Creating or Modifying a Business Process Model in the GPM

You can create an original business process model from scratch, or by modifying an existing process model and saving it with a unique name.

1. Open the GPM.
2. In the GPM, from the File menu, select New to open a new document, or open the .bp file you want to use as a foundation for a new process model (checked out business process models are saved as .bp files).
   Note: If you open a business process model that was created or edited in the text editor, the GPM displays the components in “autolayout” mode—the icons are aligned in a linear arrangement.
3. Open the stencils containing the service icons you need to create the business process model. For each stencil you need, from the View menu, select Stencil > <stencil name>.
4. Click the title bar for the BPML stencil to expand the stencil (the BPML stencil is open by default).
5. If you are creating this process model from scratch, add the Start icon to the business process workspace by dragging and dropping that Start icon onto the workspace.
   To add an icon to a business process model, click to select the appropriate icon from within a stencil, and then, holding down the mouse button, drag the icon onto the workspace and release the mouse button.
6. Add other icons to the business process model as needed:
   • From the BPML stencil, add icons representing BPML activities and instructions required in your business process.
   • From the stencils, add icons representing services, BPML activities and instructions, and integration points in your business process.
   This step might include adding one or more subflows, as well as services to invoke other process models (subprocesses).
   For more information, see the following topics:
   • If you want to use a service that is not installed, contact your system administrator.
   • Adding Subflows in the GPMAdding Subflows in the GPM
   • For how to invoke another process model from within this one, see Using Predefined Business Process ModelsUsing Predefined Business Process Models.
7. If you are using a predefined business process model as the basis for creating this process model, remove any icons that you do not need to keep for the new model.
8. If you are creating this process model from scratch, add the End activity to the business process model.
9. Arrange the icons in the order that meets the requirements of your business process. Do not use the Autolayout tool unless you have arranged and linked your icons first (complete step 10), because it will line up the icons in a vertical row that takes time to reorganize appropriately.
10. To link the icons, click the arrow on the right side of the first icon and drag it to the arrow on the left side of the next icon. Repeat as necessary.
11. Customize descriptive annotations to your model, if desired. For instructions, see Customizing an AnnotationCustomizing an Annotation.
12. Assign any name-value pairs that represent data to locate in process data, as needed. For instructions, see Assigning Name-Value Pairs in a Business Process ModelAssigning-Name-Value Pairs in a Business Process Model.
13. Assign rules and conditions to decision points, if needed. For instructions, see Defining and Assigning Rules and ConditionsDefining and Assigning Rules and Conditions.
14. Configure parameters as needed for services, adapters and BPML activities. For instructions, see Configuring Parameters in GPM Element EditorsConfiguring Parameters in GPM Element Editors.
15. From the File menu, select Save to save the business process model document (.bp file) to your client computer. If you have configured the GPM to validate automatically when you save a file, the system validates your process model now.
    If this is a new process created from scratch, give the business process model a unique and meaningful name so that you can identify it easily.
16. In the Save dialog box, select a directory on your client computer and click Save.
    After creating a business process model, at any time, you can open the file for your business process model and configure parameters, add subflows as necessary, assign rules and conditions, validate it, or otherwise modify it. In order to test or run the process in Sterling B2B Integrator, you must:

    1. Validate the process model's format. For information, see Business Process Model ValidationBusiness Process Model validation.
    2. Check the model in to Sterling B2B Integrator (your test or production environment, accordingly). For instructions, see Implementing Business Process ModelsImplementing Business Process Models.
    3. Create and check in any other resources (such as Web templates, service configurations, maps, and so forth) that will be used by this model.