Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.

Model Start Event

A Start Event indicates where a particular Process begins. Every Process in Enterprise Architect must begin with a Start Event.

A Process can start in several ways, depending on the Trigger Type. The OMG BPMN 1.1 Specification defines six types of Trigger:

  • None
  • Message
  • Timer
  • Conditional
  • Signal
  • Multiple

In Enterprise Architect, four of these Trigger types can be mapped to BPEL as per the OMG BPMN 1.1 Specification:

  • Message
  • Timer
  • Conditional
  • Multiple

To create a new Start Event in your model, follow the steps below:

  1. Open a BPEL diagram created under a BPEL Process.
  2. Drag the Start Event element from the BPMN 1.1 Core page of the Toolbox onto the diagram. A prompt displays to select either an edge-mounted event (on an element border) or a standalone event.
  3. Click on either option. The BPEL Properties dialog displays.
     
    StartEventDlg
     
  4. In the Name field, type a name for the Event.
  5. Click on the drop-down arrow in the Trigger Type field and select the required type.

Depending on the trigger type you select, further details might be required.

If you select Timer:

  1. The Details tab changes as below:
     
    TimerDetails
     
  2. In the Time Cycle field, type the value of the time cycle.
  3. The Time Date field defaults to today's date. If it is necessary to change the date, click on the checkbox and the drop-down arrow and select a new date from the calendar.

Note:

The Time Cycle and Time Date fields are mutually exclusive, so you can only set one of them.
  1. Go to step 10.

If you select Message:

  1. The Details tab changes, as below.
     
    EndEventMssg

 

  1. To the right of the Web Service field, click on the [ ... ] button and select a BPEL web service from the list.
  2. To the right of the Message field, click on the [ ... ] button and select a message from the list of all messages in the selected web service.
  3. Go to step 10.

If you select Conditional:

  1. The Details tab changes, as below.
     
    Start Event Cond Dlg
     
  2. To the right of the Condition field, click on the [ ... ] button and select a Condition element from the list of Condition elements created in the Supporting Elements package.
  3. Go to step 10.

If you select Multiple:

  1. The Details tab changes, as below.
     
    EndEventMultiple

 

  1. To the right of the Events field, click on the [ ... ] button and select further Start Events from the list of events in this process that might trigger the process.
  2. Go to step 10.

Resume the procedure:

  1. Click on the Assignments tab.
     
    EndEventAssign

 

  1. (Optional) To the right of the field, click on the [ ... ] button and select one or more Assignment elements from the list of Assignments created in the Supporting Elements package.

Note:

Click on the UML button if you need to define further properties of the Start Event, using the normal element Properties dialog.

Alternatively, right-click on the element and select the Properties context menu option.

  1. Click on the OK button to close the dialog.

 

To return to the BPEL Properties dialog for subsequent editing:

  • Double-click on the element in the diagram or Project Browser (the Shows Properties option must be selected in the Double click on browser panel of the Options dialog) or
  • Right-click on the element in the diagram or Project Browser and select the BPEL | BPEL Properties context menu option.