Navigating Layers and Nodes in the User Interface

Working with graphical business process models often requires you to navigate sometimes complex or extensive arrangements of process components.

For your convenience, the Graphical Process Modeler (GPM) contains a Navigation pane for quick navigating among components.

The Navigation pane makes it easy to select from among the different subflows and components of your business process model, using the Layers and Nodes tabs.

Layers

Layers are subflows contained within the business process model. The Layers tab depicts a graphical representation of the structure of the parent business process model displayed in the workspace, including subflows. To expand the structure to show the layers, double click the icon in the Navigation pane that represents the business process model.

When you expand the view, the structure shows any subflow layers contained within the business process model. The following figure illustrates a process model with two layers, when the view is expanded.

To work with the subflow, select the appropriate layer from the list. The subflow activities display in the workspace.

Nodes

Nodes are the steps in the business process model. Each BPML activity, service, adapter, and subflow is a node.

For a selected layer, the Nodes tab displays an alphabetical list of the nodes in the layer. When you select a node from the list, the GPM displays in the workspace the section of the business process model containing the selected node, with the node selected in the workspace display.

To use the Nodes tab, select a layer from the Layers tab and then click the Node tab to view:
  • The list of nodes in the layer, displayed in the Navigation pane
  • The subflow or parent business process model that comprises the layer, displayed in the workspace

If the element editor is open, when you select an icon on the Node tab, configurable parameters for the node display in the applicable element editor.

Go To Command

When you are working with a business process model that includes multiple subflows, the Go To (Previous/Next) command enables you to return to the previous flow view or display the next flow view.

To use the command, select View > Go To > Previous or Next.