IBM FileNet P8, Version 5.2.1

Lesson 1: Get started with Diagram mode

In this lesson, use Process Designer to create a diagram of a simplified car loan application process.

Before you begin

In the context of Workplace and Workplace XT, you might need access-role membership to access diagram mode in Process Designer. For more information, see Access roles for using Process applications (Workplace and Workplace XT).

The workflow consists of the following activities:

Extracting data from a loan application document
Checking the credit of the applicant
Evaluating any down payment
Evaluating the income level
Deciding whether to deny or approve the loan and at what interest rate

Although the diagram is not a functional workflow, it helps the business user communicate workflow activities to others, such as to the business analyst who implements the process. Later lessons complete the implementation and run the process by using fictional data.

To create the car loan application diagram:

Start Process Designer.
Click Settings > Mode > Diagram.
Process Designer has two modes of operation:
- Diagram, intended for a business user to create and document diagrams of business processes.
- Design, intended for an IT analyst to implement a business process.
Click in an open area of the map to select the workflow definition itself rather than the LaunchStep.
In the Properties pane, enter a name for the workflow (CarLoanApplication) and enter a description of the purpose of this workflow. The name is the default name of the workflow definition file. The description provides information for the IT analyst.
Drag an Activity step from the docked Palette onto the map. This first step in the workflow checks the credit of the applicant.
Enter a name (CheckCredit) and description of this activity.
Create a route from the LaunchStep to the CheckCredit step. Point to the edge of the LaunchStep until the cursor indicates route creation. Drag to the CheckCredit step and release the mouse button.
Continue adding the following Activity steps:
- DownPayment
- VerifyIncome
- SetRate
- DenyApp
Connect the Activity steps with routes as shown in the diagram. Identify each step with a name and description. The description communicates the intent of the step or route.
In the example, the VerifyIncome step represents a multi-step process that does not show on the main map. Do the following steps to create a submap, CheckIncome, for this task.
1. Right-click the VerifyIncome step, select Change step type, and select Submap step. You can also drag a Submap step onto the map and name it VerifyIncome.
2. On the maps section of the toolbar, click Create Map to create a new submap. Select Create new map, enter the name, CheckIncome, and click OK.
3. On the CheckIncome map, add an Activity step, ContactEmployer. Add a route from StartStep to ContactEmployer.
  In the Description for ContactEmployer, add information about the types of information that is to be requested, such as length of employment.
  
  This subprocess is simple, but it demonstrates how to create one.
4. On the maps section of the toolbar, select Workflow (Main Map) to return to the main map.
5. With the VerifyIncome step selected, in the Properties pane under Select a map for the Submap, select CheckIncome.
To add more information to the map, right-click in an open area of the map and click New > Annotation to add an annotation to the map.
Enter text in the Message box in the Properties pane. You can associate the annotation with a step or route, if appropriate, by pointing to the edge of the annotation and dragging a line to the step or route.
Click File > Save As and browse to a location in your local file system where the diagram is to be saved. Accept the default name, CarLoanApplication.pep.