DX-33 or better. The PC needs the following, in addition to the playing and editing requirements:

•	a video camera

•	a video card (Intel Smart Video Recorder or compatible) and its driver


Predefined icons
Predefined icons for Process Modeler

Related Topics

The following list shows the icons that are supplied with Process Modeler and which you can use for your Process Diagrams.

Each of these icons can be used in animation. For each icon, a set of three .BMP files is supplied, with names such as phone1.bmp, phone2.bmp and phone3.bmp, for example. To achieve the effect of animation, the Process Modeler displays each of the three files in turn.

attache1.bmp	award1.bmp	bike1.bmp	bubble1.bmp
car1.bmp	cloud1.bmp	coach1.bmp	computr1.bmp
convey1.bmp	courier1.bmp	datab1.bmp	defevnt1.bmp
defflow1.bmp	deforg1.bmp	defproc1.bmp	defstor1.bmp
dollar1.bmp	envelop1.bmp	factbig1.bmp	factory1.bmp
fax1.bmp	ferrari1.bmp	fldisk1.bmp	floppyd1.bmp
forklif1.bmp	form1.bmp	globe1.bmp	group1.bmp
helicop1.bmp	jcb1.bmp	jet1.bmp	keybord1.bmp
meeting1.bmp	memgive1.bmp	memstck1.bmp	memwrit1.bmp
memzoom1.bmp	openacc1.bmp	oracle1.bmp	perscmp1.bmp
persfon1.bmp	pershap1.bmp	person1.bmp	perssad1.bmp
perswlk1.bmp	phone1.bmp	pick1.bmp	porsch1.bmp
printer1.bmp	shop1.bmp	taxi1.bmp	train1.bmp
trainm1.bmp	truck1.bmp	usmap1.bmp	van1.bmp
workdsk1.bmp


Creating a basic Process Model

Related Topics

You can use the following procedure to define quickly the basic elements of the Process Model. You can then refine the model later.

To create a basic process model:

1.	(Optional)  In Process Modeler, set the diagram options.  How

2.	Create a new business process and Process Diagram.  How

3.	(Optional)  Create the organization units. You can omit this step for now and assign all your diagram elements to the default organization unit, named “Unspecified”.  How

4.	Create a process model by creating the following:

•	process steps  How

•	flows  How

•	stores  How

•	triggers  How

•	outcomes  How

5.	Save the diagram.  How

6.	(Optional)  Print the diagram.  How


Creating a new diagram and a new business process
Creating a new Process Diagram and a new business process

Related Topics

The first stage in modeling a process is to create the definition of a completely new business process in the container. In so doing, you automatically create a new Process Diagram to illustrate the process model. You can subsequently create further diagrams for the same process.

The Process Diagram contains a view of the business process. You can create new elements on the diagram, as well as including, hiding or deleting elements that have already been defined in the container. When you have finished, you should save your diagram. You can close it and come back to it later if you like.

You name a new business process when you create it, but a new diagram is untitled until you close it or save it. You can name a diagram using File→Close, File→Save Diagram or File→Save Diagram As.

To create a new business process and Process Diagram:

1.	(Optional)  In Process Modeler, set the configuration options, such as, creation of default short names.  How

2.	Choose File→New.

3.	Select the container for the new business process and Process Diagram in the Choose Container dialog box.

4.	Click OK.

5.	Click the Create New Root Process button in the New Diagram dialog box.

Attention:	If the OK button is clicked at this point a new diagram will be created for the currently-selected business process, if any are listed.

6.	Enter the name of your new process in the Short Definition field of the Create Process Step dialog box. This name will be displayed in the list of business processes whenever you subsequently select File→New.

7.	Enter a short name for your process in the Label field.

8.	Click OK.

A new, blank diagram window is displayed with the default organization unit “Unspecified”.

9.	(Optional)  Customize the diagram to give it the appearance you want. You can set the display preferences to apply just for the current session, or you can save them as a preference set for use in future sessions.

10.	Create the various elements that make up the Process Diagram.


Creating a new diagram for an existing business process
Creating a new Process Diagram for an existing process

Related Topics

You can create more than one diagram for a business process. Doing so enables you to draw attention to different aspects of the same process, for example, or to design alternative strategies for the process.

Each Process Diagram is a view of the business process. You can create new elements on a diagram, as well as including, hiding or deleting elements that have already been defined in the container. When you have finished, you should save your diagram.

A new diagram is untitled until you close it or save it. You can name a diagram using File→Close, File→Save Diagram or File→Save Diagram As.

To create a Process Diagram for an existing business process:

1.	(Optional)  In Process Modeler, set the configuration options, such as, creation of default short names.  How

2.	Choose File→New.

3.	Select the container for the business process.

4.	Click OK.

5.	Double-click the business process that the diagram is to illustrate.

6.	(Optional)  Customize the diagram to give it the appearance you want. You can set the display preferences to apply just for the current session, or you can save them as a preference set for use in future sessions.

7.	Create the various elements that make up the Process Diagram.


Creating organization units on Process Diagrams

Related Topics

To create an organization unit on a Process Diagram:

1.	In Process Modeler, click [image] on the tool palette.

2.	Click the “Unspecified” organization unit at the side of the diagram. (Take care not to click on an existing organization unit, as this action is used when defining an organization unit hierarchy.)

3.	Enter details for the organization unit and click OK.

Note:	The name or short name of each organization unit in the container must be unique. Otherwise a “uniqueness violation” error message appears.


Creating process steps on Process Diagrams

Related TopicsTo create a process step on a Process Diagram:

1.	In Process Modeler, click [image] on the tool palette.

2.	Click the area of the diagram in which you want to position your process step.

Make sure that the pointer is in line with the organization unit responsible for this step. If you are unsure of, or do not want to use, a specific organization unit at this time, use “Unspecified”. You can move the process step to a different organization unit later if necessary.

3.	Enter details for the process step and click OK.


Creating flows on Process Diagrams

Related TopicsTo create a flow on a Process Diagram:

1.	In Process Modeler, click [image] on the tool palette.

2.	Click the step or store where the flow is to start.

3.	Drag the rubber-band line to the step or store where the flow is to end.

Note:	A flow can run from one step to another, from a step to a store, or from a store to a step. A flow cannot run directly from one store to another store.

4.	Click the step or store where the flow is to end.

Caution:	If you create more than one flow between the same two elements, you must assign different names to the flows, although one name can be blank.

5.	Enter details for the flow and click OK.

Note:	When creating a flow that goes into a store, consider creating another flow that goes out of the store, otherwise the diagram indicates that the contents of the store are never used.

6.	(Optional)  Define additional details for the flow, e.g., whether it is activated during process animation, by double-clicking on the diagram element and entering required information in the dialog box.

To reposition a flow:

1.	On a Process Diagram, click the flow.

2.	Position the mouse pointer over the grab bar on the part of the symbol you want to reposition.

3.	Click the grab bar.

4.	Click where you want the flow symbol to be placed.


Creating stores on Process Diagrams

Related TopicsTo create a store on a Process Diagram:

1.	In Process Modeler, click [image] on the tool palette.

2.	Make sure that the mouse pointer is in line with the organization unit responsible for the store, then click where you want to position the store.

If you are unsure of, or do not want to use, a specific organization unit at this time, use “Unspecified”. You can move the store to a different organization unit later if necessary.

3.	Enter details for the store and click OK.

Note:	The name or ID of each store in the container must be unique. Otherwise a “uniqueness violation” error message appears. (This might happen, for example, if you set Process Modeler to generate short names automatically and it generates a short name that is not unique in this diagram.)

4.	(Optional)  Define additional details for the store, e.g., its maximum and minimum quantities, by double-clicking on the diagram element and entering required information in the dialog box.


Creating triggers for process steps

Related TopicsTo create a trigger on a Process Diagram:

1.	In Process Modeler, click [image] on the tool palette.

Note:	A Process Diagram can have more than one trigger.

2.	Click on the process step to which you want to attach the trigger.

3.	Enter details for the trigger and click OK.


Creating outcomes on Process Diagrams

Related TopicsTo create an outcome on a Process Diagram:

1.	In Process Modeler, click [image] on the tool palette.

Note:	A Process Diagram can have more than one outcome.

2.	Click on the process step to which you want to attach the outcome.

3.	Enter details for the outcome and click OK.


Including existing elements on a diagram
Including existing elements on a Process Diagram

Related Topics

A Process Diagram can include elements for which a definition exists in the container, but which do not currently appear on the diagram. For example, you might want to create a diagram that shows only selected items from a diagram that already exists. Alternatively, you might want to include items that have been created by other tools, for example, the Function Hierarchy Diagrammer or the Data Flow Diagrammer. You can also use this procedure to redisplay elements that have been cut from a diagram.

Note that including a global process step differs from including a non-global process step in that:

•	A non-global process step can be modified directly, as it is not a copy of a process step.

•	Non-global process steps can be included only from the current container and from the same level in the process hierarchy.

To include existing items that do not appear in the current Process Diagram:

1.	Choose Edit→Include→<element type>.

2.	Select one or more elements from the list box that you want to include, then click OK.

If you are including a process step or store and you want to include any flows that are attached to them, make sure that the Include Flows checkbox is checked. The element at the other end of a flow must also be visible on the diagram for the flow to be included.

Note:	When including process steps, only those created using the Process Modeler are shown in the Include dialog box. Process steps created using the Repository Object Navigator can not be included on Process Diagrams.


Including global process steps on Process Diagrams

Related Topics

You can include in your diagram copies of process steps that are defined in the container. You might want to do this, for example, if the same process step appears more than once in a process hierarchy. A copy of a process step that is included in this way is known as a global process step.  About

Note:	Including a global process step is a purely graphical operation in the Process Modeler and no changes are made to the container.

To include a global process step on the diagram:

1.	Choose Edit→Include→Global Process Step.

2.	Select one or more process steps from the list box that you want to include.

If you want to include any flows attached to the process step or steps, make sure that the Include Flows checkbox is checked. The element at the other end of a flow must also be visible on the diagram for the flow to be included.

Note:	Only global process steps that have been created using the Process Modeler are shown in the Include dialog box. Global process steps created using the Repository Object Navigator cannot be included on Process Diagrams.

3.	Click OK.


Changing the properties of elements on Process Diagrams

You can apply some kinds of changes to more than one diagram element at a time. The changes you can apply in this way are:

•	specifying whether the elements are likely to be used in application development

•	changing the element type

•	associating an icon

•	editing flow-specific properties

•	specifying whether a lower-level organization unit displays the name of its parent

To change the properties of Process Diagram elements:

1.	On a Process Diagram, select the elements whose properties you want to change. The elements you select need not be of the same element type.

2.	Choose Utilities→Update Selected.

3.	Enter details for the element and click OK.


Running process modeling reports

You can run reports for process modeling, as well as other usages of the Oracle Designer Repository. You do so by means of the Repository Reports tool. You can start this tool from Process Modeler or from any of the other Oracle Designer diagrammers and navigators, including the Repository Object Navigator.

To run a Process Modeling report:

1.	In Process Modeler, choose Tools→Repository Reports.

2.	Choose View→Group View in the Repository Reports tool.

3.	Double-click the Enterprise Modelling entry, or click its plus sign ( + ).

Note:	There are also some reports for process modeling in the Global entry.

4.	Click the name of the report you want to run.

5.	Run the report.


Exporting diagram data to other applications
Exporting Process Diagram data to other applications

You can extract data from a Process Diagram and copy it to a file, which can then be accessed by other users. You can export data in this way for users of:

•	other Process Diagrams

•	spreadsheets, such as Lotus 1-2-3 or Microsoft Excel

•	ASCII text files

Spreadsheet data is exported in comma-delimited text format. This type of data can be used by any spreadsheet program that can read this format. For example, in Lotus 1-2-3, open the file as a text file with the Combine option set to “Formatted text”. In Microsoft Excel, open the file as a text file, then specify that the file is delimited, with commas as the delimiters.

To export Process Diagram data:

1.	If you do not want to export data from the entire Process Diagram, but only data from one or more individual diagram elements, first select those elements on the diagram.

2.	Choose Utilities→Export Data.

3.	Enter the name of the file that will contain the exported Process Diagram data in the File Name field.

4.	Enter the format for the file in the File Type field.

5.	Enter details of the data to export from the Process Diagram in the Element Type, Time and Costs and Miscellaneous groups, then click OK.

Note:	You can only enter details of the data to export if the file type is Text or Process (Excel).


Resizing elements on Process Diagrams
Resizing elements on a Process Diagram

Resizing any process step or store on the active diagram also resizes all the other process steps or stores on that diagram automatically.

If there are any triggers or outcomes on the diagram, they are automatically resized with the process steps to which they are attached.

There are two ways to resize all the process steps or stores on the active diagram.

To resize process steps or stores using the cursor:

1.	Click a process step or store in the active diagram window.

2.	Press and hold down the mouse button over the grab bar you want to move.

3.	Drag the cursor in the direction in which you want to resize the element.

All the process steps or stores on the active diagram are resized as soon as a change is made to the size of the selected process step or store.

To resize process steps or stores using the Customize dialog box:

1.	Choose Options→Customize→Graphics.

2.	To change the width of all the process steps or stores on the diagram, enter the width in the X field.

To change the height of all the process steps or stores on the diagram, enter the height in the Y field.

Note:	One unit entered into either the X or Y field is equal to 0.1 millimeters on a diagram displayed at its original size.

3.	To define only the width and height of elements on the active diagram, click OK.

To define the width and height of elements on the active diagram and any diagrams subsequently opened in either the current or future invocations of the diagrammer, click Save.


Moving items on a Process Diagram

Related Topics

You can move one or more diagram items at a time by selecting the items and dragging them. This is the easiest way of moving diagram items a short distance on a diagram. To move items over a longer distance, it may be more convenient to use Edit→Cut and Edit→Paste.

Dataflows between elements can be moved only when the elements at both ends of the dataflow are selected. If only one of the elements is selected, the dataflow is stretched as the selected element is moved.

Note:	You cannot move multiple diagram items from one organization unit to another.

To move an item on a Process Diagram:

1.	Select the items to be moved on the diagram.

2.	Drag the selected items to their new position.


Laying out a Process Diagram automatically

A Process Diagram can be laid out automatically a number of times, providing you with several alternative layouts. Any of these layouts can be retrieved if no other operation is performed between the autolayout operations.

Note:	After automatically laying out a diagram, the utility also minimizes the number of pages that the diagram covers. To improve the printed appearance of a diagram, you can move its elements so that they cover the minimum number of pages. You can also minimise the number of pages by choosing Layout→Minimize Number of Pages.

To use the Autolayout utility more effectively:

•	Increase the default element height and width in the Customize - Graphics dialog box.

•	Reduce the size of the diagram, where possible.

Select all of the elements on the diagram before running the Autolayout utility again. This gives the utility the maximum flexibility when rearranging elements on a diagram.

There are two ways in which elements can be automatically laid out on a diagram.

To reposition all elements automatically on the active diagram:

1.	Ensure that no elements are selected on the active diagram.

2.	Choose Layout→AutoLayout.

To reposition selected elements automatically on the active diagram:

1.	Select the elements to be automatically laid out.

2.	Choose Layout→AutoLayout.

Note:	The elements automatically laid out on the diagram are snapped to the grid lines defined for that diagram.


Changing the size of swim lanes on Process Diagrams

Note:	A swim lane will not shrink if it has elements next to its lower boundary. You will need to move these items towards the upper boundary, leaving empty space next to the lower boundary, before you can shrink the swim lane.

To change the size of swim lanes on a Process Diagram:

1.	On a Process Diagram, select the organization unit that corresponds to the swim lane you want to expand or shrink.

2.	Hold down the SHIFT key.

3.	Press the DOWN ARROW key to expand the swim lane, or press the UP ARROW key to shrink it.


Annotating Process Diagram elements

Related Topics

You can improve the clarity of Process Diagrams by adding annotations to process steps, stores and flows. These annotations have no effect on your diagram beyond making it clearer for anyone reading it. You can choose whether annotations are visible on the diagram.

To annotate a Process Diagram element:

1.	Click on the element symbol or icon, then choose Edit→Properties.

2.	Select the Multimedia tab.

3.	In the Annotation group, select the type of annotation from the Type list box. Annotations can be text, graphics or text and graphics combined.

Note:	A process step, store and flow can have a maximum of one text and one graphic annotation.

4.	If the annotation type is Text or Text & Graphic, enter the text in the Text field.

5.	If the annotation type is Graphic or Text & Graphic, enter the path and filename for the graphic file in the Graphic File field, or click the Browse button and choose a file from the Open dialog box.

6.	Click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.

Note:	Annotations appear for a process step, store or flow if the View→Show Annotation option is enabled. The annotations that appear depend on the annotation type selected in the Edit dialog box (Text or Text & Graphic). For example, if a process step has text and graphic annotations but the annotation type given is Text, only the text annotation appears.

The annotation is placed above the symbol of its diagram element. If desired, you can move the annotation to a new position anywhere on the diagram.


Showing or hiding annotations on Process Diagrams

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To show or hide an annotation on a Process Diagram

1.	Click anywhere that is not an element symbol or an organization unit to ensure that no element is selected.

2.	Choose Options→Customize→Graphics.

3.	To show annotations, check the Annotation checkbox.

To hide annotations, uncheck the Annotation checkbox.

4.	To save the changes for the current session only, click OK.

To save the changes permanently as part of a preference set, click Save.

Note:	You can also show or hide annotations on the active diagram by selecting View→Annotation.


 Displaying an organization unit hierarchy

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In an organization unit hierarchy, you can hide all the organization units below a selected one.

If you hide organization units in this way, any diagram elements that they contain are displayed in the swim lane of the parent unit. When you subsequently redisplay the hidden units, these elements are shown in the swim lane of their original organization unit.

To collapse the display of an organization unit hierarchy:

1.	Select the organization unit at the level to which you want to collapse the display.

2.	Choose View→Drill Up Organization.

Note:	You can also double-click the minus sign (-) in the corner of the symbol to collapse the display.

To expand the display of an organization unit hierarchy:

1.	Select the organization unit at the level from which you want to expand the display.

2.	Choose View→Drill Down Organization.

Note:	You can also double-click the plus sign (+) in the corner of the symbol to expand the display.


Changing the parent of an organization unit

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In an organization unit hierarchy, you can move an organization unit to a new parent.

To change the parent of an organization unit:

1.	Click [image] on the tool palette.

2.	Double-click the organization unit, in the organization list at the side of the diagram, for which you want to define a new parent.

3.	Click the Parent field.

4.	Select the name of the organization unit that is to be the new parent. If you select <none>, the organization unit is placed at the top level in the hierarchy.

5.	Click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.


Defining role details for an organization unit

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When you have created an organization unit, you can define details of the role that you expect that particular organization unit to fulfill.

To define role details for an organization unit:

1.	Click [image] on the tool palette.

2.	Double-click the organization unit, in the organization list at the side of the diagram, for which you want to define the role.

3.	Check the Role checkbox to activate the Role button.

4.	Click the Role button.

5.	Enter details of the role and click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.


Moving an organization unit up or down the list

You can resequence the organization units at the side of the diagram by moving a selected organization unit up or down the list displayed.

To move an organization unit up or down the list:

1.	Move the mouse pointer to the organization list at the side of the diagram.

2.	If the organization unit that you want to move has children that are currently displayed, double-click the minus sign (-) in the corner of the symbol to collapse the display.

3.	Click the organization unit that you want to move. The symbol is highlighted.

4.	To move the organization unit up the list, press UP ARROW.

To move the organization unit down the list, press DOWN ARROW.


Defining a process hierarchy

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You can model a business process hierarchically. For example, you might have a main process made up of several sub-processes.

You define a sub-process as a child of the current process. A Process Diagram for a child process inherits the organization unit structure of its parent.

To define a process hierarchy on a Process Diagram:

1.	From a Process Diagram, select the process step for which you want to define the child process.

2.	Choose File→Open Down.

3.	If the Open Diagram dialog box is displayed, enter a unique name for the new child process in the Diagram Name field and click OK.

Note:	The name of each process in a container must be unique. Otherwise a “uniqueness violation” error message appears.

4.	Create or include diagram elements for the child process.


Navigating up or down a process hierarchy

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If a business process has been modeled hierarchically, you can navigate up or down the process hierarchy by opening a parent or child Process Diagram as appropriate.

To navigate up process hierarchy on a Process Diagram:

1.	Select the process step for which you want to open the parent Process Diagram.

2.	Choose File→Open Up.

3.	Double-click the name of the diagram you want to open.

To navigate down a process hierarchy on a Process Diagram:

1.	Select the process step for which you want to open the child Process Diagram.

2.	Choose File→Open Down.

3.	Double-click on the name of the diagram you want to open.


Defining an organization unit hierarchy

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When you have defined an organization unit, you can define details of the departments, workgroups or even individual people within that organization unit.

You do so by creating further organization units as “children” of an existing unit. A department, workgroup or individual can each be created as a child in this way.

Note:	You cannot create children for the Unspecified organization unit. If you try to do so, you will simply create a new, top-level organization unit.

To define a department, workgroup or individual within an existing organization unit:

1.	Click [image] on the tool palette.

2.	In the organization area at the side of the diagram, click the organization unit for which you want to create a child.

3.	Enter details for the organization unit and click OK.


Setting Process Modeler animation options

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Animation time on a Process Diagram is proportional to actual time. For example, the animation for a process step might last only a few seconds, but it might represent a task that actually takes hours, months or even longer to complete.

The relationship of animation time to actual time is set by default. You will almost certainly need to change this for your own situation. For each Process Diagram, you can set options to specify this relationship.

To set the animation options for the active diagram:

1.	Choose Utilities→Animation→Options.

2.	Set the animation options you require and click OK.


Changing animation time units on Process Diagrams

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The animation time units are the time units used when defining the animation time step. The animation time step specifies the period of actual time that is represented by half a second of animation time on a Process Diagram.

The animation time units are already set as a graphical preference when Process Modeler is supplied, and apply to all diagrams that you create. You can change the animation time units for the active diagram and all new diagrams, or you can change them for the active diagram only. Any existing diagrams that are not active are not affected by your changes.

To change animation time units for the active diagram and all new diagrams:

1.	Ensure that no diagram elements are currently selected. To do so, click anywhere that is not an element symbol or an organization unit.

2.	Choose Options→Customize→Graphics.

3.	In the Animation Units field, enter the time unit you want to use, or choose one from the list.

4.	Do one of the following:

•	Click OK to save the changes for the current session only.

•	Click Save to save the changes permanently as part of a preference set.

To change the animation time units for the active diagram only:

1.	Choose Utilities→Animation→Options.

2.	Change the time units in the Time Step field.


Starting and stopping Process Diagram animation

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Animation on a Process Diagram is easy to achieve. A Process Diagram can be animated even if it only has a single process step on it.

You might need to zoom out on the diagram to see the full effect of the animation. You can also follow the process flow by using the scrollbars to move the diagram viewing window while the animation is in progress.

If the diagram is not already displaying icons, it is automatically switched to iconic mode when you start animation.

You can start animation from any process step on the diagram. You can select more than one step from which to start animation. This is useful for ensuring that every path in the process is animated, for example, if the diagram shows a process with parallel flows or with more than one entry point.

To start diagram animation:

1.	Make sure that you have set the animation options the way you want them.

2.	Ensure that a process step, flow or store does not have a time value of 0 assigned to it, unless you specifically want it to (a value of 0 is the default).

You can see the time values for steps and stores by changing the display to Symbol mode (but not Enhanced Symbol mode). Add time values to the diagram elements if necessary.

3.	Select the process step or steps at which you want animation to start.

4.	Choose Utilities→Animation→Start.

To stop diagram animation:

•	Click


 Suspending and resuming Process Diagram animation

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When animation is running on a Process Diagram, you can suspend it at any point and resume it when required.

To suspend diagram animation:

•	Choose Utilities→Animation→Suspend.

To resume animation:

•	Choose Utilities→Animation→Continue.

Note:	Animation is restarted from the point it had reached when it was suspended.


Skipping to the next animation event

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While diagram animation is running, you might want to move on quickly from the item that is currently being animated, especially if it has a long animation time.

To skip to the next event:

•	Choose Utilities→Animation→Skip to Next Event.


Following the process flow automatically

For large diagrams that extend beyond the edges of the Process Modeler window, you can choose to follow the process flow automatically.

This feature causes the diagram to scroll automatically during animation, so that the element that is currently being animated is always visible.

If your diagram has parallel flows, the first flow that Process Modeler activates will be the one that it follows.

To activate automatic following of the process flow:

1.	Choose Utilities→Animation→Options.

2.	Check the Automatic Animation Tracking checkbox.


Turning the sound on and off

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If you do not want to hear the sound during diagram animation, you can turn it off. You can turn it on again when required.

To turn the sound on or off:

•	Choose Utilities→Animation→Sound.

A check mark next to this Sound option indicates that diagram sound is turned on.

Note:	If you turn the sound off while it is playing during animation for a diagram element, turning the sound on again does not restart the sound for that element. You must explicitly play the sound for the element to hear it again.


Associating a multimedia item with a diagram element

Associating an Icon or Sound with a Diagram Element

Defining the Default Icon for an Element Type

Displaying an Icon Automatically When Creating an Element

Associating an Image or Video with a Diagram Element

Associating a Program with a Diagram Element


Associating an icon or sound with a diagram element

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Every process step, store or flow has an icon, but no sound, associated with it by default. You can associate a different icon, or a sound, with any of these diagram elements.

To associate an icon or sound with a diagram element:

1.	Click on the element symbol or icon, then choose Edit→Properties.

2.	Select the Multimedia tab.

3.	Select an icon or sound file from the drop-down list.

If you want to preview an icon or hear a sound before associating it with the diagram element, click its filename in the Multimedia Select dialog box. When you have finished, and with the file you want to associate still highlighted, click OK to select it and return to the Edit dialog box.

4.	Click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.

Note:	You can use your own multimedia files, providing that they are located in the directory specified for this purpose.


 Defining the default icon for an element type

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Process Modeler uses default icons for process steps, stores and flows on your Process Diagrams. You can select any available icon as the default icon for all elements of the corresponding type that are created subsequently.

After you create a new element, you can associate an icon with it other than the default icon, or you can leave it with the default icon associated.

To define the default icon for a Process Diagram element type:

1.	Choose Options→Customize→Advanced.

2.	In the Default Icons group, click the field corresponding to the element type (process step, store or flow) for which you want to define the default icon.

3.	Select the filename of the icon you want to use, then click OK.

Note:	You can use your own multimedia files, providing that they are located in the directory specified for this purpose.


 Displaying an icon automatically when creating a diagram element

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You can cause a particular icon to display automatically when you create a diagram element and give it a name that includes a specific word. For example, you could specify that the telephone icon (from the file phone1.bmp) is displayed for all elements that include the character string “phone” in their names.

You will first need to create a text file, known as the “icon data file”, to contain the associations between the keywords and the icon files. Each line of the file contains a single association, in the format:

keyword	filename
for example:

phone	phone1.bmp
enter	keybord1.bmp
customer	person1.bmp
To display an icon automatically when creating a Process Diagram element:

1.	Using a text editor, create an ASCII text file in the format shown above. The file may be stored in any directory.

2.	In Process Modeler, choose Options→Customize→Advanced.

3.	In the Icon Data File field in the Miscellaneous group, enter the name and location of the text file you are using, then click OK.

The specification takes effect immediately. Note that you can override an automatically generated icon for a diagram element simply by associating another icon with it.

Note:	You can use your own multimedia files, providing that they are located in the directory specified for this purpose.


 Associating an image or video with a diagram element

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You can associate an image or video with a process step, store or flow. You can either choose from the images and videos supplied with Process Modeler, or you can use your own or publicly available ones.

To associate an image or video with a Process Diagram element:

1.	Click on the element symbol or icon, then choose Edit→Properties.

2.	Select the Multimedia tab.

3.	Select an image or video file from the drop-down list.

If you want to preview an image or video before associating it with the diagram element, click its filename in the Multimedia Select dialog box. The file will be previewed immediately, provided that you have specified a preview program for images or videos. When you have finished previewing the file, and with its filename still highlighted, click OK to select it and return to the Edit dialog box.

4.	Click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.

Note:	You can use your own multimedia files, providing that they are located in the directory specified for this purpose.


Associating programs with Process Diagram elements

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You can associate a program with a process step, store or flow. You can associate any program to which your system has access.

To associate a program with a Process Diagram element:

1.	Click on the element symbol or icon, then choose Edit→Properties.

2.	Select the Multimedia tab.

3.	Enter the command to run the program in the Execution String field. If the command is not on the current command path (see Note below), enter the full path specification with the command.

4.	Click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.

Note:	For details on how to view or change the current command path, refer to the information about paths and the PATH command in your MS-DOS documentation.


Displaying an image associated with a diagram element

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If a diagram element has an image associated with it, you can display this image at any time.

Note:	You must specify a preview program for images before you can display an image.

You can tell whether an element has an image associated by selecting it. If the Display Image button on the toolbar is available, an image is associated. If the button is dimmed, no image is associated.

To display an image associated with a Process Diagram element:

1.	Click the element symbol or icon.

2.	Click [image].

3.	When you have finished viewing the image, close the image window.

Note:	The View→Image menu option must be enabled before an image can be displayed on the diagram.


Playing a sound or video associated with a diagram element
 Playing a sound or video associated with a Process Diagram element

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If a diagram element has a sound or video associated with it, you can play this sound or video at any time. Diagram sound does not need to be turned on before you can play the sound for an individual element.

Note:	You must specify a preview program for videos before you can play a video.

You can tell whether an element has a sound or video associated by selecting it. If the Play Sound or Play Video buttons on the standard toolbar are available, a sound or video is associated. If the button is dimmed, no sound or video is associated.

To play a sound or video associate with a Process Diagram element

1.	On the diagram, click the element or icon .

2.	To play a sound, click [image].

3.	To play a video, click [image].

If the video does not play immediately, a Media Player (or equivalent) window is displayed. Use its controls to start the video.

4.	When you have finished playing the video, close its window (if it does not close automatically), and close the Media Player window.


Running a program associated with a diagram element

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If a diagram element has a program that is associated with it, you can run this program at any time.

You can tell whether an element has a program associated by selecting it. If the Run Program button on the standard toolbar is available, a program is associated. If the button is dimmed, no program is associated.

To run a program associated with a diagram element:

1.	Click the element symbol or icon.

2.	Click [image].


Specifying programs for editing or previewing multimedia files

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You can edit or preview an icon, sound, image or video from within Process Modeler. However, you must first specify which programs you want to use to perform some of these operations, namely:

•	Editing an icon, sound, image or video

•	Previewing an image or video

You do not need to specify programs for previewing icons or sounds from within Process Modeler, as you can preview these items immediately.

You can, of course, edit or preview any multimedia file at any time by running the appropriate editing or previewing program directly from Windows, for example by means of Explorer.

To specify programs for editing or previewing:

1.	Choose Options→Customize→Basic.

2.	In the Multimedia Commands group:

•	To specify an editing program, enter the program command in the appropriate field of the Edit group.

To specify a previewing program for image or video files, enter the program command in the appropriate field of the Preview group.

3.	Click OK.


Previewing an icon, sound, image or video

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If you want to preview an icon, sound, image or video before associating it with a diagram element, you can do so directly from the diagram.

Note:	Before previewing an image or video, you must first specify a preview program.

To preview an icon, sound, image or video on a Process Diagram:

1.	Click the element symbol or icon, then choose Edit→Properties.

2.	Select the Multimedia tab.

3.	Click the Select button for the multimedia element you require.

4.	Click a filename. The corresponding item is previewed.

For a video that does not start automatically, a Media Player (or equivalent) window is displayed. Use its controls to start the video.

At this point you can do either of the following:

•	Associate the icon, sound, image or video with the diagram element.

•	Edit the icon, sound, image or video.

5.	Click OK to return to the Edit dialog box.

6.	Click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.


Editing an icon, sound, image or video
Editing an icon, sound, image or video on a Process Diagram

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You can do basic editing of an existing icon, sound, image or video that is associated with a diagram element, directly from the diagram.

Note:	Before editing an icon, sound, image or video, you must first specify an editing program.

To edit an icon, sound, image or video on a Process Diagram

1.	Click the element symbol or icon, then choose Edit→Properties.

2.	Select the Multimedia tab.

3.	Click the Select button for the multimedia element you require.

4.	Click the filename of the item you want to edit.

5.	Click the Edit/New button. If programs have been specified for editing multimedia files, the appropriate editing program is started. The suggested programs for basic editing requirements are:

Class	Program
Icon Sound Image Video	Windows Paintbrush Windows Sound Recorder WinGIF Image Viewer/Enhancer Windows Media Player
6.	Associate the icon, sound, image or video with the diagram element, then click OK to return to the Edit dialog box.

7.	Click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.


Specifying the location of multimedia files

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When you associate an icon, sound, image or video with a diagram element, Process Modeler allows you to choose files from its default directory for multimedia files of the appropriate type. You must first specify the drive and directory from which the files are listed.

You can specify a different drive and directory for each type of multimedia file, as required.

To specify the location of a multimedia file for a Process Model

1.	Choose Options→Customize→Basic.

2.	In the File Locations group (not the Multimedia Commands group), enter the drive and directory in the Icons, Sounds, Images or Videos field e.g., c:\bpr\icons, then click OK.


Changing the diagram display to symbols or icons
Changing Process Diagrams to display symbols or icons

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You can display the elements on a Process Diagram using one of the following display modes:

•	basic symbols

•	enhanced symbols

•	icons

You can change the way the diagram is displayed at any time.

Note:	If you animate a diagram, it automatically switches to iconic display.

To display the diagram with basic symbols and to show time values:

•	Choose View→Symbol.

To display the diagram with a more comprehensive set of symbols, without time values:

•	Choose View→Enhanced Symbol.

To display the diagram as icons, without time values:

•	Choose View→Iconic.


Generating short names for Process Diagram elements

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Process Modeler is supplied with the default requirement that you enter a short name of up to 10 characters for every process step, store or organization unit that you create on a diagram.

However, you can avoid this requirement by setting Process Modeler to generate short names for you. The generated short names are based on the element names that you enter when you create the process steps, stores or organization units.

To generate short names for Process Diagram elements

1.	In Process Modeler, choose Options→Customize→Advanced.

2.	Check Fill Label on Create in the Application Preferences group, then click OK.


Displaying the critical path through a process

A Process Diagram can display the critical path through the business process. This path shows process elements for which an increase or decrease in their time value affects the total duration of the process. Displaying the critical path is thus an easy way of identifying areas that could be bottlenecks in the process.

Note:	You must define a time value for at least one diagram element before the critical path can be displayed.

You can choose whether to record in the container the total duration of the process that the diagram illustrates. The duration is recorded against the parent process. You can display this duration using the Repository Object Navigator, by selecting the parent process under Business Functions. The total duration is shown in the Property Palette, under Total Time in the BPR section of the properties. To check the name of the parent process for the active diagram, choose File→Summary Information.

When you display the critical path on a Process Diagram, the process steps, stores and flows that are on the critical path are outlined in a different color. You can define this color by means of a preference, as described below.

Note:	Flows that have been defined as inactive during animation are not included in the critical path calculation. Inactive flows are shown on the diagram with a cross symbol (x) on the flow arrow.

To display the critical path:

1.	Select any process step on the diagram.

2.	Choose Utilities→Calculate Critical Path.

3.	(Optional)  Set the start date and time for the critical path. The default is 00:00 on the first day of the current year.

4.	Click OK.

5.	If you want to record the total duration of the process in the container, click Yes, otherwise click No.

To turn off the critical path display:

•	Choose Utilities→Reset Critical Path.

To define the color of the critical path:

1.	If the critical path is currently displayed, choose Utilities→Reset Critical Path.

2.	Ensure that no diagram elements are currently selected. To do so, click anywhere that is not an element symbol or an organization unit.

3.	Choose Options→Customize→Graphics.

4.	Click the Critical Path Color field.

5.	Click the color you want to use for the critical path, then click OK.

6.	On the Customize Graphics dialog box, do one of the following:

•	Click OK to save the changes for the current session only.

•	Click Save to save the changes permanently as part of a preference set.

7.	Choose Utilities→Calculate Critical Path to redisplay the critical path.


Showing or hiding temporal flows on Process Diagrams

Related TopicsTo show or hide temporal flows on the current diagram:

1.	Click anywhere that is not an element symbol or an organization unit to ensure that no element is selected.

2.	Choose Options→Customize→Graphics.

3.	Check or uncheck the Temporal Flows checkbox in the Display group as required.

4.	To save the changes for the current session only, click OK.

To save the changes permanently as part of a preference set, click Save.


Showing or hiding icons for flows on Process Diagrams

Related TopicsTo show or hide icons for newly-created flows on the diagram:

1.	Choose Options→Customize→Graphics.

2.	Check or uncheck the Flow Icon checkbox in the Display group as required.

3.	To save the changes for the current session only, click OK.

To save the changes permanently as part of a preference set, click Save.

To show or hide the icon for an individual flow:

1.	Double-click the flow.

2.	Select the Specific tab.

3.	Check or uncheck, as required, the Icon checkbox in the Display group.

4.	Click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.


Changing the default time units
Changing the default time units for Process Models

To change the default time units for a Process Model:

1.	Click anywhere that is not an element symbol or an organization unit to ensure that no element is selected.

2.	Choose Options→Customize→Graphics.

3.	In the Default Time Units field of the Elements group, select the units you want from the drop-down list.

4.	To save the changes for the current session only, click OK.

To save the changes permanently as part of a preference set, click Save.

From now on, when you create new elements of the selected type, the fields containing time values on the Create and Edit dialog boxes will display the new units. Existing elements are not affected.


Adding time and cost information to Process Diagram elements

Detailed information can be added to a process step, store or flow about the actual duration of, and costs associated with, the task or function that it represents.

To add time and cost information to a Process Diagram element:

1.	Double-click the element symbol or icon.

2.	Select the Main tab.

3.	Enter time and cost information for the element.

4.	Click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.

To display time information on a Process Diagram:

•	Choose View→Symbol.

You cannot display cost information on the diagram.

You can run the Activity Based Costing report (one of the Process Modeling reports) to show time and cost information for individual diagram elements, together with total times and costs for the entire diagram.

You can also export diagram data to another application (such as a spreadsheet, for example), in order to analyze times, costs or other process data.


 Adding resource information to Process Diagram elements

Detailed information can be added to a process step, store or flow about the resources used, and quality yield, in relation to the task or function that the element represents:

To add resource information to a Process Diagram element:

1.	Double-click the element symbol or icon.

2.	Select the Resources tab.

3.	Enter the resource information for the element.

4.	Click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.


 Adding value chain information to Process Diagram elements

You can add detailed value chain information to a process step, store or flow about the task or function that the element represents.

The term “value chain” refers to the incremental value added by each successive stage of the business process.

You add the information in the form of textual notes.

To add value chain information to a Process Diagram element:

1.	Double-click the element symbol or icon.

2.	Select the Text tab.

3.	In the Text Type list, select Value Chain Analysis.

4.	(Optional)  Click the Text Editor or HTML Editor buttons to open an editor for typing in the value chain information.

Note:	When you save the value chain information and close the editor, the text appears in the text box. You can amend this text as necessary.

5.	In the text box, type in the value chain information.

6.	Click OK.

To keep the Edit dialog box open to make other changes, click Apply.


Changing the color of swim lanes on Process Diagrams

The color of the swim lanes on the diagram is initially set to white. You can change the swim lane colors to:

•	a single color

•	an alternating pattern of two colors

•	the same as the background color for the corresponding organization units

Since each individual organization unit can have a different color, the last of these options enables you to set each swim lane to a different color as well.

To change the color of swim lanes:

1.	Click anywhere that is not an element symbol or an organization unit to ensure that no element is selected.

2.	Choose Options→Customize→Graphics.

3.	To change all the swim lanes to one color, click on each color field in the Swim Lanes group and click on the same color.

To change the swim lanes to an alternating pattern of two colors, click on each color field and click on a different color.

To set the swim lane colors to the corresponding organization unit colors, check the Use Organization Color checkbox.

4.	To save the changes for the current session only, click OK.

To save the changes permanently as part of a preference set, click Save.


Changing the preferences for a diagram

Specifying a preference set

Applying preferences to diagram elements

Changing the application preferences


Saving a preference set for a Process Model
Specifying a preference set for a Process Model

Related Topics

You can change the current preference set to one of your choice in order to apply it to all new diagram elements that you create subsequently, or to one or more selected elements on an existing Process Diagram.

To specify an new preference set for a Process Model:

1.	Choose Options→Customize→Graphics.

2.	Customize the diagram to give it the appearance you want.

3.	Click Save.

4.	Enter the name of the new preference set in Named Element Preference Set dialog box and click OK.

Attention:	Preference set names must start with ‘BP’, and have a ‘.CFG’ file extension, for example, BPNEW.CFG.


Applying preferences to Process Diagram elements

Related Topics

If you have saved a preference set in a previous session, you can apply it to all new diagram elements that you create subsequently, or to one or more selected elements on an existing Process Diagram.

Preferences can be applied to:

•	new elements on the current diagram

•	all elements on new diagrams

To apply default preferences to new elements on the current diagram and all elements on new diagrams:

1.	Choose Options→Customize→Graphics.

2.	Click the Restore All button.

3.	Select the name of the default preference set in the Named Element Preference Set dialog box and click OK.

4.	To apply the changes for the current session only, click OK.

To apply the changes permanently as part of a preference set, click Save.

To apply custom preferences to new elements on the current diagram and all elements on new diagrams:

1.	Choose Options→Customize→Advanced.

2.	Select a preference set file from the Use Element Preference Set drop-down list.

3.	Click OK.

4.	To apply the changes for the current session only, click OK.

To apply the changes permanently as part of a preference, set click Save.

To apply preferences to existing elements on the current diagram:

1.	Select the element or elements to which you want to apply the preferences, or select Edit→Select All to apply the preferences to all elements on the diagram.

1. 	Choose Utilities→Restore Graphical Preferences.


Customizing Process Modeler

You can set a number of options to customize Process Modeler in various ways. The options are divided into basic, advanced and graphics options.

Basic options

Specifying user-defined commands

Specifying the location of multimedia files

Specifying programs for editing or previewing multimedia files

Advanced options

Defining the default icon for an element type

Specifying a preference set

Displaying an icon automatically when creating an element

Changing the application preferences

Graphics options

Applying preferences to diagram elements


Specifying and running user-defined commands

Within Process Modeler, you can specify up to five commands to run programs of your choice from the Tools menu.

To specify a user-defined command:

1.	Choose Options→Customize→Basic.

2.	Enter the commands in any of the fields 1 to 5 of the User Defined Commands group, then click OK.

To run a user-defined command:

1.	Click Tools→User Defined Command.

2.	Select the number of the command you want to run.

Note:	The number corresponds to the number of the command field in the User Defined Commands group in the Customize - Basic dialog box.


Changing Process Modeler application preferences

A number of preference settings apply throughout Process Modeler, namely:

•	use of the 3-dimensional effect with Process Modeler displays

•	automatic generation of short names when creating process steps, stores and flows

•	storage in the repository of multimedia file associations for diagram elements

•	automatic requerying of an entire diagram when the diagram is opened

•	display of the flow icon in iconic mode when creating flows

•	display of flow names on flow creation

•	automatic routing of flows on diagrams around obstacles

These are set by default when Process Modeler is installed on your system. You can change the settings at any time.

To change the application preferences:

1.	Choose Options→Customize→Advanced.

2.	Change the preferences by checking or unchecking the checkboxes in the Application Preferences group, then click OK.

Note:	You will need to exit from and restart Process Modeler before you see the effect of the changes.


Hints, tips and shortcuts for Process Modeler
Tips, tricks and shortcuts for Process Modeler

Process Modeler provides different ways of performing tasks and can be customized to help you perform tasks quickly and consistently. This topic lists some of the short cuts and tips that you can use.

1.	You do not need to define your organization units before you create process steps, stores, flows and so on. You can temporarily place these in the default organization unit, named “Unspecified”, and then move them to other organization units.

2.	If one or more sub-processes have already been defined for a process step, the step symbol has an ellipsis sign (...) in the bottom corner.

3.	To help you quickly create elements on Process Diagrams, you can set Process Modeler to automatically create default short names/labels.  How

4.	You can change the order of the organization units displayed to the left of Process Diagrams.  How

5.	To move a process step or store to a new organization unit. Drag the outline of the step or store until it is in line horizontally with the new organization unit. If you attempt to place the step or store on top of another diagram element, an error message is displayed.


File - New
   New (File Menu)

Related Topics

Creates a new Process Diagram in a chosen container and, if desired, a new business process.

Choose Container dialog box

Allows you to choose the container in which the new Process Diagram will be created. Note, that a Process Diagram and the business process on which it is based are always stored in a single container.

The dropdown list shows a record of the containers you have most recently used. If this list is empty, click the button to the right of the dropdown list to choose a container. Alternatively, create a new container.  How

When you have chosen a container, click OK to display the New Diagram dialog box.

New Diagram Dialog box options

Root Processes Only

If this box is checked, only root processes are listed.

If this box is unchecked, root processes and their sub-processes are listed, down to the level indicated by the Display Level field.

Display Level

Allows you to specify a level to which sub-processes of a root process will be listed. The Root Processes Only box must be unchecked before you can use this field. You can set the level by means of the << (Higher) and >> (Lower) buttons.

A display level of 0 lists all the sub-processes at every level.

list box

The existing business processes in the chosen container.

Create New Root Process button

Allows you to create a new root process.


File - Open Up
 Open Up (File Menu)

Related Topics

Opens a diagram at the next level up the process hierarchy from the current one, i.e. opens a diagram that displays the base process of the current diagram.


File - Open Down
 Open Down (File Menu)

Related Topics

Opens a diagram at the next level down the process hierarchy from the current one. This diagram illustrates a sub-process for a selected process step.

If no sub-processes have yet been defined for this process step, a new diagram is displayed immediately.

If one or more sub-processes have already been defined for this process step, they are listed in the Open Diagram dialog box, which is displayed at this point.


Options - Customize - Basic
 Customize→Basic (Options Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to specify the locations on disk of:

•	programs run by user-defined commands

•	files containing icons, sounds, images and videos

•	programs for editing icons, sounds, images and videos

•	programs for previewing images and videos

Dialog box options

User Defined Commands group

Process Modeler enables you to specify and run user-defined commands.  How

You can use this group of fields to specify up to five command lines, each containing a command that runs a program of your choice. For example, a command line such as c:\reports\payroll.bat might start a batch file that runs a Payroll report.

File Locations group

The default directories for multimedia files. You can enter the name of the directory or directories where you normally store these files. When you give the command to select a multimedia item for inclusion in a Process Diagram, Process Modeler searches first in the directory specified here.

Multimedia Commands group

This group of fields specifies the commands that will start the appropriate program for editing or previewing multimedia files.

Edit

Specifies the commands for editing icon, sound, image and video files. The commands are blank by default. Suggested commands for basic editing requirements are shown in the following table, though you can use commands for more advanced editing software if this is available on your system.

File Type	Suggested Command	Editor Started by This Command
Icon	PBRUSH	Windows Paintbrush
Sound	SOUNDREC	Windows Sound Recorder
Image	WINGIF	WinGIF Image Viewer/Enhancer (see Note 1)
Video	MPLAYER	Windows Media Player (see Notes 2 and 3)
Notes:

1.	WinGIF is a public domain program that is not supplied with Windows, and which must be separately installed on your system. You can use this or any other image viewer that can view files in .GIF format.

2.	You need to have Microsoft Video for Windows installed before you can play or edit videos.

3.	To edit or view a video in auto-play mode, where the video begins as soon as it is selected, use the /PLAY parameter (for example, MPLAYER /PLAY). To cause the video window to close when the video finishes, use the /CLOSE parameter (for example, MPLAYER /PLAY /CLOSE).

Preview

Specifies the commands for previewing image or video files. The commands are blank by default; suggested commands for previewing are the same as for editing.

OK button

Applies any changes you make here to the current diagram and returns you to it. However, these changes remain in force for the current session only, and are not saved. If you subsequently create a new diagram in the current session, these changes do not apply; the system uses the last set of values to be saved.

This feature allows you to try out the effect of changes on a diagram without making those changes permanent.

Cancel button

Cancels the dialog box without saving any changes you may have made.

Save button

Saves any changes you may have made and closes the dialog box.

Reset button

Blanks out all the fields on the dialog box. Cancel undoes the effect of Reset and closes the dialog box.

Help button

Displays help information about the dialog box.


Options - Customize - Advanced
 Customize→Advanced (Options Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to specify:

•	default icons for process steps, stores and flows

•	the name of the file containing the current preference set

•	the name of the file used with intelligent icons

•	various application preferences

Dialog box options

Default Icons

This group of fields enables you to define a default icon for process steps, stores and flows on your Process Diagrams.

Process Modeler uses default icons for process steps, stores and flows. Selecting an icon from the list here causes the selected icon to be used as the default icon for any element of the corresponding type that is created subsequently. After you create a new element, you can associate an icon with it other than the default icon, or you can leave it with the default icon associated.

Miscellaneous

This group of fields allows you to specify filenames for use with various advanced features of Process Modeler.

Use Element Preference Set

The name of the file containing the preference set that you want to use for the active diagram. If you change preferences and save them when customizing a diagram, they will be saved in this file unless you specify a different file on the Customize Graphics dialog box. If you do not specify a name here, Process Modeler uses the default preference set file, named BPMOD10.CFG in the Oracle home directory.

Icon Data File

The name of a file containing keyword-and-icon associations and used to display an icon automatically when creating an element. A specified icon is automatically displayed for a newly-created element if the element name contains a specified keyword. The file contains entries such as the following:

phone	phone1.bmp
enter	keybord1.bmp
customer	person1.bmp

In this way, for example, if you create a process step with the name "Telephone the client", the icon phone1.bmp is used by default, rather than any other specified default icon. You can override this choice at any time by associating a different icon with the element during editing.

The Browse button displays the Open dialog box, enabling you to select a file for use as the icon data file from any directory to which you have access.

Application Preferences

This group of boxes enables you to change various application preferences for Process Modeler. If you change any of these boxes, you will need to exit from and restart Process Modeler before you see the effect of the changes, which will apply to all new diagrams created subsequently.

You can change these settings for an individual Process Diagram by selecting Options→Customize→Advanced to display the Customize - Advanced dialog box.

Use 3D Controls

Specifies whether you want to display Process Modeler screens with a three-dimensional effect. Process Modeler is supplied with this feature activated. Some national language displays require the three-dimensional feature to be turned off.

Fill Label on Create

Specifies whether, when you create an organization unit, process step or store, the short name (for organization units), label (for process steps) or ID (for stores) will be generated automatically. The short name, label or ID is an abbreviated name for the diagram element.

If automatic generation is not active, you must supply the short name, label or ID each time you create one of these diagram elements.

Use Multimedia on Database

Specifies whether you want the multimedia file associations for diagram elements to be stored in the repository. If this box is checked, you can create multiple Process Diagrams using the same elements with the same multimedia file associations, without having to specify the associations manually for each diagram. If this box is unchecked, you can create multiple Process Diagrams using the same elements but with different multimedia associations.

Requery on Diagram Open

Specifies whether you want to requery the entire diagram when you open it. If this box is unchecked, no requery is performed when the diagram is opened.

Flow Icon on Iconic Create

Specifies whether you want the icon to be displayed when you create a flow and the diagram display is in iconic mode.

Display Flow Name

Specifies whether you want the name to be displayed on creation for flows on the diagram.

Obstruction Routing

Specifies whether you want the flows on the diagram to be automatically routed around obstacles on the diagram.


Options - Customize - Graphics
 Customize→Graphics (Options Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to edit the graphical aspects of the diagrammer window.

Dialog box options

Select an item below for information about a group of fields.

•	Element

•	Swim Lanes

•	Display

Element

This group of fields defines the details of how different types of elements are displayed.

Type

The type of diagram item to which these details apply. The default type is process step, but you can choose a different type from the list.

If no items are already selected when you display this dialog box, any changes you make on here apply to all items of the specified type.

If one or more diagram items are already selected when you display this dialog box, this field shows "Selected Elements". In this case, changes you make apply only to the selected items, which may be of different types.

Note:	If you resize one or more selected process steps or stores, all other process steps or stores on the diagram are resized as well.

The element type Diagram Legend refers to the text data that you can include when you print a diagram:  title, author, time and date, and page numbers. This data is specified on the Summary Information dialog box.

Default Time Units

The default time unit used for this type of element. You can override this default when you create a new element. Available time units are seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, quarters, half-years and years.

This field does not appear if the element type is Diagram Legend.

Font

The main font used to display text on this type of element. Clicking on this field displays the Font dialog box to specify the font details.

2nd Font

The font used to display durations and annotations on process steps. The step duration appears in the bottom right-hand corner of the process step symbol if the diagram display is changed to Symbol mode.

Color

The colors used on diagram symbols for this type of element. Clicking on either of these fields displays the Color dialog box to specify a color.

Fill controls the fill color. Only those element types that use an outline symbol (such as a rectangle) can have a fill color.

Line controls the line color.

Line Width

The line thickness on diagram symbols for this type of element. You can specify a number in the first field, where a value of 1 gives the thinnest line. With values more than about 30, the line will be so thick as to obscure parts of the element name. Alternatively, you can click on the second field to display a choice of ten different line widths.

Swim Lanes

This group of fields enables you to specify the color or colors to be used for swim lanes on the diagram.

Color fields

These two fields define the color or colors used for backgrounds in adjacent swim lanes. Clicking on either of these fields displays the Color dialog box to choose a color.

If you define two different colors here, adjacent swim lanes will alternate between these two colors, provided that Use Organization Color is not checked. If you set both fields to the same color, all swim lanes will have that color, provided that Use Organization Color is not checked, and lane boundaries will be shown by a thin line.

Use Organization Fill Color

Indicates whether a swim lane uses the fill color of the corresponding organization unit.

If this box is checked, the diagram uses the fill color defined for the organization unit corresponding to the current swim lane.

If the box is unchecked, the diagram uses the colors defined in the two color fields in this group.

Layout

This group of fields controls some features of the diagram layout.

Size

The display size of the symbol or icon area for this type of element. The X value controls the horizontal size; the Y value controls the vertical size. The symbol or icon is centered within this area.

Values are expressed as tenths of a millimeter. Thus values of 600 x 600, for example, set the area to approximately 6 x 6 centimeters. The maximum size you can specify is 1000 x 1000

Critical Path

Controls the color used to show the critical path. Clicking on this field displays the Color dialog box to choose a new color.

Animation Units

Controls the time units used in process animation. You can change the animation time units here.

Animation time units are the time units used when setting the animation time step. The animation time step defines the period of actual time that is represented by half a second of animation time on a Process Diagram. The available time units are seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, quarters, half-years and years.

Mode

Controls the way in which diagram elements are displayed.

In Symbol mode, the various types of diagram element are represented by basic shapes, such as rectangles for process steps and lines with arrowheads for flows.

Enhanced Symbol mode is the same as symbol mode but also includes specific symbols for the diagram element sub-types.

In Iconic mode, the symbols are replaced by icons.

Display

This group of boxes controls various other options to do with diagram display.

Temporal Flows

Determines whether temporal flows are displayed on the diagram.

Flow Icon (On Iconic Create)

Determines whether icons for flows are displayed if you create flows and the operational mode is Iconic. Note that, even when flows are created in this way, you can choose whether to show or hide the icon for an individual flow.

Display Flow Name (On Create)

Specifies whether you want the name to be displayed on creation for flows on the diagram.

Page Outlines

Determines whether page outlines are displayed on the diagram, to indicate where page breaks occur when printing the diagram. You can also see where page breaks occur by previewing a diagram.

Annotation

Determines whether diagram annotations are displayed.

Use Multimedia on Database

Specifies whether you want the multimedia file associations for the diagram elements to be stored in the repository. This feature enables you to create multiple Process Diagrams with the same multimedia file associations, without having to specify the associations manually for each diagram.

Requery on Open

Specifies whether you want to requery the entire diagram when you open it. If this box is unchecked, no requery is performed when the diagram is opened.

Process/Store

Specifies whether the diagram displays labels for process steps and stores or the total time taken to complete the task they represent. This feature only applies if you select to view diagram elements in symbol mode.

Process

Identifies whether the diagram displays the names of modules that are implemented by process steps. This feature only applies if you select to view diagram elements in symbol mode.

OK

Applies any changes you make here to the current diagram and returns you to it. However, these changes remain in force for the current session only, and are not saved. If you subsequently create a new diagram in the current session, these changes do not apply; the system uses the last set of values to be saved.

This feature allows you to try out the effect of changes on a diagram without making those changes permanent.

Cancel

Discards any changes you make to the dialog box and returns you to the current diagram.

Save

Allows you to save the current settings for use in future sessions.

If a preference set file has been specified for use (via Options→Customize→Advanced), selecting this button displays the Named Element Preference Set dialog box, from where you can choose a preference set file to contain the current settings.

If no preference set file has been specified, selecting this button saves the current settings in the default preference set file.

The default preference set file is named BPMOD10.CFG and is stored in the Oracle home directory on your workstation's hard disk. Other preference set files also have the default extension .CFG and are stored by default in the Oracle home directory.

Restore All

If a preference set file has been specified for use (via Options→Customize→Advanced), selecting this button displays the Named Element Preference Set dialog box, from where you can choose a preference set file and apply its preferences to the active diagram. This can be useful, for example, if you use a Process Diagram developed by someone else and for which different preferences have been set.

If no preference set file has been specified, this button changes all the settings on the dialog box back to their default values.

The Cancel button undoes the effect of Restore All and returns you to the current diagram.

Help

Displays help information about the dialog box.


Edit - Select <Element Type>
Select→<Element Type> (Edit Menu)

Selects named elements of the specified element type on the active diagram. Selected elements are displayed surrounded by grab bars.

Dialog box options

List box

Displays the names of elements of the type you want to select on the diagram.

Show Unnamed Flows

If you chose Flow as the element type, these option buttons allow you to specify how the list is to identify any flows that have been created without a name. You can choose to list these flows either by the name of their source (from element) or by the name of their destination (to element).

Select All

Selects all the elements shown in the list box.


Edit - Include - Process Step
Include→Process Step (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to include on the active diagram one or more process steps that currently exist in the container but do not appear on the diagram. This might be because they have been cut from a Process Diagram, or because they are business functions defined using other Oracle Designer tools.

This option displays the Include Process Steps dialog box which allows you to specify the name of the process step or steps you want to include.


Edit - Include - Store
Include→Store (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to include on the active diagram one or more stores that currently exist in the container but do not appear on the diagram. This might be because they have been cut from a Process Diagram, or because they are datastores defined using other Oracle Designer tools.

This option displays the Include Stores dialog box which allows you to specify the name of the store or stores you want to include.


Include→Flow (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to include on the active diagram one or more flows that currently exist in the container but do not appear on the diagram. This might be because they have been cut from a Process Diagram, or because they are dataflows defined using other Oracle Designer tools.

This option displays the Include Flows dialog box which allows you to specify the name of the flow or flows you want to include.


Edit - Include - Trigger
Include→Trigger (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to include on the active diagram one or more triggers that currently exist in the container but do not appear on the diagram. This might be because they have been cut from a Process Diagram, or because they are events defined using other Oracle Designer tools.

This option displays the Include Triggers dialog box which allows you to specify the name of the trigger or triggers you want to include.


Edit - Include - Organization
Include→Outcome (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to include on the active diagram one or more outcomes that currently exist in the container but do not appear on the diagram. This might be because they have been cut from a Process Diagram, or because they are events defined using other Oracle Designer tools.

This option displays the Include Outcomes dialog box which allows you to specify the name of the outcome or outcomes you want to include.


Edit - Include - Organization Unit
Include→Organization Unit (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to include on the active diagram one or more organization units that currently exist in the container but do not appear on the diagram. This might be because the organization units were:

•	cut from a Process Diagram

•	created by yourself or others as part of a different diagram

•	created as business units using other Oracle Designer tools

Dialog box options

Allows you to specify the name of the organization unit or units you want to include on the active diagram.

Item list

Lists the organization units that you can include.

If an organization unit hierarchy has been defined, the list shows a child unit indented from its parent.

A list entry with a plus sign (+) next to it indicates that the organization unit is visible on the current diagram. An entry with no plus sign indicates that this organization unit is hidden on the diagram.

Select All button

Selects all the organization units in the list for inclusion in the current diagram.


Edit - Include - Global Process Step
Include→Global Process Step (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to include on the active diagram one or more global process steps that currently exist in the container but do not appear on the diagram. For example, they may have been previously cut from a Process Diagram.

This option displays the Include Global Process Steps dialog box which allows you to specify the name of the process step or steps you want to include.


Edit - Element - Element Type
 Element→Element Type (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Maintains the properties of an element of the specified element type on the active diagram.

Note:	You can also open an element dialog box by double-clicking on the element on the diagram.

Dialog box options

Allows you to select a diagram element so that you can edit its properties. The list shows the names of all the elements of the selected type that appear on the active diagram.

Double-clicking on an item in the list, or highlighting an item and selecting OK, displays the detailed Edit <element type> dialog box, where you can view or change the properties of the item.

If you use the Edit <element type> dialog box to list flows on the active diagram, the entry none denotes a flow with no name.


View - Annotation
Show Annotation (View Menu)

Related Topics

Displays or hides annotations added to diagram elements.

A check mark next to this option in the View menu indicates that annotation viewing is active. However, before annotations will appear on the screen, make sure also that:

•	Display Annotation is checked on the Customize Graphics dialog box

•	the annotation type (Text, Graphic or Text & Graphic) is correct for a particular annotation on the Multimedia tab of the Edit dialog box


View - Image
Image (View Menu)

Related Topics

Activates or deactivates the immediate display of an image associated with a selected diagram element.

Note:	You must specify a preview program for images before you can display an image associated with a diagram element.


View - Drill Up Organization
   Drill Up Organization (View Menu)

Related Topics

For a selected organization unit that has child organization units displayed, this option collapses the display so that only the parent organization unit is displayed.

The parent organization unit is then displayed with a plus sign (+) in the bottom corner to indicate that it has lower-level organization units that are not currently displayed.


View - Drill Down Organization
   Drill Down Organization (View Menu)

Related Topics

For a selected organization unit that has child organization units which are not currently displayed, this option expands the display so that the next level down in the hierarchy is also displayed.

The parent organization unit is then displayed with a minus sign (-) in the bottom corner to indicate that its next lowest level in the hierarchy is currently displayed.

Organization units at this next level down may themselves have child organization units. If so, this is indicated by a plus sign (+) in the bottom corner. You will need to repeat this menu selection for those children to see successive lower levels in the hierarchy.


View - Symbol
Symbol (View Menu)

Related Topics

Displays the diagram using a basic symbol set, with a different symbol for each element type.

Time values are also displayed for process steps and stores.


View - Enhanced Symbol
Enhanced Symbol (View Menu)

Related Topics

Displays the diagram using an enhanced symbol set which includes specific symbols for certain element sub-types, such as decision points, reports and data stores.

Time values are not displayed in enhanced symbol mode.


View - Iconic
Iconic (View Menu)

Related Topics

Displays the diagram using icons.

Time values are not displayed in iconic mode.


Utilities - Restore Graphical Preferences
Restore Graphical Preferences (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Applies preferences from the current preference set to any selected elements on the current Process Diagram.


Utilities - Update Selected
Update Selected (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

For one or more selected diagram elements, this option allows you to edit all selected elements in one operation.

Dialog box options

Allows you to edit the properties of all the selected elements.

Use in Application Development

Indicates whether the selected elements are likely to be used when designing a database application based on data from this diagram. For example, a process step named "Return video to shelf" is unlikely to feature in such an application, but one named "Enter customer details on computer" will almost certainly do so. This field is used for information purposes only, and has no effect on the diagram.

Type list box

The type or sub-type of the elements you are editing.

You can change the element type to any of the available values shown in the list. If this field currently shows a main element type (process step, store or flow), you can change it to one of its sub-types as shown in the list. For example, you could change a process step to a data entry, decision point or report.

If the field currently shows a sub-type, you can change it to another of the available sub-types, or back to the main type.

Icon group

The field shows the filename of the icon you want to associate with the selected elements. Icons are visible only if you change the diagram display to icons or if you start animation.

You associate an icon with the selected elements by choosing one from the list of those available. The list shows the icon files available in the default directory at the location specified for icon files.

Flow Specific group

Allows you to edit properties specific to flows.

Activate during Animation

Specifies whether the selected flows are activated during process animation. You can use this feature to test the effect of the selected flows.

Logic option group

These option buttons specify what happens if the process steps or stores at the destination of the selected flows have more than one flow coming into them.

Selecting the OR option button specifies that the destination is activated as soon as either the selected flows or another flow (or group of flows that are ANDed together) is completed.

Selecting the AND option button specifies that the destination is activated only when all the selected flows marked AND are completed.

Display group

This group of boxes determines what associated text, if any, is to be displayed on the diagram for the selected flows.

Checkbox	Effect if Checked
Icon	The icon associated with the selected flows is to be displayed on the diagram when the display is in iconic mode. If you uncheck this box, the selected flows are displayed as a continuous line, as in symbol or enhanced symbol modes.
Time + Units	The diagram displays the total time details for the selected flows. These details are the contents of the Total fields in the Time group on the Edit - Main tab.
Rule	The diagram displays the text of the rule for the selected flows. This text is the contents of the Rule field on the Edit - Specific tab.
Name	The diagram displays the flow name for the selected flows. This text is the contents of the Name field on the Edit - Specific tab.
Organization Specific group

Allows you to edit properties specific to organization units.

Route to Parent

Specifies whether you want the diagram to indicate the parents of all organization units that are lower-level units.


Utilities - Calculate Critical Path
Calculate Critical Path (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Displays the critical path through the business process depicted on the active diagram.

Dialog box options

Allows you optionally to set the start date and time for the critical path.

Start Date

The default time and date are 00:00 on the first day of the current year.

If the diagram contains one or more flows that are defined in the flow-specific properties as inactive during animation, the message "Warning: Inactive flows present in Process Diagram" is shown in the dialog box.

Inactive flows are shown on the diagram with a cross symbol (x) on the flow arrow, and are not included in the critical path calculation.


Utilities - Reset Critical Path
Reset Critical Path (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Turns off the display of the critical path through the business process depicted on the active diagram.


Utilities - Animation - Options
Animation→Options (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to specify how animation time on a Process Diagram relates to actual time. For example, the animation for a process step might last only a few seconds, but it might represent a task that actually takes hours, days or even longer to complete.

Dialog box options

Time Step

The period of actual time that is represented by half a second of animation time when you animate the Process Diagram. The available units for the time step are seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, quarters, half-years and years. You can enter the number of these units in the time step as a numeric value between 0.1 and 99999. Thus, if you enter a time step of 5 minutes, one second of animation time will represent 10 minutes of actual time.

Changing the animation time units enables you to set the default units for time steps. You can override the default units here.

The time step you choose depends on factors such as the type of industry in which you operate and the type of process you are depicting on the diagram. For example, a Process Diagram for the pharmaceutical industry, depicting the development of a new drug, might use months or even longer as the time step. In contrast, a Process Diagram for the fast-food industry might animate in time steps of minutes.

Automatic Animation Tracking

Enables automatic scrolling of the Process Diagram during animation to follow the process flow. Checking this box ensures that the element currently being animated is always visible.

Hours per Day

The number of working hours represented by a single day on the Process Diagram. For example, in a manufacturing operation a production line might be running for 24 hours a day. In an office environment, a working day of around 8 hours might be more typical.

Days per Week

The number of working days represented by a single week on the Process Diagram. For example, a manufacturing operation might use a 7-day week, but a 5-day week is more typical for a business office.

Days per Month

The number of working days represented by a single month on the Process Diagram. For example, a manufacturing operation might use a 30-day month as an average figure, but for a business office, the figure might be closer to 20 days.

A default value is calculated automatically from the Days per Week value; you can override the default if you want to.

Days per Year

The number of working days represented by a single year on the Process Diagram. For example, a manufacturing operation might run for 360 or more days a year, but a business office might be open between 250 and 300 days a year.

A default value is calculated automatically from the Days per Week (not Days per Month) value; you can override the default if you want to.


Utilities - Animation - Start
   Animation→Start/Stop(Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Starts and stops animation on the active diagram.

If you stop animation, you can use this option to start it again, first selecting the required elements.

If you want to suspend animation and subsequently resume it from the same point, select Utilities→Animation→Suspend.


Utilities - Animation - Skip to Next Event
Animation→Skip to Next Event (Utilities Menu)

Moves the diagram animation on quickly from the element currently being animated. The animation continues from the next element in the process.

This feature is useful if the current element has a long animation time and you do not want to wait until it finishes before seeing the animation for the rest of the diagram.


Utilities - Animation - Suspend
Animation→Suspend (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Suspends diagram animation, enabling you subsequently to resume animation from the same point.


Utilities - Animation - Continue
Animation→Continue (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Resumes diagram animation that was previously suspended. Animation continues from the point at which it was suspended.


Utilities - Animation - Sound
Animation→Sound (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Turns the sound on or off for diagram animation. If the sound is turned on, a check mark appears next to this option in the menu.

Even if you have turned off the sound using this option, you can still play the sound for an individual element, if a sound has been associated with it.


Utilities - Multimedia - Show Image
   Multimedia→Show Image (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Displays an image for a selected diagram element, if an image has been associated.

Note:	You must specify a preview program for images before you can display an image associated with a diagram element.


Utilities - Multimedia - Play Sound
   Multimedia→Play Sound (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Plays a sound for a selected diagram element, if a sound has been associated.


Utilities - Multimedia - Play Video
   Multimedia→Play Video (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Plays a video for a selected diagram element, if a video has been associated.

Note:	You must specify a preview program for videos before you can play a video associated with a diagram element.


Utilities - Multimedia - Execute Process
   Multimedia→Execute Process (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Runs a program for a selected diagram element, if a program has been associated.


Utilities - User Defined Command
User Defined Command (Tools Menu)

Related Topics

Executes one of five user-defined commands.

Each user-defined command runs a program of your choice, provided that you have specified the program that the command is to run.

You can specify up to five commands using the Customize - Basic dialog box, each of which can run any program to which you have access.


   Organization unit button

Related Topics

Enables you to create an organization unit.

When you select this button and subsequently click on the organization area at the side of the diagram, the Create Organization Unit dialog box is displayed for you to enter the basic details of the organization unit.


   Process step button

Related Topics

Enables you to create a process step.

When you select this button and subsequently click on a swim lane, the Create Process Step dialog box is displayed for you to enter the basic details of the process step.


   Store button

Related Topics

Enables you to create a store.

When you select this button and subsequently click on a swim lane, the Create Store dialog box is displayed for you to enter the basic details of the store.


   Flow button

Related Topics

Enables you to create a flow.

When you select this button and subsequently create a flow by clicking on two diagram elements in succession, the Create Flow dialog box is displayed for you to enter the basic details of the flow.

Note:	A flow can run from one process step to another, from a process step to a store, or from a store to a process step. A flow cannot run directly from one store to another store.


   Trigger button

Related Topics

Enables you to create a trigger.

When you select this button and subsequently click on a process step, the Create Trigger dialog box is displayed for you to enter the details of the trigger.


   Outcome button

Related Topics

Enables you to create an outcome.

When you select this button and subsequently click on a process step, the Create Outcome dialog box is displayed for you to enter the details of the outcome.


Utilities - Export Data
Export Data (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Copies data from the current Process Diagram to a disk file. You can export data in one of a number of formats, allowing you to share diagram data with other users.

If one or more diagram elements are selected, the data is exported only for those elements. Otherwise, data is exported for all diagram elements.

Dialog box options

File Name

Specifies the name and location of the file to which you are exporting the data. If you enter only a filename, with no drive or directory, the file is created in the directory where the current diagram resides.

File Type

Defines the file format in which the data is to be exported. You can choose from:

Type	Export Data Format
Organization (Spreadsheet)	Spreadsheet (comma-delimited) for data relating to organization unit structures
Process (Excel)	Excel
Process (Spreadsheet)	Spreadsheet (comma-delimited) for data relating to process steps
Text	ASCII text file; this includes field names in the data exported
Note:	The other dialog box options are only available if the export file type is Text or Process (Excel). If the export file type is Process (Excel), only some of these options are available.

Selected Only

Indicates whether elements on the diagram are currently selected. If so, only data about the selected elements is exported. If no elements are selected, data about all elements is exported.

Default Values

Indicates whether to export the default values for diagram elements that have had no explicit value defined.

Element Type group

Specifies exactly which types of diagram element data you want to export.

Checkbox	Exports Details of
Organization Units	All (or selected) organization units and any related lower-level organization units
Roles	Roles defined for all (or selected) organization units and any related lower-level organization units
Process Steps	All (or selected) process steps
Stores	All (or selected) stores
Flows	All (or selected) flows
Events	All (or selected) triggers or outcomes
Two further boxes allow you to export identifying information about all (or selected) elements.

Checkbox	Exports
Type	Element type
ID	Element short name
Times and Costs group

Specifies exactly what time and cost data you want to export. All fields referred to are on the Main tab of the Edit dialog box.

Checkbox	Exports Contents of
Time Breakdown	All fields in Time group, itemized by field
Total Time	Total field in Time group
Cost Breakdown	All fields in Cost group, itemized by field
Total Cost	Total field in Cost group
Frequency	Frequency field
Multimedia

Enables you to export details of multimedia associations for elements on the diagram.

The data exported is the contents of the Icon, Sound, Image, Video and Execution String fields specified on the Edit - Multimedia tab for the diagram elements.

Miscellaneous group

Specifies exactly what text data you want to export. All fields referred to are on the specified tab of the Edit dialog box.

Checkbox	Exports Contents of
Description	Description field of Edit - Text tab
Notes	Notes field of Edit - Text tab
Problem Areas	Problem Areas field of Edit - Text tab
Entity Notes	Entity Notes field of Edit - Text tab
Value Chain	Value Chain Analysis field of Edit - Text tab
Competitive Index	Competitive Index Notes field of Edit - Text tab
Resources	Resources fields of Edit - Resources tab


   Select button

Related Topics

Puts the active diagram in Select mode. In Select mode, any element or association on the diagram can be selected or deselected by clicking on it. Selected items are displayed with grab bars. When an item has been selected, you can move it, resize it or set the preferences (e.g., fill color, line color, line width or font settings) for it.


Line width button
   Line Width

Changes the line width of the selected elements and associations on the active diagram.


Line color button
   Line Color

Changes the line color of the selected elements and associations on the active diagram.


Fill color button
   Fill Color

Changes the fill color of the selected elements and associations on the active diagram.


Font button
   Font

Changes the font used by the selected elements and associations on the active diagram.


File - Save Diagram
   Save Diagram (File Menu)

Related Topics

Saves the active diagram under its current name. If the diagram is untitled a dialog box is displayed for you to enter a name.


File - Save Diagram As
Save Diagram As (File Menu)

Related Topics

Names and saves the active diagram under a new name.

Dialog box options

Diagram name

The name under which you want to save the active diagram. This field can be populated by selecting one of the diagrams in the list or by entering the diagram name using alphanumeric characters. The default for this field is the name of the active diagram.

Diagrams for container

A list of the existing named diagrams in the container.


File - Delete Diagram
Delete Diagram (File Menu)

Related Topics

Deletes an existing diagram from a chosen container. This option deletes a diagram, but not any of the elements stored in the repository that are represented on the diagram.

Dialog box options

Diagrams for workarea

Lists the existing diagrams, grouped by container, that are visible to your workarea. Choose the diagram you want to delete by expanding the appropriate container node and selecting the diagram name.


File - Close
Close (File Menu)

Closes the active window without quitting the tool. To quit the tool use File→Exit.


File - Summary Information
Summary Information (File Menu)

Related Topics

Displays information about the active window and enables you to record additional information about the window.

The database connection and the current workarea cannot be changed using this menu option, but can be changed using File→Change Connection and File→Change Workarea.

Dialog box options

When the active window is a diagram, the dialog box has the following tabs:

Summary Details

Text

Otherwise, the Summary Information (without tabs) dialog box is displayed.


Summary Information - Summary Details

The Show checkbox adjacent to each field determines whether or not the information in the field is displayed in the print legend on the active window.

Note:	Summary information cannot be saved against a diagram unless that diagram has already been saved in the repository.

When a diagram is copied, i.e., you open a read-only copy of a currently open diagram, the summary information about that diagram does not get copied.

Diagram

The name of the active diagram.

Title

The title of the active window. The title can be used for displaying additional information on the window.

Created

The date and time on which the contents of the active window was created.

Last Modified

The date and time on which the contents of the active window was last modified.

Author

The author of the contents of the window.

Container

The name of the container that you are currently using.

Username

The username for the Oracle database that you are currently using.

Connect String

The connect string for the Oracle database that you are currently using.

Workarea

The name of the workarea that you are currently using.


Summary Information - Text

Related Topics

Used to enter free format multi-line text for the text types associated with the active diagram, such as notes and description.

Note:	Multi-line text can be entered only for named diagrams.

Text Type field

Defines which text type you want to enter multi-line text for. A list of currently defined text is available.

Text Editor button

Opens the ASCII editor, which enables you to attach ASCII text to the selected multi-line text property.

HTML Editor button

Opens the HTML editor, which enables you to attach HTML text to the selected multi-line text property.


Summary Information dialog box

Related Topics

Displays information about the Navigator. The checkbox adjacent to each field determines whether or not the information in the field is displayed in the print legend.

Workarea

The name of the workarea that you are currently using.

Username

The username for the Oracle database that you are currently using.

Connect String

The connect string for the Oracle database that you are currently using.


File - Change Connection
Change Connection (File Menu)

Related Topics

Changes the Oracle database to which the current tool is connected.

Connect dialog box


Connect dialog box

Specifies or changes the Oracle database to which the current tool is connected.

Username

The name of the user that must be specified to gain access to the database account.

You can specify the full connect string in this field, in the format:

username/password@database_alias

For example, to connect to a database with the alias HQ8 using the username and password scott, you would enter:

scott/scott@HQ8

Note:	If you specify the full connect string here, you do not need to complete the Password and Connect fields.

Password

The password for the given username. The password is displayed as asterisks.

Connect String

The database alias required to access the database account. You must ensure that the database alias is specified in the TNSNAMES.ORA file in your Oracle home directory, usually d:\oracle_home\NET80\ADMIN.


File - Change Workarea
Change Workarea (File Menu)

Related Topics

Changes the workarea for the current tool and provides access to the Workarea Wizard which allows you to create new workareas.

Note, you must have the repository management privilege before you can create workareas.

Workarea dialog box


Workarea dialog box

Specifies or changes the workarea for the current tool, and enables you to create a new workarea.

Workarea list box

Lists the workareas that you can choose, together with various details about them. You can choose a workarea by selecting it and clicking OK.

Workarea

The names of the workareas that have been defined in the repository.

Owner

The username of the repository user who created the workarea.

Type

Indicates whether this is a private or shared workarea. Private workareas can be accessed only by the user who created them. Shared workareas can be accessed by any user to whom the owner grants access.

Check In Branch

(Versioned repositories only) The default branch, if any, to which versioned objects are checked in if they are updated via this workarea.

New

Enables you to create a new workarea. Clicking this button starts the Create Workarea Wizard, a predefined set of screen forms that takes you step by step through the process of creating a workarea.


Create Workarea Wizard: Options

The Create Workarea Wizard: Options screen provides the following four options for creating a workarea:

Option	Description
Create a default workarea	Simplest option - just enter the workarea name
Copy a workarea	Copies an existing workarea, but allows you to modify workarea details in the copy
Create a workarea based on a file-stored workarea specification	Uses rules and configurations stored in a file to create the workarea; you can modify these and other details
Create a custom workarea	Provides greatest choice - you can manually define all the details of the workarea
Note:	To edit an existing workarea, select the workarea and choose Edit→Edit Workarea.

Additional fields are displayed from each of the four available options. These allow you to name the workarea, provide a suitable description for the new workarea and, where appropriate, name a workarea to copy from.

Once you have made your selection, the wizard takes you step by step through the process of creating the workarea.

When you create a workarea, it is initially a private workarea, meaning that only you can access it. Subsequently you can, if you wish, grant one or more other users access to it, thus making it a shared workarea. If you later revoke access to the workarea from all other users, the workarea becomes private again.

For all except a default workarea, you can specify a default checkin branch if the automatic branching policy is enabled. You can also change the rules and configurations that make up the workarea specification.

A basic workarea specification, consisting merely of the rule LATEST (MAIN), is applied to all new workareas by default. This rule specifies that each time the workarea is refreshed it will display details of the latest version of all objects to which you have access on the MAIN branch. It is not necessary for a workarea to have any other rules or any configurations specified for it, but if you want to refine the workarea specification, you can do so using the wizard.


Application System dialog box

Specifies or changes the application system for the current tool.

Application System entry box

Identifies the name of the application system you want to use. If an application system is selected in the list box, then the name of that application system is displayed in this field.

Application System list box

Lists the names and owners of all the application system that you may use. If you select an application system from this list, its name is displayed in the application system entry box.


File - Print
   Print (File Menu)

Related Topics

Prints the contents of the active window. This option enables you to specify the range of pages to be printed, the print quality, the number of copies, the destination printer and other printing options.

Dialog box options

Printer

The name of the current printer. The current printer can be changed using the Setup button. If the current printer is the system (that is, the default) printer it is stated in this field.

Print Range

All

Prints all pages. All is the default print range value.

Pages

Prints a range of pages specified by the From and To fields. For example, entering 2 in the From field and 6 in the To field prints pages 2 to 6 inclusive.

Print Quality

Specifies the print density. The higher the print density, the better the print quality, but higher-quality copies may take longer to print.

Copies

The number of copies of the print job that you want to print.

Print to File

Determines whether or not the print job is printed to a specified file instead of being sent to the printer. When checked, the Print to File dialog box is displayed.

Page Numbers

Determines whether or not page numbers are printed at the bottom of each page of the print job.

Print to ASCII

Prints the textual content of the Navigator window to a text file. If this box is checked, a dialog box is displayed for you to specify the name and location of the text file. Note this option is available from the Repository Object Navigator only.

Page Title

Determines whether or not the title is printed at the top of each page of the print job.

Page Boundaries

Determines whether or not indicators are displayed showing the outermost edges of the printable area of the page.

Scale to Pages

X:

Determines the number of pages in the horizontal axis on which the data will be printed.

Y:

Determines the number of pages in the vertical axis on which the data will be printed.

Fit to Page

Determines whether or not the data is printed so that it fits onto one sheet of the currently selected paper size.

Setup button

Allows you to view or change the configuration of the current printer, or to choose a different printer if more than one is available. Selecting this button displays the Print Setup dialog box.


File - Print Preview
Print Preview (File Menu)

Related Topics

Displays the contents of the active window as it will appear when printed, and provides options for navigating through, and for changing the magnification of, the pages within the Print Preview window. The contents of the active window can also be printed directly from this preview window.

Print preview buttons

Print button

Displays the Print dialog box, allowing you to specify how and where the data is printed, and to initiate the print job. Selecting this button cancels the Print Preview window.

Next Page button

Shows how the next page of the data will appear when printed.

Prev Page button

Shows how the previous page of the data will appear when printed.

One Page/Two Page button

Specifies whether one or two pages are previewed at a time.

Zoom In button

Enlarges part of the page preview display.

Zoom Out button

Reduces the magnification of the page preview display.


File - Print Setup
Print Setup (File Menu)

Related Topics

Configures printer settings such as the destination printer, the paper size and the paper orientation. Advanced document properties set within an application can also be set. These settings will override the default settings made in Windows.

Dialog box options

Printer

Determines whether you want to use the default printer or one of the other currently connected printers. A dropdown list of currently connected printers is available. The default printer can be changed, and other printers connected, from the Settings option on the Windows Start menu.

Orientation

Determines whether the printout will appear in portrait or landscape format. Selecting the appropriate option button changes the image of the page accordingly in this field.

Size

Determines the paper size for the printer.

Source

Determines the source of the paper for the printer.

Options button

Displays the Options dialog box for the currently selected printer, allowing you to set some of the more advanced document printing options. Third party printer help is available for the Options dialog box.


File - Recent File
Recent file (File Menu)

Opens any of the four most recently opened files (diagrams or logic text) in the current workarea. Diagrams or logic files in other workareas which have been opened recently may also be listed, but cannot be opened using this option.


File - Exit
Exit (File Menu)

Exits from the tool.


Browse dialog box

Directories

The directory where the file that you want to embed or link to is located.

Drives

The drive where the file that you want to embed or link to is located.

Network... button

Locates a file on the network. For more information, select the Help button on the Connect Network Drive dialog box.


Print to File dialog box (Description not used by Designer in 2.1)

Related Topics

Allows you to specify the name of the file to which a print job is to be saved.

File Name

Specifies the name of the file (maximum of eight characters, plus a three-letter extension), including its path, to which you want to print the diagram.

Attention:	The filename must be different from the original filename, or the diagram must be saved to a different drive or directory.

Note:	If no file of this name currently exists, one will be created.

All the files of the specified type in the specified directory are listed below the File Name field.

Save File as Type

Specifies the file extension for the file. It also filters the File Name list so that only files of the specified type are listed.

Drives

Select the drive on which you want to store the file.

Directories

Select the directory where you want to store the file.

Network button

Opens the Connect Network Drive dialog box so that you can make a connection to a network drive. For more information, choose the Help button in that dialog box.


Edit - Undo/Redo
Undo/Redo (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Undoes the last action performed on the active window. Only certain actions can be undone. If the last action was performed using Edit→Undo, and the action can be redone, the menu option changes to Edit→Redo.


Edit - Cut
Cut (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Removes the selection and places it on the Clipboard. Any text and graphics that you place on the Clipboard remains there until you replace it with a new item. The contents of the Clipboard can be pasted back using Edit→Paste. This option does not remove data from the repository.

Note:	When working in the Property Palette, the changes you make are not immediately stored in the repository. The changes will only be committed to the repository when you change the focus (by making another window active in the application) or by saving recent property changes.


Edit - Copy
Copy (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Copies the selection onto the Clipboard. Text or graphics that you copy to the Clipboard replaces the previous contents. The contents of the Clipboard can be pasted back using Edit→Paste.


Edit - Paste
Paste (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Inserts the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point, replacing any selection if the selected text or graphic can be replaced. To place items on the Clipboard use Edit→Copy or Edit→Cut.


Edit - Edit Workarea
Edit Workarea (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

This option enables you to perform various workarea operations. About

Note:	In the Repository Object Navigator, this option is available when you select the name of the workarea in the Navigator window, or when you select an object visible in that workarea.

You can:

•	edit the workarea properties (name, description)

•	edit the workarea specification (the rules and configurations that determine which objects appear in the workarea)

•	specify a default checkin branch for versioned objects in a particular workarea

In either case, the menu option starts the workarea wizard at the appropriate point.


Edit - Refresh Workarea
Refresh Workarea (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Enables you to reapply the workarea specification rules, updating the display of the workarea contents as a result.

This option displays a dialog box from where you can:

•	synchronize the repository with a file system

•	preview the changes that will be made before refreshing

Refreshing re-evaluates the workarea contents according to the workarea rules specified. For example, if a rule specifies that the workarea is to include the latest object versions on a particular branch and a user has updated an object on that branch, refreshing the workarea will show the new version of the object.

Dialog box options

Synchronize

Synchronize mapped folders/files after refresh

Synchronizes the repository with a file system to which a container in the workarea is mapped. Selecting this box performs the synchronization when the workarea is refreshed.

Include (create) files new to the repository

If synchronization would normally result in the creation of new files in the repository, selecting this box causes this to happen. Clearing the box prevents creation of new repository files (i.e., only files that have been changed will be refreshed). This box is activated only if you select the previous one.

Preview

Preview changes before refreshing

Select this box if you want to see the effect on the workarea of the refresh operation before it is performed, otherwise leave the box clear. The preview lists which objects will be added to, updated in, and removed from, the workarea when it is refreshed.


Preview Changes in Workarea Before Refreshing dialog box

Related Topics

Dialog box options

Changes in repository

If you chose on the previous screen to preview changes in both the repository and the file system, you can choose between the two options here.

New

Lists the objects that will be added to the workarea when it is refreshed.

Changed

Lists the objects that will be updated in the workarea when it is refreshed.

Removed

Lists the objects that will be removed from the workarea when it is refreshed.


Edit - Requery All
   Requery All (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Compares all the elements displayed in the active window with their repository elements and, if there are differences, makes the display consistent with the repository.


Edit - Requery Selection
   Requery Selection (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Compares one or more selected elements in the active window with their repository elements and, if there are differences, makes the diagram consistent with the repository. This option is dimmed if no elements are selected in the active window.


Edit Workarea Wizard: Properties

Enables you to rename a workarea and change the workarea description.

The workarea you are currently working in is the one selected for editing.

Note: 	You cannot select an alternative workarea to edit using this window.

If you choose to rename your workarea, the new name must be unique in the repository.

Dialog box options

Name

The name of the workarea selected to edit. You can enter a new unique name to rename the workarea.

Description

The description of the workarea selected to edit. You can enter a new description.


Create / Edit Workarea Wizard: Rules Specification

Displays the rules, configurations or both that make up the current workarea specification.

Using this dialog you can:

•	load an existing workarea specification from a template file in your file system

•	edit the workarea specification

•	save the workarea specification to a file

If you are creating a new workarea by using a specification file or by copying an existing workarea, any included rules and configurations are displayed.

If you are creating a custom workarea and have not specified any other workarea or specification file as its basis, the default rule LATEST(MAIN) is displayed.

If you are editing an existing workarea, any rules and configurations associated with the workarea are displayed.

Dialog box options

Load from file

(Edit Workarea Wizard only) Enables you to load an existing specification from a file. Specification files are given the .CWS extension by default.

Edit

Displays the Edit Specification dialog box for you to edit the current specification by:

•	adding new rules and/or configurations to the specification

•	deleting rules and/or configurations from the specification

•	rearranging rules and/or configurations within the specification

Save to file

Allows you to save the specification to a template file in your file system. The file is assigned the .CWS extension unless you choose otherwise.


Edit Specification dialog box

A workarea specification or a configuration can be built from objects from a variety of sources. For example, you may base a configuration on the contents of a workarea and then include an existing configuration together with additional rules and specific versions of individual objects.

The Edit Specification dialog box allows you to do the following to the selected workarea specification or configuration:

•	add or remove rules

•	add or remove configurations

•	reorder the list of included rules and configurations

•	include or exclude specific objects

Dialog box options

For

Displays the name of the workarea or configuration whose specification you are editing

Rules tab

Enables you to select a rule to include in the list of member rules and configurations.

The fields displayed on the Rules tab depend on the selected rule. About

Configurations tab

Latest version

When checked, displays only the latest version of the configurations to which you have access. When clear, displays all versions of all configurations.

Configurations

Displays all configurations under version control that you have access rights to.

Filter

Allows you to enter search criteria to locate specific configurations. You can use wildcard characters, for example "%" to specify "any character".

	moves selected rule or configuration into the Member rules and configurations list
	moves selected rule or configuration out of the Member rules and configurations list
Member rules and configurations

Lists the rules and configurations currently associated with the workarea or configuration.

	moves the selected rule or configuration up one position in the member rules and configurations list
	moves the selected rule or configuration down one position in the member rules and configurations list
	includes objects in the workarea or configuration
	excludes objects from the workarea or configuration


Create / Edit Workarea Wizard: Default Checkin Branch

Displays all branches available to you, and enables you to set the default checkin branch.

The value <None> causes objects to be checked in by default on the branch from which they were checked out. In some cases, described below, the wizard sets this value automatically and you cannot change it.

If you want to use a branch other than those listed, create a new branch. How

If you are creating a default workarea or a workarea based on a specification file, the wizard selects the value <None>.

If you are creating a workarea based on an existing workarea, the default checkin branch for the workarea you are copying is selected.

If you are editing a selected workarea, the current default checkin branch for that workarea is selected.

Before setting the default checkin branch, the wizard checks the repository automatic branching policy. If the automatic branching policy is not enabled, the wizard selects the value <None>.

Dialog box options

Select the workarea default checkin branch

All available checkin branches for the repository are listed. Select the one you want to use as the default.

Remind me to merge objects to the new checkin branch

(Displayed for Edit Workarea only) Invokes the Merge Wizard at the end of an edit workarea operation. If you are changing the default checkin branch, you can use the wizard to merge changes from object versions on the old branch with versions on the branch to which you are changing.


Edit - Requery
Requery (Edit Menu)

Refreshes the version tree for the object currently displayed in the Version History Viewer, enabling you to see any recent changes that have been made.


Edit - Select All
Select All (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Selects all items on the active diagram. All items are selected whether or not they were already selected.


Edit - Select Same Type
Select Same Type (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Selects all items that are of the same element type as the current selection in the active diagram. This option is available only if you have selected a single diagram item.


Edit - Insert New Object
Insert New Object (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Inserts an embedded object into the current diagram or creates a link between the current diagram and another file.

Dialog box options

The information displayed and requested in the dialog box will depend on you selecting one of the following options:

•	Create New

•	Create from File

Create New

Enables you to embed a new OLE object onto the diagram.

Object Type list box

Select the type of information you want to insert onto the diagram. The contents of the list box depend on which applications are installed on your computer support object linking and embedding.

Create from File

Enables you to embed or link to an existing OLE object onto the diagram.

File text box

The name of an existing file you want to insert as an embedded object onto the diagram. If you check the Link checkbox a link to this file will be created rather than embedding it.

Browse... button

Opens the Browse dialog box so that you can search for a particular source document.

Link checkbox

Indicates that a link to the specified file is to be created rather than embedding it.

Display As Icon checkbox

Indicates that the embedded object is displayed as an icon on the diagram.

Change Icon button

Changes the icon that represents an embedded object or linked information on a diagram. This button is only displayed when you check the Display As Icon checkbox. For more information, select the Help button on the Change Icon dialog box.

Result text box

Describes the result of the selected option.


Edit - Object
Object (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

This option is available only if an object has been created by selecting Edit→Insert New Object. The OLE menu options available from the Edit Menu is dependent on the type of object (embedded or linked) and the OLE capabilities of the application you used to create the object. The following menu options may be available:

Edit→<Object Name> Object→Edit

Edit→<Object Name> Object→Open

Edit→<Object Name> Object→Convert

Note: 	If you have used the Object Packager to embed a packaged object the options displayed on this menu will be different. For more information about OLE packages, see the Help documentation for Object Packager.


Edit - Object Edit/Open
Object Edit/Open (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Edit

Opens the object in the current application window (the toolbars and menus will change). The <object name> Open menu option changes depending on the selected object. For example, the Designer application displays the Edit→Document Object→Edit menu option if the selected embedded object is a Microsoft Word document.

This menu option is available only if an embedded or linked object is selected.

Note:	If a package is selected on the active diagram, the Edit menu option changes to Package Object. Select Edit→Package Object→Edit Package to invoke the Object Packager application. The Object Packager can be used to edit the embedded or linked object.

Open

Opens the embedded or linked object in its own application window. The <object name> Open menu option changes depending on the object you select. For example, the Designer application displays the Edit→Bitmap Image Object→Open menu option if the selected embedded object is a Microsoft Paint image.

This option is available only if an embedded or linked object is selected.

Note:	If a package is selected on the active diagram, the Edit menu option changes to Package Object. Select Edit→Package Object→Activate Contents to view the contents of the package.


Edit - Object Convert
Object Convert (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Converts an embedded object to a different file format or changes the display of an embedded or linked object.

The <object name> Convert menu option changes depending on the object you select. For example, the Designer application displays the Edit→Document Object→Convert menu option if the selected embedded object is a Microsoft Word document.

This menu option is available only if an embedded or linked object is selected.

Note:	If a package is selected on the active diagram, the menu option changes to Edit→Package Object→Convert.

Dialog box options

Current Type

Displays the type of object that you are converting or activating. For example, Microsoft Word.

Object Type list

Select the type of object to which you want to convert. The contents of the list box depend on which applications are installed on your computer support object linking and embedding.

Convert to

Converts the selected object to the type of information selected in the Object Type list box.

Activate As

Opens the selected object in the type of information selected in the Object Type list box, but after editing, returns the object to the type displayed in Current Type.

Display As Icon

Indicates that the embedded object is displayed as an icon on the diagram.

Change Icon... button

Changes the icon that represents an embedded object. This button is only displayed when you check the Display As Icon checkbox. For more information, select the Help button on the Change Icon dialog box.

Result

Describes the result of the selected option.


Edit - Links
Links (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Displays and modifies existing links on the diagram. This option is dimmed if no links exist on the diagram.

Dialog box options

Links Box

Displays details for all links on the diagram, including the filename, the type and whether the tool updates the links automatically or manually.

Source

Displays the name and the location of the source file.

Type

Displays the application or type of application in which the linked object was created.

Update

Indicates how the information in the linked object is to be updated.

Automatic

Indicates that existing data will be updated every time new data becomes available.

Manual

Indicates that the data will only be updated when you select the Update Now button.

Update Now button

Updates all selected links in the Links box.

Open Source button

Opens the selected file in the source application ready for editing.

Change Source... button

Specifies a different source file for a selected link so that the link receives data from the new source file. For more information, use the context-sensitive help facility in the Change Source dialog box.

Break Link button

Breaks the link between the source file and the current diagram for all selected links.


Edit - Paste Link
Paste Link (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Inserts a linked object from the Clipboard. The linked object is displayed on the diagram but is defined and stored in the source document.


Help - Help Topics
Help Topics (Help Menu)

Related Topics

Displays a list of the main subject areas in the online documentation system.


Help - Show Keys
Show Keys (Help Menu)

Displays the shortcut keys for the current tool.


Help - How to use Help
How to Use Help (Help Menu)

Related Topics

Displays general information on how to use the Microsoft Windows help.


Help - About
About (Help Menu)

Displays copyright and version number information about this application. You might need to know the version number for product support purposes.


Help - Customer Support
Customer Support (Help Menu)

Displays an Oracle Support Problem Report (displayed in your default ASCII text editor) that you are requested to complete before contacting Oracle Support for assistance. The report asks for details about you, your environment setup and details about the problem, including any steps to reproduce the problem. By completing this form prior to contacting Oracle Support, you will aid the processing and response to your request.

A default text editor is set up for ASCII text based on the settings in the Windows Registry. You can specify an alternative editor by using Options→Text Editor Options.


Context-Sensitive Help button
   Context-Sensitive Help

Related Topics

Provides access to context-sensitive help information about the menu options, standard toolbar and drawing toolbar buttons.

Selecting this button, or pressing SHIFT+F1, and then selecting a menu option, standard toolbar button or palette button, displays help information for the chosen item.


Layout - Autolayout
   Autolayout (Layout Menu)

Related Topics

Repositions the selected elements on the active diagram so that they are presented in a different syntactically correct layout. This process can be repeated until the preferred layout of elements is achieved. If no elements are selected on the active diagram, this option will reposition all the elements on the active diagram.


Layout - Autolayout to New Area
Autolayout to New Area (Layout Menu)

Related Topics

Repositions the selected elements within a newly defined autolayout area on the active diagram so that they are presented in a syntactically correct layout. This process can be repeated until the preferred layout of elements is achieved on the active diagram.

If the newly defined autolayout area is not large enough to contain the selected elements at their current sizes, the selected elements will not be automatically laid out.


Layout - Autolayout to Same Area
Autolayout To Same Area (Layout Menu)

Related Topics

Repositions the selected elements within the previously defined autolayout area on the active diagram so that they are displayed in a syntactically correct layout. This process can be repeated until the preferred layout of elements is displayed on the active diagram.

The previously defined autolayout area must be large enough to contain the selected elements at their current sizes.


Layout - Previous Layout
   Previous Layout (Layout Menu)

Related Topics

Undoes the previous autolayout operation performed on the active diagram. This option is available only if:

•	elements on the diagram have been automatically repositioned two or more times in succession, and no other subsequent actions have been performed

•	there are still previous autolayout operations to be restored.


Layout - Minimize Number of Pages
Minimize Number of Pages (Layout Menu)

Related Topics

Minimizes the number of pages used for the active diagram. Since deleting or moving the last diagram item on a page does not also automatically delete the page, a diagram may include redundant blank pages outside the outermost points of any items on the diagram. This option fits the area of the diagram within its outermost points into as few pages as possible, by shifting the diagram to the top left corner and removing any redundant blank pages.


Options - Customize Property Palette
Customize Property Palette (Options Menu)

Customizes which properties are displayed on the Property Palette.

Dialog box options

Show

Show Owning Folder

Displays or hides the name of the owning container for an element.

Show Version Label

Displays or hides the version label property in the Property Palette.

Show Audit Properties

Displays the audit properties (date created, date changed etc.) in the Property Palette.

Property Clipboard

Include Multi Line Text Properties

Includes or excludes multi-line text properties in the Properties Clipboard, used when copying properties.

Automatically switch to spreadtable mode on multi insert

If active, automatically switches the Property Palette to spreadtable view when creating more than one element in a single operation.


Options - Text Editor Options
Text Editor Options (Options Menu)

Related Topics

Defines Text Editor options. This enables you to specify which text editor to use for the values of repository definition properties that are stored in ASCII or HTML format.

Default text editors are set up for ASCII text and HTML text based on the settings in the Windows Registry. You can specify alternative editors for either or both of these kinds of text.

Dialog box options

Text Editor

Select command to run the ASCII editor

The command that runs the ASCII text editor. Ensure that the filename is followed by the characters <SPACE>%1 in order for the command to function correctly.

Browse button

Locates the .EXE file for the ASCII text editor. Selecting this button displays the Browse dialog box.

HTML Editor

Select command to run the HTML editor

The command that runs the HTML editor. If you specify Netscape Navigator as the editor, ensure that the filename is followed by the characters <SPACE>"%1" for the command to function correctly.

Browse Button

Locates the .EXE file for the HTML editor. Selecting this button displays the Browse dialog box.


Options - Broadcast Options
Broadcast Options (Options Menu)

Related Topics

Defines broadcast options.

Dialog box options

Broadcast Notifications

Disabled

Turns off the broadcasting mechanism, i.e., the user does not receive (or send) notification messages.

Desktop only

Broadcasts all changes made in the current tool to all tools running on this machine.

Network

Broadcasts all changes made in the current tool to all users participating in the network broadcasting mechanism.


Options - Diagnostics
Diagnostics (Options Menu)

Allows you to set diagnostic file and trace settings. This feature should not be used unless requested to do so by your Oracle customer support representative. If you inadvertently set any of the diagnostic options you may find that the tool's performance is affected. If you do find any degradation in performance, click the Disable Option button to switch off the diagnostics facility.


Font dialog box

Allows you to specify the details of the font to be used for a text item.

Dialog box options

Font

Specifies the font to be used. You can choose a font from the list.

Font Style

Specifies the style for the selected font. You can choose a style from the list. Available styles are: regular, italic, bold and bold italic.

Size

Specifies the size in points of the font for this text item. A point is 1/72nd of an inch.

Sample

Shows an example of how this text item will appear with the current font options.

Script

Specifies the character set to be used for the selected text item.


Tools - Navigator
Navigator (Tools Menu)

Related Topics

Opens a new Navigator if none is open, or makes the Navigator window the active window if the Property Palette is active.

Navigator windows use a tree structure to represent the repository definitions that are recorded  in the repository, and the associations between those definitions.


Tools - Property Palette
Property Palette (Tools Menu)

Related Topics

Opens a new Property Palette if none is open or if the present palette is pinned, or makes the latest Property Palette the active window if the Navigator window is active.

Property Palettes display the properties of definitions, e.g. table definitions, that are recorded in the repository.


Edit - TextPad
   TextPad (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Opens the TextPad, which enables you to attach textual information to the selected text property.


Edit - ASCII Editor
   ASCII Editor (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Opens the ASCII editor, which enables you to attach ASCII text to the selected multi-line text property.


Edit - HTML Editor
   HTML Editor (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Opens the HTML editor, which enables you to attach HTML text to the selected multi-line text property.


Tools - Process Modeler
Process Modeler (Tools Menu)

Related Topics

Invokes the Process Modeler with the same database connection and workarea as the current tool.


Tools - Dataflow Diagrammer
Dataflow Diagrammer (Tools Menu)

Related Topics

Invokes the Dataflow Diagrammer with the same database connection and workarea as the current tool.


Tools - Repository Reports
Repository Reports (Tools Menu)

Invokes the Repository Reports tool, which enables you to run reports about the contents of the repository.


Tools - Entity Relationship Diagrammer
Entity Relationship Diagrammer (Tools Menu)

Related Topics

Invokes the Entity Relationship Diagrammer with the same database connection and workarea as the current tool.


Tools - Function Hierarchy Diagrammer
Function Hierarchy Diagrammer (Tools Menu)

Related Topics

Invokes the Function Hierarchy Diagrammer with the same database connection and workarea as the current tool.


Tools - SQL Plus
SQL*Plus (Tools Menu)

Opens a SQL*Plus window.


Tools - Repository Object Navigator
Repository Object Navigator (Tools Menu)

Invokes the Repository Object Navigator with the same database connection as the current tool.


Tools - Dependency Manager
Dependency Manager (Tools Menu)

Related Topics

Invokes the Dependency Manager, from which you can examine dependency information stored in the repository. You can also use the Dependency Manager to edit some repository information.


Tools - Matrix Diagrammer
Matrix Diagrammer (Tools Menu)

Invokes the Matrix Diagrammer with the same database connection and workarea as the current tool.


Tools - Design Editor
Design Editor (Tools Menu)

Related Topics

Invokes the Design Editor with the same database connection and workarea as the current tool.


View - Normal Size
Normal Size (View Menu)

Related Topics

Resets the magnification of the diagram in the active window to the magnification it was displayed when opened or created.


View - Zoom In
   Zoom In (View Menu)

Related Topics

Increases the magnification of the diagram in the active window. The new view of the diagram is centered around the same position as the view on which the magnification is based.


View - Zoom Out
   Zoom Out (View Menu)

Related Topics

Decreases the magnification of the diagram in the active window. The new view of the diagram is centered around the same position as the view on which the reduced magnification is based.


View - Fit to Area
   Fit to Area (View Menu)

Related Topics

Increases the magnification of a selected area of the diagram so that it fits the active window.


View - Fit to Selection
   Fit to Selection (View Menu)

Related Topics

Adjusts the magnification of items selected on the diagram in the active window so that they are displayed at the maximum size that can fit into that diagram window.

This option is available only if one or more items are selected on the diagram.


View - Fit to Diagram
   Fit to Diagram (View Menu)

Related Topics

Adjusts the magnification of the whole diagram in the active window so that it is displayed at the maximum size that can fit into that window.


View - Toolbar
Toolbar (View Menu)

Related Topics

Shows or hides the standard toolbar below the menu bar.


View - Tool Palette
Tool Palette (View Menu)

Related Topics

Shows or hides the tool palette.


View - Status Bar
Status Bar (View Menu)

Related Topics

Shows or hides the status bar at the bottom of the application window.


View - Spreadtable View
      Spreadtable View/Default View (View Menu)

Related Topics

The Property Palette can display properties in one of two views: spreadtable view, and default view.

Spreadtable View   [image]    In spreadtable view,  you can list more than one set of properties in the spreadtable. For example, you can select two or more tables from the Navigator and compare their property values on the spreadtable.

Default View  [image]    In default view, the Property Palette is displayed as a two-column grid, with the property names listed vertically and their values listed alongside.


View - Intersection View
      Union View/Intersection View (View Menu)

Related Topics

The Property Palette can show a set of properties in one of two views: union (the default) and intersection. The union/intersection view applies to conflicts of property types (e.g., Name, Length) and not to conflicts of property values (e.g., HEADQUARTERS, 10). Thus the setting of this button is not relevant when the selected repository objects are of the same type because in this case they have the same set of property types.

If there is a property type that has been given different values for different repository objects, then that property value is displayed in the Property Palette as a set of hashes (#####) regardless of the Union/Intersection button.

Union View    [image]   In Union View, the Property Palette lists the combined property types, i.e., all the property types of the selected object types.

Intersection View   [image]   In Intersection View, the Property Palette lists only the common property types, i.e., the property types that appear in all of the selected types.


View - Grid
Grid (View Menu)

Related Topics

Shows or hides the grid in the active window.


Window - New Window
New Window (Window Menu)

Creates a new diagram window containing the active diagram. You can use this new window to display a different part of the active diagram.


Window - Cascade
Cascade (Window Menu)

Arranges all your open windows so that they overlap and each window's title bar is visible.


Window - Tile Horizontally
Tile Horizontally (Window Menu)

Arranges all your open windows so that they fit horizontally in the main window. The title bar and a portion of the tool remain visible for each window. The windows are displayed at the largest possible size that will fit into the tool window without overlapping each other or the icons of minimized tool windows.


Window - Tile Vertically
Tile Vertically (Window Menu)

Arranges all your open windows so that they fit vertically in the main window. The title bar and a portion of the tool remain visible for each window.


Window - Arrange Icons
Arrange Icons (Window Menu)

Arranges your window icons so that they line up neatly and do not overlap.


Window - Window Name
1, 2, 3... Command (Window Menu)

Switches to the window and makes it active. A check mark is displayed next to the name of the active window.


Window - Arrange Windows
Arrange Windows (Window Menu)

Displays all open windows so that they do not overlap.


Utilities - Resequence
Resequence (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Allows you to change the order in which some types of selected elements are ordered in the Navigator. For example, you can resequence columns in a table definition.

Elements that can be resequenced are indicated in the Navigator window by [image].

Dialog box options

List box

Lists the repository definitions that you can resequence. This list box allows single selection only. Use the resequence buttons to move a selected definition up or down the list box.

Resequence buttons

Specifies the order in which the definitions are to be displayed on the Navigator window and diagrams.

Tip:	Instead of using the Resequence buttons you can hold down the CTRL key and press the Up and Down arrows.


Utilities - Select in Other Tools
Select in Other Tools (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Selects the same repository objects, as currently selected on the active tool, in other tools (providing that the other tools are open in the same context).


Utilities - Update Columns in a Domain
Update Columns in a Domain (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Updates all the appropriate columns/Oracle object type attributes with the property details of the selected domain. You might use this, for example, when you make a change to a domain and want to propagate these changes to all the columns/type attributes that use that domain.

This utility overwrites any properties in a column/attribute that conflict with the same property in the column's/attribute's domain. Null values in the domain replace any non-null values. The exception to this is the Default Values property, which is overwritten only if the corresponding column/attribute property has a null value.


Utilities - Force Delete
Force Delete (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Invokes the Force Delete or Force Purge wizard. These wizards remove selected repository objects or secondary access controlled (SAC) elements, regardless of any delete constraints that may have been defined for the corresponding object type. About

Each wizard is a predefined set of screen forms that takes you step by step through the force delete or force purge process.

Note:	It is possible to undo a force delete operation. Objects removed in this way are placed in the workarea wastebasket, from where they can be recovered. However, it is not possible to recover references or child elements of force-deleted objects.

It is not possible to undo a force purge operation.

The Force Delete Wizard is invoked if the selection is a non-versioned object or a SAC element of any kind of object. In this case the selection is removed to the workarea wastebasket. If the selection is a checked-out versioned object, Force Delete has no effect. You can use the Force Delete Wizard only if you have the FORCE system privilege, and DELETE access rights to the workarea and the owning container.

The Force Purge Wizard is invoked if the selection is a checked-in versioned object. The version visible in your workarea is completely removed from the repository and cannot be recovered. You can use this wizard only if you have the FORCE or PURGE system privileges, and DELETE access rights to the owning container.


Force Delete/Force Purge: Objects Selected

Lists the objects that you have selected for the force delete or force purge operation.

If the list is incorrect, click Cancel and reselect the objects, otherwise click Next.

Path

The hierarchical path of the object in your workarea.

Element Type

The repository element type for this object.


Force Delete/Force Purge: Purged Objects
Force Purge: Purged Objects

Lists the objects that will be purged (that is, have all object versions removed).

Status

A value of OK indicates that the purge operation can continue for this object. If an object is checked in, this is indicated; you will need to select the object and check it out before the operation can continue.

An example of when an object in the list might be checked in would be when purging a domain that is referenced by a column. In this case the column will be cascade deleted. However, if the table to which the column belongs is checked in, it must be checked out before the column can be deleted and the operation can continue.

Path

The hierarchical path of the object in your workarea.

Element Type

The repository element type for this object.

Check Out

Checks out a selected item in the list that is marked as checked in, so that the operation can continue.


Force Delete/Force Purge: Deleted Objects

Lists the objects that will be deleted.

Status

A value of OK indicates that the delete operation can continue for this object. If an object is checked in, this is indicated; you will need to select the object and check it out before the operation can continue.

An example of when an object in the list might be checked in would be when deleting a domain that is referenced by a column. In this case the column will be cascade deleted. However, if the table to which the column belongs is checked in, it must be checked out before the column can be deleted and the operation can continue.

Path

The hierarchical path of the object in your workarea.

Element Type

The repository element type for this object.

Check Out

Checks out a selected item in the list that is marked as checked in, so that the operation can continue.


Force Delete/Force Purge: References

Lists reference properties for the objects that you are deleting or purging. These references will be nullified. Note that, although deleted objects (but not purged objects) can be restored from the wastebasket, the references cannot.

Status

A value of OK indicates that the operation can continue. If an object is checked in, this is indicated; you will need to select the object and check it out before the operation can continue.

Property

The element type of the reference property.

Referencing Element/Element Type

The element (and its type) that references the object selected for delete or purge. For example, if you are deleting a domain that is referenced by a column, this field shows the column name and its path in the repository.

Referenced Element/Element Type

The element (and its type) that is referenced by the element in the previous pair of fields. For example, if you are deleting a domain that is referenced by a column, this field shows the domain name and its path in the repository.

Check Out

Checks out a selected item in the list that is marked as checked in, so that the operation can continue.


Utilities - External References
External References (Utilities Menu and Configuration Wizard)

Related Topics!Alink(COM_Listing_external_references, , , )

Enables you to check whether repository objects in a selected workarea, container or configuration make reference to objects outside that workarea, container or configuration. You can then include any of these externally referenced objects in the workarea, container or configuration.

Dialog box options

For

The name and (if under version control) the version label for this workarea, container or configuration.

List Mandatory Only

When this check box is selected, clicking the List button causes the display to show only the mandatory external references for this workarea, container or configuration.

Recurse Sub Folders

When this check box is selected, clicking the List button causes the display to also show external references for child objects of this workarea, container or configuration (for example, sub-folders of a folder).

Name

The name of an object for which an external reference exists.

Type

The type of object listed.

Reason

The reason why the reference to this object is classed as an external reference:

Lost + Found	The object resides in the Lost+Found area, i.e. it has no owning container
No Access Rights	You do not have access to the container that owns this object
Not in Folder	This object is not in the selected container
Not in Workarea	This object is not in the selected workarea
Not in Repository	This object is not in the repository; this message indicates a problem that requires resolution, e.g. by creating the required object
Wrong Version	The referenced version of this object has no record of the reference; you can use Change Version to choose a different version
Status

Indicates whether the object is checked in, checked out or not under version control. If an object is not checked in, you cannot include it in a workarea.

Mandatory

Indicates whether this is a mandatory reference.

Version

The version label for this object (if it is under version control).

Include Iteratively

When this check box is selected, selecting objects from the list and clicking the Include button causes these objects to be iteratively included in the selected workarea, container or configuration. This means that any objects referenced by the externally referenced objects are also included, as well as any objects referenced by those extra objects, and so on until all referenced objects are included. Example

Show Latest on Branch

Appears only if workarea or configuration selected. For objects under version control, this enables you to list objects from a checkin branch other than the default.

List

Redisplays the list based on the status of the List Mandatory Only and Recurse Sub Folders check boxes.

Select All

Selects all the objects in the list of references. Used in conjunction with the Include button.

Include

For objects selected in the list, includes these objects in the container identified by the For: field.

Change Version

If the For field shows a workarea or configuration name, then for a selected object in the list, this allows you to list a different version of that object (if the object is under version control).

List References

For a selected object in the list, shows the objects that reference it and the kind of reference they make to it.


Include iteratively - example
Iterative inclusion - example

Assume that a container called Folder1 has an entity, ENT_A, which has a relationship to ENT_B in a different container, Folder2. ENT_B, in turn, has references to ENT_X, ENT_Y and ENT_Z in other containers. You select Folder1 and list its external references. You see only ENT_B in the list. You want to include ENT_B in Folder1, so you select ENT_B in the list.

If you clicked Include at this point, you would include only ENT_B in Folder1. However, you want to include not only ENT_B but any other objects that it references, and any other objects that they reference, and so on. To do so, you select the Include Iteratively check box and click Include.


Utilities - Extended Copy
Extended Copy (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Copies one or more selected PAC elements within a workarea, enabling you to specify what to do about references to other objects. The copies are renamed with a system-generated or a user-defined name.

This option invokes the Extended Copy Wizard, a series of screens that takes you step by step through the copy process.


Extended Copy Wizard:  Copy List

Specifies the complete set of objects to be copied.

Target Container

(Mandatory)  The container to which the objects are to be copied.

Objects to Copy

Lists the set of objects that are to be copied.

Path

The complete repository path specification of an object to be copied.

Element Type

The element type for this object.

Add

Enables you to include further objects in the set to be copied.

Remove

Removes selected objects from the copy list.

Copy Dependencies

When checked, copies any dependency information created for the objects by the Dependency Manager tool. When cleared, no dependency information is copied.


Extended Copy Wizard:  References

Lists all objects referenced by those in the copy set. You can choose to copy the referenced objects, leave them as they are, nullify the reference properties or remap the references to different objects.

Type

Type of object identified by Name.

Name

The name of a referenced object.

In Target ?

Indicates whether the referenced object is owned by the target container.

Copy

Copies the referenced object as well as the referencing object, and updates the reference properties to point to the new copy of the object.

Leave

Specifies that the referenced object is not copied, nor are the reference properties updated. This applies only to those objects that are known as "shareable" (that is, they can be referenced from a container other than their own). The exceptions are listed here.

Null

For optional references only, sets the reference properties to null in the new copy of the object. Does not apply to mandatory references.

Remap

Enables you to change the reference properties to point to a different object. Checking this box displays a screen from which you can choose a different object.

Remap to

If Remap is checked, this field identifies a likely candidate for the remap (an object with the same name and type) in the target container, if such an object exists. If you choose a different object, it is shown here.

Details

For a selected object in the referenced objects list, indicates which objects reference it.

Set Remap

Changes the reference properties to point to the object indicated in the Remap To field.


Extended Copy Wizard:  Reference Details

For a selected object in the referenced objects list, indicates which objects reference it.

Type

The type of object that references the object shown at the top of the screen.

Name

The name of an object that references the object shown.

Property

The property through which the object is referenced.

Mandatory

Indicates whether this is a mandatory reference.


Extended Copy Wizard:  Name Change

Enables you to specify a new name for a copied object. Lists all the objects to be copied.

Original Path

The repository path and name of the object being copied.

Copy Name

The name you want the copy to have. By default the name of the copy is name_1, where name is the name of the original object. You can specify a different name for the copy here.


Utilities - Publish Diagrams
Publish Diagrams (Utilities Menu)

Related Topics

Publishes diagrams to a file or to the Repository Object Browser (ROB).

This option opens the Publish Diagrams dialog.


Publish Diagrams dialog

Enables you to publish Designer diagrams to the Repository Object Browser (ROB) or to save them as files to a file system directory.

Available Diagrams pane

Shows the diagrams within the current workarea.  If you want to publish a subset of these diagrams, click the diagram or diagrams that you want to publish.

Single right arrow

Click to move the diagrams highlighted in the Available Diagrams pane to the Selected Diagrams pane.

Single left arrow

Click to move diagrams highlighted in the Selected Diagrams pane to the Available Diagrams pane.

Double right arrow

Click to move all diagrams in the Available Diagrams pane into the Selected Diagrams pane.

Double left arrow

Click to move all diagrams in the Selected Diagrams pane to the Available Diagrams pane.

Selected Diagrams pane

Diagrams listed in this pane will be published when you click the OK button.  If a diagram was active in the Design Editor when you opened the Publish Diagrams dialog, it will automatically be listed in this pane.

File Name text box

This is enabled only if the "Publish to File" option is chosen (see below). This text box displays the target file name for the diagram currently highlighted in the Selected Diagrams pane. By default the target file name is the same as the diagram name in the repository.  You can change the target file name by overtyping the text in this box.

Destination group

Use the options in this group to specify the destination for publishing.

Publish to Repository Object Browser option

Choose this option to publish the diagrams to the Repository Object Browser.

Publish to File option

Choose this option to publish the diagrams to files.

Directory text box

This text box shows the file system directory to which the files containing the diagrams will be written.  A directory will be suggested, which will be one of the following:

-	the mapped directory of the application system, if the selected diagrams belong to one application system

-	the directory chosen during the previous publish operation

-	the system temporary directory.

You can change the suggested directory by overtyping the text in this box, or by using the Browse button.

Browse button

Click to open a browse dialog, though which you can choose an existing directory.

Publish Format text box

Choose a format for the published diagrams from the drop-down list.  You can choose from PNG, GIF, TIFF, JPEG and BMP.


Version - Check In
   Check In (Version Menu)

Related Topics

Checks in all the selected objects. You can specify checkin options and enter notes that you want to associate with the objects.

This option is valid only if the objects selected are either checked out or are not yet under version control. Checking in an object that is not yet under version control adds this object to version control.

Choosing this option displays the Check In dialog box.  About


Check In dialog box

Related Topics

Checks in all the selected objects. You can choose the branch to which you want to check in the objects as well as specifying checkout options and entering notes that you want to associate with the objects.  How

Objects selected for check in

Lists all objects selected for check in. These can include objects not under version control, objects mapped to a repository container but not uploaded to the repository, and checked-out objects.

Note:	All objects listed here, whether they are highlighted or not, will be checked in when you click OK.

(Not applicable when using the Version History Viewer as this tool operates within the context of only one object.)

Options for object_name

Current checkin branch

(Display only)  The name of the current checkin branch for this object. You can change the checkin branch in the Use branch field.

Use branch

For existing objects, enables you to check in this object to a branch other than the one from which you checked out the object. If the object was checked out locked by another user from a branch, you cannot check in your object version to that same branch.

For new objects, lists the branch to which the object will be checked in:

•	If no default checkin branch is set, the object is checked in to the MAIN branch.

•	If a default checkin branch is set, the object is checked in to the default checkin branch in addition to the MAIN branch.

(Not applicable when using the Version History Viewer as this tool operates within the context of only one object.)

Version label

The version label attached to each object when checked in. Depending on the repository policy, this version label can be generated automatically by the system, or defined by the user.  About

Use checkout notes

Determines whether you want to use the same notes for checkin that you specified for checkout.

Check out after checkin

Determines whether you want to check out the objects again immediately after checkin. This enables you to continue working on the object after ensuring that the latest version is available to other users.

If the objects were initially checked out with a lock, they will be checked out again with locks.

Check in even if unchanged

Determines whether the objects are checked in even if they have not changed since they were checked out.

Checkin notes

Any notes you enter here will apply to all the selected objects in the Objects selected for check in list.


Version - Check Out
   Check Out (Version Menu)

Related Topics

Checks out all the selected object versions. You can specify checkout options and enter notes that you want to associate with the objects.

This option is valid only if the selected object versions are checked in.

Choosing this option displays the Check Out dialog box.  About


Check Out dialog box

Related Topics

Checks out all the selected object versions. You can specify checkout options and enter notes that you want to associate with the objects.  How

Objects selected for check out

Lists the objects you have chosen to check out.

(Not applicable when using the Version History Viewer as this tool operates within the context of only one object.)

Options for object_name

Lock

Determines whether the object is locked when it is checked out. Locking the object prevents anyone else from checking in another version onto the same branch until the lock is removed.

If a strict locking policy is in force, you cannot change this option as the strict locking policy ensures that every checkout is automatically set to locked.

Check out latest

Determines whether the latest version of the object is to be checked out, regardless of the version that is selected. This option is dimmed if the latest version is already selected.

(Not applicable when using the Version History Viewer as this tool operates within the context of only one object.)

Version dependencies

Determines whether the dependency links to any objects referenced by this object are to be versioned as well (but not the referenced objects themselves).

Checkout notes

Any notes you enter here will apply to all the selected objects in the Objects selected for check out list.


Version - Check Out Contents
Check Out Contents (Version Menu)

Related Topics

Checks out all the object versions within a specified context (checks out the 'contents' of the context element).

Depending on the type of sub-context you can specify various options, including whether to recurse subcontainers, and whether to check out the context element itself. Examples of context elements are workareas and containers.

Selecting the Recurse subcontainer option checks out all subcontainers and their contents as well as the top level contents of the context element. Selecting the Check out sub-context itself option checks out the selected context element itself, as well as its contents.

For

Workarea

The name of the selected workarea. Use the Browse button to select an alternative workarea.

Sub-context

Enables you to select one of the following sub-context types:

•	Entire Workarea

•	Container

•	Configuration

•	Diagram

•	User-Defined Set

Enter the name of the selected sub-context in the adjacent field, for example, the name of the container for which you want to check out its contents. Use the Browse button to locate and select the sub-context element.

Recurse subcontainers

Determines whether all subcontainers for a selected container, together with their contents, are checked out.

This option is not applicable for workareas; if checking out the contents of a workarea, all objects within that workarea, regardless of which container they are in, are always checked out.

Preview checkout list

Determines whether the Preview Checkout dialog box is displayed before the checkout operation. This dialog box enables you to refine the selection of objects for check out by specifying which of the objects within a group of objects (sub-context) you want to check out.  About

Check out sub-context itself

Determines whether the sub-context element itself is checked out in addition to its contents.

This option is not applicable for workareas.

Check out system folder

Only applicable for workareas, this option determines whether the system folder is also checked out.


Version - Compare Previous Version
   Compare Previous Version (Version Menu)

Related Topics

Compares a version of an object with its immediately previous version, and displays the results of the compare operation in the Compare window.

The version of the object currently in the workarea view is indicated by an arrow in the Version History Viewer display area, if this tool is active for the object.


List Checkouts dialog box

Related Topics

Lists all the repository objects in a selected context that are checked out, are not under version control or are new file system files. Other details are also displayed where applicable, for example, object type, checkout and checkin dates and other version details. The selection of objects displayed is determined by the selection criteria you chose previously in the List Checkouts: Criteria dialog box.  About

From this dialog box you can also:

•	check in all or selected objects

•	undo a checkout

•	add new objects to version control (by checking in the objects)

•	compare an object version with its previous version

For

(Display only) The name of the selected workarea and sub-context (entire workarea, container type, configuration, diagram or user-defined set), and the default checkin branch (if any).

Object details

The following object details are displayed:

Name	The name of the object.
Predecessor Version	For objects already in version control, the details of the version from which the checkout was performed.
Version Label	The version label attached to the object version. Depending on the workarea rules, this version label may have been generated automatically by the system, or defined by the user.
Status	The object status: this can be Checked Out, Not Versioned or New File System File.
Type	The type of the object.
Date Checked Out	The date when the object was last checked out.
Checked Out By	The name of the user who last checked out the object.
New Query

Redisplays the List Checkouts: Criteria dialog box, enabling you to change the criteria determining which objects are displayed in the List Checkouts dialog box.

Check in

Checks in any objects selected in the list.

Undo Checkout

Undoes the checkout of any checked-out objects selected in the list.

Compare

Compares, with its previous version, a checked-out object selected in the list.

Select All

Selects all objects in the list.


Version - List Checkouts
List Checkouts (Version Menu)

Related Topics

Displays the List Checkouts: Criteria dialog box, enabling you to determine which of the objects within a selected context will have their details displayed in the List Checkouts dialog box.  About

For

Workarea

The name of the selected workarea. Use the Browse button to select an alternative workarea.

Sub-context

Enables you to select one of the following sub-context types:

•	Entire Workarea

•	Container

•	Configuration

•	Diagram

•	User-Defined Set

Enter the name of the selected sub-context in the adjacent field, for example, the name of the container for which you want to list checkouts. Use the Browse button to locate and select the sub-context element.

Show

Checked-out objects

Determines whether all checked-out objects for the selected workarea and sub-context are displayed in the List Checkouts dialog box.

Non versioned objects

Determines whether repository objects that have not been added yet to version control are displayed in the List Checkouts dialog box.

Non repository files

Determines whether objects mapped to a repository container but not uploaded to the repository are displayed in the List Checkouts dialog box.

Recurse subcontainers

Determines whether all subcontainers and their contents are displayed in the List Checkouts dialog box, in addition to the top level contents of the context element.

Checked out / Created

By me

Determines whether only those objects that are checked out by you, or created by you (but not added yet to version control), are displayed in the List Checkouts dialog box.

By anybody

Determines whether all those objects that are checked out by anybody, or created by anybody (but not added yet to version control), are displayed in the List Checkouts dialog box.


Preview Checkout dialog box

Related Topics

Displayed if you selected the Preview checkout list option on the Check Out Contents dialog box, this dialog box enables you to refine the selection of objects for check out by specifying which of the objects within a group of objects (sub-context) you want to check out.

For

(Display only) The name of the selected workarea and sub-context (entire workarea, container, configuration, diagram or user-defined set), and the default checkin branch (if any).

Object details

The following object details are displayed:

Name	The object name and path in the repository.
Version	The branch and version number for the object.
Version Label	The version label attached to the object version. Depending on the workarea rules, this version label may have been generated automatically by the system, or defined by the user.
Latest On Branch	Indicates whether the object version is the latest on the branch.
Type	The type of the object.
Check Out

Checks out any objects selected in the list.

Select All

Selects all objects in the list.


Version - Undo Checkout
   Undo Checkout (Version Menu)

Related Topics

Abandons (undoes) the checkout of all selected object versions. This reverts the object to the state it was in prior to being checked out.  About

List

The selected object versions for which you want to undo the checkouts.

(Not applicable when using the Version History Viewer as this tool operates within the context of only one object.)

Save filesystem changes (saved to <filename>.KEEP)

Displayed only if the selected object is a mapped file, this option saves any changes made since the object was checked out. By default, when you undo a checkout, any changes made since the object was checked out are lost. However, if a selected object is a mapped file, this option allows you to preserve the changes in a separate file. The file is called <filename>.KEEP, where <filename> is the name of the original file.


Version - View Version Events
View Version Events (Version Menu)

Related Topics

Displays the Version Event Viewer in which you can view event details of an object and its versions.  How

For each event you can view information including:

•	the type of event (checkin, checkout, locked, branched or merged)

•	the version label

•	the name of the object

•	the branch on which the version resides

•	the date the event occurred

•	the user who initiated the event

•	notes about the event


Version Event Viewer window

Related Topics

The Version Event Viewer displays details of all events that have occurred for an object.

You can re-sequence the information displayed and choose to display only selected information.  How

Note:	Any refinements of the details displayed are not reflected in the Event Viewer window until you click the Rescan button.

Event History for

The name of the object for which the events are displayed.

Start date field

The start date for any events displayed in the window. To activate this field, enable the Start date checkbox.

End date field

The end date for any events displayed in the window. To activate this field, enable the End date checkbox.

Start date checkbox

Activates the start date field, enabling you to specify a start date for any events displayed in the window.

End date checkbox

Activates the end date field, enabling you to specify an end date for any events displayed in the window.

Exclude Checkouts

Excludes any checkout event details. Checkout details are overwritten each time the object is checked in, so checkout details are only shown if the object currently has a checked-out version.

Report Key panel

Enables you to rearrange the report display and to include or exclude selected information from the display.

Display list

Displays a list of the details currently displayed in the report, including the order in which they are displayed and whether they appear in the left or right columns.

To add any additional details to the report, select the chosen detail from the drop-down list and click Add.

To remove or reorder any details, select the detail from this display list and click the appropriate button.

Drop-down list

A list of all possible event details that can be displayed in the report.

To add any additional details to the report, select the chosen detail from the drop-down list and click Add.

Add

Adds the detail selected from the drop-down list to the report.

Remove

Removes the detail selected in the display list from the report.

Higher

Moves the detail selected in the display list one position higher up in the order of details in the same column.

Lower

Moves the detail selected in the display list one position lower down in the order of details in the same column.

move Left

Moves the detail selected in the display list to the end of the left column.

move Right

Moves the detail selected in the display list to the end of the right column.

Rescan

Refreshes the display with the specified details.

Tabular list of events

Displays the specified details for each event in a tabular form.


Version - View Version History
  View Version History (Version Menu)

Related Topics

Displays the Version History Viewer in which you can view the version history of an object displayed in a graphical representation.  How

As well as viewing the full version history of an object, you can also:

•	check in object versions from, and check out object versions to, the context workarea

•	compare object versions

•	merge object versions

•	change the visible version of an object in the workarea


Version History Viewer window

Related Topics

The Version History Viewer displays the version history of an object in a graphical representation.  About

The Version History Viewer window contains the following:

Display Area	Displays a diagram made up of a number of nodes that correspond to each object version.
Status Panel	Shows information about the selected node.
Toolbar	Used to customize the display and provides shortcuts to the functionality available from the menus.


Generic Select dialog box

Displayed from the Browse button or automatically displayed when additional information is required for the current activity.

The title of the dialog box will depend on the context in which it is displayed.

Some features of the dialog box are displayed only if they are required in the particular context. For example the Select All button is displayed only if more than one object can be selected in one operation.

Look In

Displays the label for the area you are currently viewing and, where appropriate, enables you to move to another location in the hierarchy.

  Up One Level

Selects the level above the current level in the repository hierarchy.

  List View

Displays only the names of the repository objects in a multi-column list.

  General Details View

Displays the following general details about the objects in the list:

Name

The name of the object.

Type

The type of the object.

Attributes

The attributes (properties) of the object:

CI	checked-in
CO	checked-out
R	read-only
Modified

The date when the object was last modified.

Modified By

The username of the repository user who last modified the object.

  Version Details View

Displays the following version details about the objects in the list:

Name

The name of the object.

Type

The type of the object.

Attributes

The attributes (properties) of the object:

CI	checked-in
CO	checked-out
R	read-only
Version

The checkin branch and version number of the object, for example, MAIN:1.

Version Label

The version label of the object, for example, 1.3.

  Hierarchical View

Displays all the repository objects below the selected level. Objects are displayed with their path in the repository indicated.

  Flat View

Displays only the repository objects at the selected level in the repository hierarchy. In this view, double-clicking the name of a workarea or container displays the objects at that level.

Find elements that match these criteria

Available on some variants of this dialog box, these options enable you to move to a selected object. You can filter the list of objects displayed by name, type and version.

Name

The name of the selected object.

Type

The object type.

Version

The version of the selected object.


Set Context Workarea dialog box

Displayed when a checkout operation is performed from the Version History Viewer but the repository cannot determine the context workarea, this dialog box enables you to select a context workarea to which the object will be checked out.

All the workareas to which you have access are listed.

Select workarea

Enables you to select a workarea to make that workarea the context workarea.


Which configurations include this version dialog box

Related Topics

Available from the Version History Viewer,  [image]  displays the Which configurations include this version dialog box, listing all the configurations that include the selected object version.

Configurations

A list of all the configurations that include the selected object version.

Show version labels

Determines whether you want to display the version label for each configuration in the list.

When this option is not selected, the branch label is displayed for each configuration in the list.


Which workareas include this version dialog box

Related Topics

Available from the Version History Viewer,  [image] displays the Which workareas include this version dialog box, listing all the workareas that include the selected object version.

Workareas

A list of all workareas that include the selected object version.


Version History Viewer toolbar

Related Topics

The following toolbar buttons are available from the Version History Viewer:

Button	Description
	Updates the display area with any new information.
	Opens a dialog box displaying the version properties of the selected object version.
	Opens a dialog box displaying a summary list of configurations containing the selected version.
	Opens a dialog box displaying a summary list of workareas containing the selected version.
	Checks out the selected object version.
	Checks in the selected checkout.
	Undoes a checkout.
	Hides or shows the insignificant versions of the object. Insignificant versions include those that are not root or tip versions, are not branch parent versions, are not target or source versions in a merge operation, are not common ancestor versions, or are not the source of a checkout.
	Shows or hides the status panel at the bottom of the screen to allow more space for the version tree.
	Displays all notes associated with the version history diagram including branch labels and checkin notes.
	Displays all notes associated with major nodes in the version history diagram including branch labels and checkin notes.
	Hides all checkin notes and branch labels.
	Allows you to select the types of node to highlight in the version diagram and change the node colors to suit your personal preferences.
	Changes the size of the nodes and consequently the size of the entire diagram.


Version Properties dialog box

Related Topics

 opens the Version Properties dialog box for the selected version in the Version History Viewer.

Version name

The object name, branch name and position of the version on the branch.

Date created

The date and time the object version was created.

Created by

The username of the person who created the object version.

Status

The current status of the object version: checked in or checked out.

Notes

Notes that were added when the object version was checked in.


Checkout Properties dialog box

Related Topics

Displays the properties of the checkout selected in the Version History Viewer.

Original name

The object name, branch name and position on the branch of the original object version from which the selected version was checked out.

Date

The date and time when the object version was checked out.

Created by

The name of the user who created the object version

Notes

Any notes that were added when the version was checked out.


Version History Viewer display area

Related Topics

The Version History Viewer display area shows the version tree, a graphical representation of an object.  About

The version tree is made up of a number of nodes, each representing a single object version. Nodes are connected to other nodes by lines (or edges). The version tree includes all versions of the object and any branches and merges that may have taken place during development.

Notes entered at checkin or checkout are displayed beneath the node. They can be toggled on and off from the toolbar.

Depending on the version labeling policy, the name or the label assigned to each version is displayed inside the node. About

Version tree node colors

The following diagram illustrates the default node colors in the Version History Viewer. These colors can be customized to suit your personal preferences.  How

	Blue nodes represent the checked-out versions of this object. Red nodes are the leaf (or tip) nodes and are at the tip of each branch. They represent the latest version for that branch. Yellow nodes are major nodes. A major node is a node that corresponds with either the root of the branch, the parent node of a branch, or is a merge result node. The selected node is indicated by the blue cornered highlight selector. The node that is selected by this user’s workarea is marked with an arrow. The red triangle on the top left hand corner of node 1.3 indicates a marked node. Nodes are marked when they are being used in a compare or merge operation.  How


Version History Viewer Status panel

Related Topics

The Version History Viewer status panel at the bottom of the Version History Viewer window displays information associated with the selected node.

The status panel can be hidden from the display using the [image] button, so that more space is available for the display area.

Branch

The name of the branch to which the selected node belongs.  About

Version Label

The version label, which can be automatically generated or defined by the user.  How

Notes

These are optionally added to an object version when a checkout or checkin operation is performed. The note is a text string of a maximum 2000 characters. Full details of the note are available from the Version Properties dialog box.  How

Date Created

The date the object version was checked in to the repository.

Status

The three recognized states of a node are Checked in, Checked out, and Locked.


Compare window

Related Topics

The Compare window displays the results of a compare operation.

A compare operation involves a base object version and a contributor object version. The base object version is the version with which the contributor object version is compared.

The compare window consists of two panes separated by a resizing splitter. The left pane displays the contents of the base object version; the right pane displays the contents of the contributor object version.

Expanding or collapsing branches on the right pane will cause the corresponding branch on the left to expand or collapse.

You can scroll the screen vertically and horizontally using the scroll bars. Scrolling is synchronized so that corresponding items can be examined side by side.

Identifying differences between object versions

The compare display provides three ways in which differences between object versions can be identified:

•	Different text colors to represent additions, deletions and modifications.

•	Vertical bars to the left of each section of the object version to highlight what is being compared. The color of the block marker corresponds with the text color.

•	Icons to indicate the nature of the difference that exists between object versions:

Icon	Difference
	Added - An item has been added to the contributor version but not to the base version with which it is being compared.
	Deleted - An item has been deleted from the contributor version but not from the base version with which it is being compared.
	Update - An item is included in both the contributor and the base versions but the item is different in each version.


Merge window

Related Topics

The Merge window displays the results of a merge operation. A merge operation takes two contributor object versions (target and source), compares them to a common ancestor version, and uses internal rules to create a result based on changes found in all three versions.  About

The Merge window displays the differences and conflicts encountered by the merge algorithm. It also shows selections made by the algorithm, and lets you override those selections before the result is produced.

The Merge window appears in the following circumstances:

•	You attempt to do an automatic merge, and the merge algorithm encounters conflicts.

•	You explicitly ask for the Merge window to be displayed.

Difference blocks

The Merge window displays any differences in a series of difference blocks. A difference block shows the form that an item of data has in the contributor versions (source and target) and the common ancestor version, and indicates whether the item has been added, removed, or modified in one or both of the contributors with respect to the common ancestor. The difference might be:

•	A simple difference: a difference that the algorithm has been able to resolve using its own rules. In this case, the version containing the form of the item that the merge has selected to go forward to the result has its box selected. You can override the selection made by the algorithm by choosing an alternative form.

•	A conflict: a difference that the algorithm has been unable to resolve using its own rules. In this case, no contributor has its box selected. You must resolve the conflict by choosing the form of the item that you want to go forward to the result. If the conflict is for a file or for multi-line text, you can select more than one form of the comparison to go forward to the result; if the conflict is for structured repository object types, you can select only one.

Use the following menus to perform merge tasks:
File
View
Navigate
Merge
Help

The arrow toolbar buttons enable you to navigate through the lists of differences and conflicts.


Object Visibility dialog box

Related Topics

Displayed when you create an object in a checked-out container and check in the object for the first time, this dialog box warns you that the object being checked in may not be visible to other users until you check in the owning container.

To ensure that other users will be able to see the new object in their workareas (provided that the workarea specifications allow this), click OK and then check in the container.

Do not show this message again

Enables you to prevent the dialog box from being displayed every time you create and check in an object for the first time. Note that selecting this option hides the dialog box not only in the current working session, but also in all future working sessions.


Select Paths for Inherited Classes dialog box

Related Topics

Displayed when comparing or merging Oracle Forms (files with the .fmb, .olb or .mmb extension) that use subclassing or referenced objects, this dialog box enables you to define:

•	the scope: the workarea or configuration in which the Form versions participate

•	the path: the Forms path for the Form you want to compare or merge

Note that when comparing or merging Oracle Forms that use subclassing or referenced objects, you must ensure that:

•	each of the Form versions you are comparing or merging is in a different workarea or configuration

•	the Forms path exists in every workarea or configuration used for the comparing or merging operation

•	the files on the paths are uploaded into the repository  How

The options displayed in the dialog box differ according to whether you are comparing or merging Oracle Forms.

• Comparing Oracle Forms	The options enable you to enter the scope and path for the contributor and base object versions.
• Merging Oracle Forms	The options enable you enter the scope and path for the target, source and ancestor object versions.
Options displayed when comparing Oracle Forms

For

The name of the Form for which you are defining additional information.

Contributor Form

Information about the contributor Form version for this compare operation.

Workarea

Indicates whether or not the scope of the compare operation is for a workarea in which the contributor Form version participates.

Configuration

Indicates whether or not the scope of the compare operation is for a configuration in which the contributor Form version participates.

Name

The name of the workarea or configuration in which the contributor Form version participates. Select the name of the workarea or configuration from the list of those in which the contributor Form version participates.

Path

The Forms path for the contributor Form version. The path defaults to one previously used by the Form, but can be changed by the user. Paths should be defined relative to the root. Specify the path without any version information, and use a semicolon for separating multiple paths.

Base Form

Information about the base Form version for this compare operation.

Workarea

Indicates whether or not the scope of the compare operation is for the workarea in which the base Form version participates.

Configuration

Indicates whether or not the scope of the compare operation is for the configuration in which the base Form version participates.

Name

The name of the workarea or configuration in which the base Form version participates. Select the name of the workarea or configuration from the list of those in which the base Form version participates.

Path

The Forms path for the base Form version. The path defaults to one previously used by the Form, but can be changed by the user. Paths should be defined relative to the root. Specify the path without any version information, and use a semicolon for separating multiple paths.

Options displayed when merging Oracle Forms

For

The name of the Form for which you are defining additional information.

Target Form

Information about the target Form version for this merge operation.

Workarea

Indicates whether or not the scope of the merge operation is for the workarea in which the target Form version participates.

Configuration

Indicates whether or not the scope of the merge operation is for the configuration in which the target Form version participates.

Name

The name of the workarea or configuration in which the target Form version participates. Select the name of the workarea or configuration from the list of those in which the target Form version participates.

Path

The Forms path for the target Form version. The path defaults to one previously used by the Form, but can be changed by the user. Paths should be defined relative to the root. Specify the path without any version information, and use a semicolon for separating multiple paths.

Source Form

Information about the source Form version for this merge operation.

Workarea

Indicates whether or not the scope of the merge operation is for a workarea in which the source Form version participates.

Configuration

Indicates whether or not the scope of the merge operation is for a configuration in which the source Form version participates.

Name

The name of the workarea or configuration in which the source Form version participates. Select the name of the workarea or configuration from the list of those in which the source Form version participates.

Path

The Forms path for the source Form version. The path defaults to one previously used by the Form, but can be changed by the user. Paths should be defined relative to the root. Specify the path without any version information, and use a semicolon for separating multiple paths.

Common Ancestor Form

Information about the common ancestor Form version for this merge operation.

Workarea

Indicates whether or not the scope of the merge operation is for the workarea in which the ancestor Form version participates.

Configuration

Indicates whether or not the scope of the merge operation is for the configuration in which the ancestor Form version participates.

Name

The name of the workarea or configuration in which the ancestor Form version participates. Select the name of the workarea or configuration from the list of those in which the ancestor Form version participates.

Path

The Forms path for the ancestor Form version. The path defaults to one previously used by the Form, but can be changed by the user. Paths should be defined relative to the root. Specify the path without any version information, and use a semicolon for separating multiple paths.


Merge Confirmation dialog box

Related Topics

Lists the source and target for the merge operation, and enables you to choose whether you want to preview the merge results in the Merge window, or perform an automatic merge if there are no conflicts.

If merging binary files other than Oracle Forms, the merge operation does not compare the source and target versions but instead copies the contents of the source over the contents of the target. When merging binary files, this dialog box does not therefore display the Use Merge window and Perform automatic merge options but instead displays a message informing you that the merge will copy the source file over the target file.

Source

The source object version for the merge operation: the version which is merged with the target.

Target

The target object version for the merge operation: the version into which changes made in the source are to be merged.

Use Merge window

Displays the Merge window listing the differences and conflicts encountered by the merge algorithm and the selections made by the algorithm, and letting you override those selections before the result is produced.

Perform automatic merge

Performs an automatic merge if there are no conflicts. The Merge window is displayed only if there are conflicts between object versions, so enabling you to resolve the differences; otherwise the Merge window is not displayed.


File Menu

Save

Merges the selected data into an updated form of the target and saves the result.

Exit

Exits from the tool.


View Menu

Toolbar

Shows or hides the standard toolbar below the menu bar.


Navigate Menu

Previous Difference

Navigates to the previous difference in the window.

Next Difference

Navigates to the next difference in the window.

Previous Conflict

Navigates to the previous conflict in the window.

Next Conflict

Navigates to the next conflict in the window.


Merge Menu

Select Source

Selects the source from the difference block currently in focus.

This menu option will be only be available when a difference block is currently in focus in the Merge Window.

Select Target

Selects the target from the difference block currently in focus.

This menu option will be only be available when a difference block is currently in focus in the Merge Window.

Select Common Ancestor

Selects the common ancestor from the difference block currently in focus.

This menu option will be only be available when a difference block is currently in focus in the Merge Window.


Help Menu

Help Topics

Displays a list of the main subject areas in the online documentation system.

About

Displays copyright and version number information about this application. You might need to know the version number for product support purposes.


File - Open
   Open (File Menu)

Opens an existing diagram.

If the diagram you select is already open this option brings that diagram to the front. If the selected diagram is minimized it will be restored to its previous state.

If the diagram you are opening contains elements that do not match those held in the repository and you have set the Requery on Open option in the Customize dialog box, the mismatched elements are requeried automatically before you open the diagram. If you have not set the Requery on Open option, the diagram is opened exactly as it was when last closed, but cannot be edited.

Dialog box options

Diagrams for workarea

Lists the existing diagrams, grouped by container, that are visible to your workarea. Choose the diagram you want to open by expanding the appropriate container node and selecting the diagram name.


Edit - Delete From Repository
Delete from Repository (Edit Menu)

Deletes one or more selected elements from the diagram and places in them in the repository Wastebasket.

You must have delete privileges to a workarea and container before you can remove elements or their associations from it. If an element is "shared", i.e. directly owned by another application system, it can be deleted from the owning application system only.

•	Deleting an element from the current diagram window deletes the element node from the current window and from any copies of the same diagram that are also open.

•	Deleting from a diagram an element that is also included on other closed diagrams removes the element node from the current diagram only. Any diagrams containing the deleted element become temporarily out of date until you requery the repository.

Dialog box options

List box

Displays the names of all the diagram elements that are selected on the active diagram. By default, all elements are selected for deletion. Each diagram element is qualified by a container name.

Select All

Selects for deletion all the elements shown in the list box.


Edit - Select <Element Type>
Select→Element Type (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Selects named elements of the specified element type on the active diagram.

Dialog box options

List box

Displays the names of elements of the type you want to select on the diagram.

Select All

Selects all the elements shown in the list box.


Edit - Navigate to - Element Type
Navigate to→Element Type (Edit Menu)

Related Topics

Searches for a specified element on the active diagram and redisplays the diagram to show that element and its surrounding items.

Dialog box options

List box

Displays the elements to which you can navigate on the active diagram.


Edit - Requery - Element type
Requery→<Element Type> (Edit Menu)

Requeries your choice of any out-of-date elements on the diagram of the specified type.

After requerying, any changes that have been made to the properties of the elements you requery are reflected on the diagram. Any elements you requery that have been deleted from the repository are removed from the diagram.

Dialog box options

List box

Displays the names of all the out-of-date entities on the diagram with an explanation of why each is out of date.

Select All

Selects all the entities shown in the list box.


Edit - Properties
Properties (Edit Menu)

Maintains the properties of an element on the active diagram.

Tip:	You can also open an element dialog box by double-clicking on the element on the diagram.


Version - Check In / Check Out <container>
 Check In / Check Out <container> (Version Menu)

Checks in or checks out a container, depending on whether it is currently checked-in or checked-out. The text for this option is one of the following:

Menu text	Meaning
No Current Container	There are no diagrams open and no container is in use.
Check In <container>	The current container is checked out and can be checked in using this option.
Check Out <container>	The current container is checked in and can be checked out using this option.


Utilities - Database Design Transformer
Database Design Transformer (Utilities Menu)

Creates and maintains database designs based upon entity models recorded in the repository. It creates tables to record instances of each entity, columns to store attributes, and constraints to implement the relationships between entities.

Like the entity model, the database design that is generated is stored in the repository. This model can subsequently be used by other Oracle Designer utilities to generate the SQL statements required to create the database itself.


Container List (Main toolbar)

The Container List identifies the container in which new diagram elements will be created in the repository.

In the Process Modeler, Function Hierarchy Diagrammer and the Dataflow Diagrammer, diagram elements are always created in the same container as the diagram, therefore this field is display only and simply identifies the container in which the active diagram exists.

In the Entity Relationship Diagrammer, where diagrams can contain elements from multiple containers, you use this field to specify the container in which diagram elements will be created. If the container that you want to use is not shown in the dropdown list, click the list button to the right of the dropdown list to see other containers that are visible to your workarea.

Note: The Container List does not display a container name if a diagram is not open.