The BPMN Sequence flow is mapped to nine different ARIS connection types, which are used to depict the control flow in traditional ARIS process models
See: Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN), version 2.0.
Source object type |
Connection type |
Target object type |
Event |
occurs before |
Event |
Event |
activates |
Function |
Event |
is evaluated by |
Rule |
Function |
creates |
Event |
Function |
is predecessor of |
Function |
Function |
leads to |
Rule |
Rule |
leads to |
Event |
Rule |
activates |
Function |
Rule |
links |
Rule |
BPMN distinguishes three types of sequence flow:
The unconditional sequence flow means the normal flow, no specific conditions apply. In other words: its condition has always the value true. It is depicted by a solid line with a solid arrowhead.
The conditional sequence flow from an activity is drawn with a little diamond at the beginning of the connector, signifying a data condition. A conditional sequence flow from a gateway shares the same shape as a normal sequence flow.
Conditional sequence flow from an activity:
The default sequence flow, denoted by a slash marker at the beginning of the connector means otherwise, that is, it is enabled if no other sequence flow condition evaluates to true.
All connection types used in BPMN models must hold attributes for recording text annotations. Connection types emerging from activities and gateways need additional attributes for recording sequence flow conditions.
Mapping the attributes and model associations to ARIS:
Class |
BPMN attribute name |
Implementation in ARIS |
Sequence flow |
inherits from FlowElement |
The sequence flow is depicted by nine different connection types in the model types BPMN process diagram (BPMN 2.0) (MT_BPMN_PROCESS_DIAGRAM) and BPMN collaboration diagram (BPMN 2.0) (MT_BPMN_COLLABORATION_DIAGRAM): * event occurs before (CT_SUCCEED) event * event activates (CT_ACTIV_1) function * event is evaluated (CT_IS_EVAL_BY_1) by rule * function creates (CT_CRT_1) event * function is predecessor of (CT_IS_PREDEC_OF_1) function * function leads (CT_LEADS_TO_1) to rule * rule leads to (CT_LEADS_TO_2) event * rule activates (CT_ACTIV_1) function * rule links (CT_LNK_2) rule |
|
name: string |
Attribute type Connection role of connection type Message flow (CT_BPMN_MESSAGE_FLOW) |
|
sourceRef: FlowNode |
Source object of a sequence flow connection. Object types are: * Function |
|
targetRef: FlowNode |
Target object of a sequence flow connection. Object types are: * Function |
|
conditionExpression : Expression [0..1] |
Attribute type Condition expression (AT_BPMN_CONDITION_EXPRESSION) in attribute type group BPMN 2.0 attributes of the following connection types: |
|
isImmediate: boolean |
Currently not implemented. |
Flow node |
incoming: Sequence Flow [0..*] |
Incoming connections representing the sequence flow of the flow node object (object types: function, event, rule) |
|
outgoing: Sequence Flow [0..*] |
Outgoing connections representing the sequence flow of the flow node object (object types: function, event, rule) |