Use satellite modeling

If the content type configuration is enabled, use the modeling component properties page to add satellites to selected structurally relevant objects, display them in the model, or delete existing connections to satellites.

Satellites are objects that do not belong to the structurally relevant objects of a model but add additional information to the model.

For example, in an EPC you can connect organizational units as satellites to an object of type Function instead of modeling and assigning a function allocation diagram to the function.

Create a connection to a new satellite

You can create a new connection from the selected structurally relevant object to a new satellite. Note that the items and names mentioned in the following procedure are examples.

Basic model objects.

These are objects that indicate the distinctive feature of a model. For a model of the Organizational chart type, the objects Organizational unit, Role, and Person are structurally relevant objects, for example. Using these items, you can build the typical hierarchy of an organizational chart.

The Event and Function objects are typical for the EPC model type and are thus structurally relevant to a business process. You can use these to establish a typical control flow. The Organizational unit, Role, and Person objects can also be inserted into an EPC. However, these objects do not constitute the distinctive feature of a business process. As structurally irrelevant objects, they act as satellites and add more detailed information to the process model. For example, you can insert organizational units and link them to functions to illustrate who carries out those functions.

An object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not a structurally relevant object is known as a satellite.

A satellite is an object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not structurally relevant in the model or diagram.

For example, an object of the Organizational unit type is a satellite in an event-driven process chain (EPC). In a model of the Organizational chart type, on the other hand, an object of the Organizational unit type is a structurally relevant object.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select an object in the model, for example, a function.

  3. Click Properties Details. The Details bar opens. The grouped connections are displayed, for example RA(S)CI, which you can use to model responsibilities.

  4. Click the Display connection right arrow of RA(S)CI to display the connections.

  5. Move the mouse pointer over the connection Informed. The Insert Create button is displayed.

  6. Click Insert Create. The organizational elements are displayed.

    Satellite modeling

  7. Click Role. The object is inserted and you can enter a name.

  8. Enter Head of department and click Create.

    Object connected

The connection between the selected item and the object is created. The connected satellite is not displayed in the model. The advantage is that the additional information from the satellite is assigned to the function without changing the model layout. You also have the option to display the satellite in the model, if required.

You can display satellites in the model. Note that the items and names mentioned in the following procedure are examples.

A satellite is an object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not structurally relevant in the model or diagram.

For example, an object of the Organizational unit type is a satellite in an event-driven process chain (EPC). In a model of the Organizational chart type, on the other hand, an object of the Organizational unit type is a structurally relevant object.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the object in the model for which you want to display a connected satellite.

  3. Click Properties Details. The Details bar opens.

  4. The grouped connections are displayed, for example RA(S)CI, which you can use to model responsibilities.

  5. Click the Display connection right arrow of RA(S)CI to display the connections.

  6. Move the mouse pointer over the satellite you want to display in the model. The Actions More button is displayed.

  7. Click Actions More > Place relation Place relation.

An occurrence copy of the satellite is placed in the model and connected to the selected object. If you delete the occurrence of a satellite displayed in this way directly in the model, the connection between the object and the satellite is preserved and you can display it again.

Create a connection to an existing satellite

You can create a new connection from the selected structurally relevant object to a new satellite. Note that the items and names mentioned in the following procedure are examples.

Basic model objects.

These are objects that indicate the distinctive feature of a model. For a model of the Organizational chart type, the objects Organizational unit, Role, and Person are structurally relevant objects, for example. Using these items, you can build the typical hierarchy of an organizational chart.

The Event and Function objects are typical for the EPC model type and are thus structurally relevant to a business process. You can use these to establish a typical control flow. The Organizational unit, Role, and Person objects can also be inserted into an EPC. However, these objects do not constitute the distinctive feature of a business process. As structurally irrelevant objects, they act as satellites and add more detailed information to the process model. For example, you can insert organizational units and link them to functions to illustrate who carries out those functions.

An object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not a structurally relevant object is known as a satellite.

A satellite is an object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not structurally relevant in the model or diagram.

For example, an object of the Organizational unit type is a satellite in an event-driven process chain (EPC). In a model of the Organizational chart type, on the other hand, an object of the Organizational unit type is a structurally relevant object.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select an object in the model, for example, a function.

  3. Click Properties Details. The Details bar opens. The grouped connections are displayed, for example RA(S)CI, which you can use to model responsibilities.

  4. Click the Display connection right arrow of RA(S)CI to display the connections.

  5. Move the mouse pointer over the connection Informed. The Insert Create button is displayed.

  6. Click Insert Create. The organizational elements are displayed.

    Satellite modeling

  7. Click Role. The object is inserted and you can enter a name.

  8. Enter at least two letters from the name of an existing object, for example, fi. All objects of Role type that contain fi in their names are listed.

    Satellite modeling

  9. Click the object you want to connect.

  10. Click Create.

The connection between the selected item and the object is created. The connected satellite is not displayed in the model. The advantage is that the additional information from the satellite is assigned to the function without changing the model layout. You also have the option to display the satellite in the model, if required.

You can display satellites in the model. Note that the items and names mentioned in the following procedure are examples.

A satellite is an object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not structurally relevant in the model or diagram.

For example, an object of the Organizational unit type is a satellite in an event-driven process chain (EPC). In a model of the Organizational chart type, on the other hand, an object of the Organizational unit type is a structurally relevant object.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the object in the model for which you want to display a connected satellite.

  3. Click Properties Details. The Details bar opens.

  4. The grouped connections are displayed, for example RA(S)CI, which you can use to model responsibilities.

  5. Click the Display connection right arrow of RA(S)CI to display the connections.

  6. Move the mouse pointer over the satellite you want to display in the model. The Actions More button is displayed.

  7. Click Actions More > Place relation Place relation.

An occurrence copy of the satellite is placed in the model and connected to the selected object. If you delete the occurrence of a satellite displayed in this way directly in the model, the connection between the object and the satellite is preserved and you can display it again.

Display connection or object properties

You can display the details of the connection or the connected satellite on the Properties tab of the Details bar. Note that the items and names mentioned in the following procedure are examples.

A satellite is an object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not structurally relevant in the model or diagram.

For example, an object of the Organizational unit type is a satellite in an event-driven process chain (EPC). In a model of the Organizational chart type, on the other hand, an object of the Organizational unit type is a structurally relevant object.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the object in the model for which you want to display the connected satellites.

  3. Click Properties Details. The Details bar opens.

  4. The grouped connections are displayed, for example RA(S)CI, which you can use to model responsibilities.

  5. Click the Display connection right arrow of RA(S)CI to display the connections.

  6. Move the mouse pointer over the satellite for which you want to display the details. The Actions More button is displayed.

    • Click Actions More > Connection Show connection details to view the connection details.

    • Click Actions More > Properties Show object details to view the details of the satellite.

The details of the connection or the satellite are displayed.

Display a satellite in the model

You can display satellites in the model. Note that the items and names mentioned in the following procedure are examples.

A satellite is an object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not structurally relevant in the model or diagram.

For example, an object of the Organizational unit type is a satellite in an event-driven process chain (EPC). In a model of the Organizational chart type, on the other hand, an object of the Organizational unit type is a structurally relevant object.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the object in the model for which you want to display a connected satellite.

  3. Click Properties Details. The Details bar opens.

  4. The grouped connections are displayed, for example RA(S)CI, which you can use to model responsibilities.

  5. Click the Display connection right arrow of RA(S)CI to display the connections.

  6. Move the mouse pointer over the satellite you want to display in the model. The Actions More button is displayed.

  7. Click Actions More > Place relation Place relation.

An occurrence copy of the satellite is placed in the model and connected to the selected object. If you delete the occurrence of a satellite displayed in this way directly in the model, the connection between the object and the satellite is preserved and you can display it again.

Items used for satellite modeling

Model types

The following model types support satellite modeling:

  • BPMN process

  • BPMN subprocess

  • Data model

  • Event-driven process chain (EPC)

  • Organizational chart

  • Process landscape

  • Structuring model

  • System diagram

Object types

The following object types support satellite modeling:

  • Function

  • Cluster/Data model

  • Entity type

  • Organizational unit

  • Position

  • Person

  • System

Delete connection to a satellite

You can delete a displayed satellite from a model. Note that the items and names mentioned in the following procedure are examples.

A satellite is an object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not structurally relevant in the model or diagram.

For example, an object of the Organizational unit type is a satellite in an event-driven process chain (EPC). In a model of the Organizational chart type, on the other hand, an object of the Organizational unit type is a structurally relevant object.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the object in the model for which you want to delete the connected satellite from the model.

  3. Click Properties Details. The Details bar opens.

  4. The grouped connections are displayed, for example RA(S)CI, which you can use to model responsibilities.

  5. Click the Display connection right arrow of RA(S)CI to display the connections.

  6. Move the mouse pointer over the satellite you want to delete from the model. The Actions More button is displayed.

  7. Click Actions More > DeleteDelete to delete the connection to the satellite.

The connection to the selected object is deleted. If the occurrence of the satellite is displayed in the model, the occurrence is removed from the model.

You can display the details of the connection or the connected satellite on the Properties tab of the Details bar. Note that the items and names mentioned in the following procedure are examples.

A satellite is an object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not structurally relevant in the model or diagram.

For example, an object of the Organizational unit type is a satellite in an event-driven process chain (EPC). In a model of the Organizational chart type, on the other hand, an object of the Organizational unit type is a structurally relevant object.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the object in the model for which you want to display the connected satellites.

  3. Click Properties Details. The Details bar opens.

  4. The grouped connections are displayed, for example RA(S)CI, which you can use to model responsibilities.

  5. Click the Display connection right arrow of RA(S)CI to display the connections.

  6. Move the mouse pointer over the satellite for which you want to display the details. The Actions More button is displayed.

    • Click Actions More > Connection Show connection details to view the connection details.

    • Click Actions More > Properties Show object details to view the details of the satellite.

The details of the connection or the satellite are displayed.

Tip

If you only want to remove the occurrence of a satellite from the model, delete the occurrence directly in the model. This keeps the connection between the object and the satellite.