Often, when I am out and about delivering BPMN training to our clients, I am asked if it is possible to model the ability to “undo” certain actions within a process model.

The answer is of course yes, BPMN 2.0 provides us with the necessary tools to show this kind of action via transaction modelling.

As you may or may not know, BPMN 2.0 is broken down into several disciplines, see below:

The tools offered by the notation that allow us to undertake transaction modelling fall firmly into the realm of Analytical Modelling.

This means that for users of Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, we will find everything we need in the toolboxes for BPMN Collaboration and Process diagrams.

Elements for Transaction Modelling

When we say Transaction in reference to BPMN 2.0, we are in fact talking about a Transaction Sub-Process. A Transaction Sub-Process refers to the coordinated execution of multiple activities such that they will all complete successfully or, in the event of a cancellation, the activities are rolled back to a state equivalent to none of them completing. To create a Transaction in Enterprise Architect, you first need to create a Sub-Process and then set the Tagged Value isATransaction in the element properties:

The Cancel Event is an interrupting boundary event that can only be used on the boundary of a Transaction Sub-Process. This event will be triggered should the Transaction reach a state in which a Cancel End Event has been reached. The event will then Cancel (not just a clever name) all successfully completed activities within the Transaction that have defined compensating activities and undo them so that they are in a state equal to none of them having been completed.

The Cancel End Event is a type of BPMN 2.0 End Event that is used within a Transaction Sub-Process. Should this End Event be reached within a Transaction Sub-Process, it will then trigger the Cancel Event attached to the boundary of the Transaction.

When undertaking Transaction Modelling, should we wish to undo the Activities contained within the Transaction Sub-Process, then alongside the Cancel event types we will also need to employ Compensation Events and Compensating Activities. An Activity can only be rolled back if it has a Compensation Event set as an interrupting boundary event. This will then need to be connected to a Compensation Activity (or Sub-Process) via the Association relationship. To mark an activity for compensation in Enterprise Architect, you will need to access the element properties and set the tagged value isForCompensation to true:

The Compensation End Event allows us to model a process where we have an option to defer rollback until later on in the process. When triggered, this End Event will terminate the process and will itself trigger any Compensation Events within the process, and by association any Compensating Activities, allowing us to rollback after the successful completion of our Transactions.

Approaches to Transaction Modelling

Self-Cancelling

When talking about transaction modelling and the phrase “self-cancelling activities” comes up, it is referring to any activities (including Sub-Processes) within a transaction that can be undone should a Cancel End Event be triggered.

A Transaction can contain a single or multiple self cancelling activities.

In the example below we can see that we have a Transaction Sub-Process (modelled as expanded) that contains multiple activities that can be undone when the Compensation Events are triggered by the Cancel Events.

Each of these compensable activities is then linked to a Service Task that is marked for compensation, and it is this Compensation Activity that roles the others back to a state where none of them have been completed.

Deferred Cancellation

Deferred cancellation of activities happens when we model a way for our Transaction Sub-Processes to be undone after they have been successfully completed. We do this by implementing a Compensation End Event somewhere in our possible sequence of events. An example of this is shown in the process below:

This concludes our look at Transaction Modelling in BPMN 2.0, I hope you found it a useful explanation.

How can Dunstan Thomas help you with BPMN 2.0?

Dunstan Thomas have been Sparx Systems partners for the last 18 years, delivering training and consulting services around Enterprise Architect to organisations spanning multiple markets.

Leverage the knowledge and experience of our expert consultants to supplement your teams with services such as:

• BPMN Training Services
• Outsourced Modelling Services

In the most recent release of MDG Office Integrations (v1.4.40), an exciting enhancement known as the "BPMN Visualizer" has been introduced, offering an excellent utility for BPMN users. This feature facilitates the seamless transfer of BPMN Components between Microsoft Excel documents and Sparx Enterprise Architect Models.

The key feature of 'BPMN Visualizer' in MDG Office Integration

• Simplified Approach that eliminates the necessity for Profile Creation during import and export for mapping items. This drastically minimizes user time and the possibility of manual errors.
• Through a single click of "Excel to EA" menu, users can quickly synchronize BPMN Components, seamlessly updating and aligning data between Excel and the Enterprise Architect model.
• The visual representation of diagrams from the Enterprise Architect model, as well as the related preconfigured mapping table, can be displayed within Excel.
• The capability to incorporate multiple diagrams is supported when a package is selected. This involves displaying all diagrams in the selected packages along with their corresponding predefined mapping tables on separate sheets.

BPMN Components on Microsoft Excel

MDG Integration for Microsoft Office provides seamless integration within Microsoft Excel (Version 2007 and above). A newly introduced feature named ‘BPMN Visualizer’ now resides in the ‘Feature’ dropdown of the Enterprise Architect ribbon in Excel. This feature facilitates the seamless transfer of ‘BPMN Components' between an Excel document and Enterprise Architect, allowing for bi-directional data exchange.

To import BPMN Components into Enterprise Architect from Excel

	The Feature dropdown offers the following selection options: ‘Export to EA’: Export the elements to Enterprise Architect using Profiles ‘SysML Requirement Manager’: Import SysML requirements from Enterprise Architect and Export SysML requirements and their connectors to Enterprise Architect. ‘BPMN Visualizer’:  Import BPMN Components from Enterprise Architect and export BPMN Components to Enterprise Architect.
	Allows one to select a *.eap or *.eapx or *.feap or *.qea or *.qeax or *.eadb through local project, server connection, or cloud connection. Local Project: To connect the Local Enterprise Architect model. Server Connection: To connect to an Enterprise Architect repository through a database Cloud Connection: To connect to an Enterprise Architect repository through the Pro Cloud Server
	Allows users to select a Package or BPMN Diagram to Load from the Enterprise Architect Model to Excel with the respective diagram image.

Select a package

• This window will be displayed when the Package Icon is clicked.
• It displays all the models and packages from the selected Enterprise Architect model, with BPMN Components being imported specifically.

Select a BPMN Diagram

• This window will be displayed when the Diagram button is clicked.
• It provides a hierarchical overview of all diagrams within the packages of the model. Users have the ability to choose a specific BPMN diagram from this view.

Note: The ‘Ok’ button will only enable when the selection type is BPMN Diagram

Utilizing Excel for BPMN Components

• The selected diagram is imported to an Excel sheet along with its predefined mapping table.
• The Excel sheets are named in the format of Diagram Name with Diagram ID.

Excel column definition

Creation of element from Excel to Enterprise Architect model

• To create a new element, enter a name in the ‘Action Name’ column (mandatory).
• By default, the ‘Action Type’ is ‘Activity’. Users can change the type using the drop-down list.
• Mapping the parent element for the newly created element is also achievable using the ‘Parent’ column.

Note: Supported Element types are Activity, Gateway, StartEvent, IntermediateEvent, EndEvent, DataStore, DataObject, BusinessProcess, BPELProcess, GlobalTask, Pool, and Lane.

Establishing connectors for the newly created element in Excel

‘Next Action ID’ creates a connector between two BPMN elements. Choose the appropriate ‘Action ID’ in the checklist box of ‘Next Action ID’ to connect. By default, the connector type is ‘Sequence Flow’

Note: Supported connector types are SequenceFlow, MessageFlow, Conversation Link, DataAssociation, and Association.

To update the changes from the mapping table in Excel to the Enterprise Architect model utilize the ‘Excel to EA’ Icon available in the Excel Ribbon; The preview form is presented to the user to ensure that the intended changes are ready for export. Once you click the ‘Export’ button, synchronization is initiated between the Enterprise Architect Model and Excel, causing the changes to be updated in Excel as well.

As depicted in the image below, you can observe that the recently generated ‘Process goods’ element has been incorporated into the Excel diagram. This element establishes a connection with the ‘Gateway5’ element, as indicated in the mapping table. Likewise, this synchronization is also reflected in the Enterprise Architect model.

The ‘EA to Excel’ icon enables users to revert the produced items back to their original state as Enterprise Architect Models, providing an opportunity to undo changes made in Excel. Additionally, it facilitates the synchronization of changes made from Enterprise Architect to Excel.

BPMN Components from Enterprise Architect to Microsoft Excel

Through the ‘BPMN to Excel’ menu, users can export data pertaining to BPMN Components, which have been accumulated within Enterprise Architect, into the Predefined mapping tables along with diagrams in separate sheets within Excel.

After selecting the package or BPMN Diagram, the Enterprise Architect will begin exporting data to an Excel sheet and proceed with Refer "Utilizing Excel for BPMN Components"

Check out the BPMN on Excel and Enterprise Architect video here

To know more or to request a demo, please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Evolving your Business Processes through Time Aware modelling

Earlier this week I was spending a little time flitting around the various LinkedIn groups that I frequent. In one of the BPMN groups, the group admin had set a fun little challenge as follows:

Create a BPMN model for this leave application process:

• Employee applies for annual leave
• Employee must submit the request to their Manager if the leave is < = 5 days
• Employee must submit the leave to their CEO if the leave is < 5 days
• The Manager or CEO approve/reject the leave
• The Manager or CEO inform Employee that their leave application is approved / rejected

I had some time to spare & thought I would quickly whip up a process model to represent this in its most simple form. This was the result:

As you can see, this is probably as simple as this scenario could possibly be made. But, what if I want to evolve this model, how can I show the evolution of this process?

Time Aware BPMN modelling

You may or may not be aware of the ability to create time aware models within Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, and this functionality allows us to take our as-is process (the simple process), clone it and make the modifications to process that will show our future state…the to-be model.

So how does this work?

This process works by cloning an existing package and its content as a new structure and using EA to give the newly cloned diagram a new version number.

For BPMN modellers, there is a trick that you must be aware of. Cloning a BPMN diagram for the purpose of time aware modelling requires that the diagram in question is at the highest possible level within the package being cloned. This means that you cannot have the diagram created beneath a model element as shown here:

If you were to attempt to clone this, all that you would end up with is the package structure. To get the successful cloning your package needs to look like this:

If you have an existing model within a model element, all is not lost. First, you will need to copy the package using this option:

Next, paste the package from the clipboard into your repository & rename it e.g. Package X for Time Aware. Then, open the package and expand the model element. Following that, move the diagram and all the elements to the top level of the package. You can then delete the model element as it will not be used and would still be present on the original version.

Having done this, you will now be able to clone the package successfully to undertake your time aware modelling activities.

There are a few things that you need to be aware of. For example, you must remember to rename the cloned diagram to reflect its new version so that it is obvious at a glance. This will prevent you from confusing the new version with the old.

Additionally, to make use of this functionality you will need to activate the following filters on the new diagram:

• Filter to Version
• New to Version

The ‘filter to version’ option will look at your cloned diagram and then grey-out anything that is the same as within version one. The’ new to version’ option will display any element added to the new version as ‘normal’, allowing you distinguish between features that are in place within your process and the features that you wish to add to your process in the newer version.

You can even make minor modifications to version one elements & have them render for version two. You can do this by right-clicking one of your greyed-out elements and cloning to new version:

You will of course need to ensure that the version number you assign to this cloned element matches the version number that you have assigned to the diagram. This will then allow you to see the new version of the element on your to-be diagram.

With this in mind, let us jump back to the original example in this article and see how it has evolved using this time aware approach:

As you can see, in the to-be version of this simple process model, we can immediately see the differences between version one and version two, in which we have modelled how we would like this process to function in a future state, whilst retaining the ability to see how the original version functioned. This has been achieved through a combination of adding entirely new elements and cloning some of the original elements to this version and altering their properties.

This will allow you to make informed decisions on how you can change your processes over time before making sweeping change without seeing the effect on your current state of play.

Subscriber Questions: How can I show messaging between BPMN processes?

We regularly get asked questions by our YouTube subscribers and recently one we were asked by someone how they could show messaging between independent processes using Enterprise Architect.

In the clip shown below, and after some serious beard stroking, I look at using a high-level collaboration diagram to demonstrate the connectivity between the processes, which was my initial gut reaction. After some additional consideration of the question I also look at an approach using the conversation diagram in conjunction with model elements and lower level choreographies as a way to show this communication at a high-level.

Please click the link below to view the footage:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/tBjj2QeF3M8

Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more content like this, and of course ask your subscriber questions!

How to Validate your Enterprise Architect BPMN Models

The BPMN notation is a good way to specify processes, may it be the workflow for a specific task or entire business processes. Such models may grow very large and you can easily lose track of certain details such as model correctness. 

Figure 1 shows an example for a BPMN model (using the BPMN 2.0 MDG Technology), a process for resolving problems which are reported via a ticket system.

Fig 1: BPMN Process example modelled with the Enterprise Architect (example source: OMG).

Do you see the Error?

Maybe you’ve noticed that the final node of the model does not have any incoming control flow edges but instead has an outgoing control flow edge.

Also the Activity ‘Insert issue into product backlog’ is not reachable, because it has no incoming edge. This leads us to the problem that the Enterprise Architect may (only) ensure that every BPMN model is syntactically valid: it prohibits modelling actions which would result in syntactically invalid BPMN models, e.g. a control flow to an element that does not belong to activities, like an Interface.

What the Enterprise Architect does not ensure is semantic correctness.

Formal Validation with OCL

A formal way to validate semantic restrictions on (BPMN) models is to use the Object Constraint Language (OCL) to define constraints the models must fulfill in order to be correct.

In our case we could define the following constraint to ensure that a final node does not have any outgoing control flow edge:

context a:Activity inv:

a.nodes -> forAll(node | not(node.oclIsTypeOf(FlowFinalNode)) or node.outgoing -> isEmpty())

But then an unconnected final node would still be valid and we also do not cover the unreachable activity. With another constraint we can ensure that every node in the model (except for initial nodes) has an incoming edge:

context a:Activity inv:

a.nodes -> forAll(node | node.oclIsTypeOf(InitialNode) or not(node.incoming -> isEmpty()))

Unfortunately, the Enterprise Architect has no feature yet to evaluate any formal constraints like OCL.

To evaluate the constraints on our model we use other tools to load our Enterprise Architect models and run OCL constraints on it.

Semantic Validation of BPMN Models in Eclipse

To show what is possible, we use the YAKINDU EA-Bridge to load our models and evaluate them with the OCL Console.

Once the Enterprise Architect model is loaded with the YAKINDU EA-Bridge, it can be browsed in a simple tree-based editor (as seen in Figure 2), element details are shown in the ‘Properties’ view.

Fig 2: Our Enterprise Architect model loaded with the YAKINDU EA-Bridge in Eclipse

 

Now we want to select the activity ‘BPMN 2.0 Business Process View’ and open the OCL Console (open the ‘Console’ View in Eclipse and select the ‘OCL Console’ in the drop-down toolbar icon of the view).

There we can enter our constraints and observe the evaluation result (Figure 3).

Please note that the plain constraint must be entered, the context of our invariants above is the currently selected element in the editor!

Fig 3: The OCL Console in Eclipse

 

Once we have run our evaluation and got the result that the model violates the constraints, we can fix our BPMN model and run the OCL evaluation on the corrected model (see Figure 4) again.

 

Fig 4: Semantically valid Model, because the Final Node has no outgoing control flow but instead has an incoming control flow.

 Also the Activity ‘Insert issue into product backlog’ has an incoming control flow and is therefore reachable.

This time our constraints evaluate to ‘true’:

To conclude, the usage of additional tools like the YAKINDU EA-Bridge and an OCL Interpreter enables further use cases like validation of BPMN Models by a predefined set of OCL constraints.

There are already projects working on such predefined sets of OCL constraints for BPMN models, for example, ‘OPEN-BPMN-OCL’. The next step would then be to implement automatic model validation.

Try it yourself

Do you want to try it out yourself? 

First download the YAKINDU EA-Bridge Trial Eclipse Distribution, which is free to download. Unpack and start it, select a workspace location, and go to ‘Help’ -> ‘Install New Software’. The following dialog should appear. Copy ‘https://download.eclipse.org/modeling/mdt/ocl/updates/releases/latest’ into the field ‘Work with’.

You should now be able to select the ‘OCL’, ‘OCL build’, and ‘OCL tests’ items:

Click ‘Next >’ and finish the installation. Once it is finished, restart Eclipse to complete the installation.

The next thing to do is creating a new 'General Project', this can be done via the ‘File’ Menu:

After creating the project, please download the attached zip file, which contains the BPMN example and an XML file (which defines a slightly adapted version of the BPMN 2.0 MDG Technology). Copy these two files into the newly created project. Finally, change the preferences for the YAKINDU EA-Bridges to look for EA profiles in the same folder (in Eclipse: 'Window' -> 'Preferences' -> 'YAKINDU EA-Bridge' -> 'UML' -> 'Profile Locations').

Once this is done you can start experimenting with the example as shown in the screenshot above.

Online Training with Dunstan Thomas

BPMN 2.0 with Enterprise Architect version 15

It looks like social distancing will be with us for the foreseeable future and as such Dunstan Thomas are continuing to operate under a remote delivery model. The updates to our online training content continue and today we are pleased to announce the publication of our Business Process Modelling with BPMN 2.0 and Enterprise Architect version 15.x online training course (written by yours truly).

BPMN 2.0 with Enterprise Architect version 15 - Agenda

Introduction to Enterprise Architect

• Describes the main features of Enterprise Architect and its editions
  • Describes the concept of repositories in Enterprise Architect;
    • Working with repositories
    • Structure of repositories
• Provides an overview of version control with Enterprise Architect

Introduction to BPMN 2.0

Business Modelling

Analytical Modelling

Advanced Modelling

Each of these topics is delivered as a lesson activity within Dunstan Thomas' learning site. These lessons are made up of reading materials, step by step exercises guiding you through the publication processes and supplementary video content to support those exercises.

Given the current climate, if you would like to know more about our off-the-shelf online training or to organise an instructor led remote learning webinar, please do not hesitate to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Stay safe everyone x

Sparx Systems is pleased to announce a new Sparx Systems University Week scheduled June 3^rd-7^th.

During Sparx Systems University week, a range of both free and paid training sessions are hosted at training locations around the world and online.  All sessions are supported by Sparx Service providers and qualified trainers in a number of different languages.

This week-long event is a unique opportunity to gain knowledge and improve skills around Enterprise Architect. June's course line-up covers a broad range of topics, and has been developed with both introductory and advanced users in mind.

SparxSystems CE: Belgian Railway relies on Enterprise Architect

In order to prepare itself for the liberalisation of national railway markets in 2023, the Belgian National Railway Company SNCB has developed an architecture continuum using Enterprise Architect over the last three years. With more than 1000 applications in use and a huge volume of data, this was not an easy task. Today, IT decisions can be made more easily based on reliable information, and the company is now able to move toward a modern IT landscape.

 Luc Alix (left), Head of Enterprise Architecture and Alain Garsoux (right) in charge of Architecture Governance at Ypto, a subsidiary of the Belgian National Railway Company

Vienna/Brussels – In 2005, the Belgian National Railway Company was divided into three public companies, in accordance with European and Belgian regulations. This naturally had considerable consequences for the common IT: Thousands of components (applications, servers, networks, etc.) had to be recorded, analysed and reassigned. To ease this IT transformation, SNCB decided to create a new IT company called “YPTO”, a 100% subsidiary. Ypto started to invest in its enterprise architecture with Enterprise Architect from Sparx Systems. Luc Alix, Head of Enterprise Architecture, hired Alain Garsoux to promote and improve Ypto’s architectural knowledge database (continuum). Alix: "We very soon decided to define our own architecture framework by adopting and integrating major architecture standards like Archimate™, TOGAF™, BPMN, SAFe, etc.. The adopted prescriptive language helps the decision-making process by forcing us to address the important concerns and not getting lost in details.”

Enterprise Architect: Cost-effective and adaptable

Since a suitable tool is naturally required for the construction of such a complex IT landscape, the decision was made to purchase based on specificity. Enterprise Architect proved to be the cheapest and most adaptable solution. A. Garsoux explains: "Being active in the public sector forces us to regularly reconfirm the purchase, the good price of the platform has so far always made it possible to extend the licenses and to avoid migration tasks. This allows us to continuously work with the tool, which has now been ideally adapted and makes our architecture work much easier and more productive.” Hans Bartmann, Managing Director of SparxSystems Central Europe: "We are pleased that Enterprise Architect has so far overcome the hurdle of tenders so well due to its excellent price-performance ratio, adaptability and openness to many languages and standards. At the same time we congratulate SNCB on their state-of-the-art IT architectural solution, which can also serve as a very good example for other companies!”

The EA Shared Model Repository provides an overview The EA Shared Model Repository provides an overview of the mapped areas and guidelines for modeling

Open tool to reduce complexity

During the embedding phase for the modeling platform, Ypto specified precise guidelines for solution architects. Standard architectural views were defined to support the work of 12 Enterprise Architects and 50 Solution Architects. "Thanks to pre-fab architecture diagrams, we are able to easily capture our current complex IT landscape into the architecture knowledge database (Continuum). The captured raw data is then transformed into actionable information to support decision making”, says A. Garsoux. With this capture, a continuous documentation is automatically updated, which is of decisive importance for traceability and further developments.

The analysis of the existing applications showed for example that currently up to 20 applications are necessary for the handling of a single business activity. Since each of these applications (currently over 1.000) has to be maintained, the declared goal is to significantly reduce this number. "For any new request for change, we always start by specifying the impacted business activities and the impacted applications. From this we can very quickly see - thanks to our architectural knowledge database - what things we want to keep and what needs to be renewed,” says the IT architect.

The Architecture Framework provides an overall view of the IT architecture

New applications are subject to precise specifications

"Precise architectural principles have been defined for all applications, which must be adhered to. Only in this way can we ensure that we achieve a uniform architecture. The framework also helps us to make very efficient decisions on certain developments," explains A. Garsoux. The IT architect now describes the structure as mature and ready for roll-out in the company, which is already ongoing. But he also knows that this will require a lot of internal persuasion: "The commitment to this forward-looking IT architecture must now spread throughout the company, because this of course entails changes. Our delivered information convinced our management and we prove every day that we are taking a decisive step towards a prosperous future for SNCB!"

The SNCB

SNCB is Belgium’s national railway company. It is a public company which provides the operation and marketing of railway services for national and international passenger and freight transport. It is also responsible for the maintenance of the rolling stock. SNCB employs around 21,000 people and has a turnover of 2.2 billion euros. It also owns shares in Eurostar and Thalys, as well as in the IFB and TRW branches. SNCB plays a crucial role in the development of sustainable mobility by providing a quality, reliable service that is in line with the market.

About Sparx Systems

Enterprise Architect is the world’s premiere UML/SysML modeling platform. Produced in Australia by Sparx Systems since 1996, it has been implemented by over 730,000 users worldwide, due not only to its high performance at an unbeatable price. Enterprise Architect is a powerful yet intuitive modeling tool that facilitates any desired level of explicitness and precision in the development, analysis and documentation of even the most complex systems and architectures. Individuals and teams can use EA to design and produce software systems, perform business process modeling, handle requirements or model any process or system using standardized or custom modeling languages and frameworks with maximum reuse and traceability throughout. Pro Cloud Server and WebEA allow geographically-distributed model-based development and engineering teams to actively collaborate on any number of ongoing projects in real time. SparxSystems Software Central Europe was founded in 2004 in Vienna, Austria to provide individuals and organizations in Europe's core German-speaking and other economically-aligned markets with Enterprise Architect software licenses, training and support in their own language and time zone.

The first Sparx University Week for 2018 will be run during March, with most training sessions being held during the week of March 2-9.

University Weeks are hosted by Sparx Systems Japan, Sparx Systems Central Europe, Sparx Services North America, Sparx Systems India and Sparx Services UK (Hippo Software).

The delivery format for each course varies depending on the subject, audience and location, with a mix of both online and face-to-face seminars and courses.

It is anticipated that Sparx University Week will be run on a global basis every few months, in conjunction with Sparx Systems Sister and Services Partner network.

Bookings are essential, please review the course schedule below and visit the course provider's website for more details and to register your place.

Sparx University Week Schedule:

The second Sparx University Week will be run during October, with most training sessions being held during the week of October 23-27.

University Weeks are hosted by Sparx Systems Japan, Sparx Systems Central Europe, Sparx Services North America, Sparx Systems India and Sparx Services UK (Hippo Software).

The delivery format for each course varies depending on the subject, audience and location, with a mix of both online and face-to-face seminars and courses.

It is anticipated that Sparx University Week will be run on a global basis every few months, in conjunction with Sparx Systems Sister and Services Partner network.

Bookings are essential, please review the course schedule below and visit the course provider's website for more details and to register your place.

Sparx University Week Schedule: