BPMN 2.0: tags not appearing on Activity elements

[lfgcasey]

I've searched the Sparx site extensively and haven't found a solution/answer.

We want to indicate an activity's dependent components on our BPMN diagrams so they're apparent instantly when viewing the diagram especially on HTML export. I've asked about that before in this thread. Apparently there's no direct way to accomplish that, like specifying the already-defined components as a resource.

So what we've tried as an intermediate step (among many, many other ideas) is to simply create a custom tag, like refSystem=OurComponent, to the relevant Activity elements. However, the custom tagged values don't appear on the Activity elements but do appear on other elements like basic Class elements, <<Resource>> and <<ResourceRole>> stereotyped elements, etc.

Now, before you ask, yes, we have quadruple-checked that the 'tags' is checked on the 'Feature and Compartment Visibility' dialog for all of the Activities and the diagram settings.

So, what gives? Is there something in BPMN 2.0 that explicitly disallows displaying tags on an Activity? Is there a bug in the BPMN MDG extension?

Thanks!

[qwerty]

They don't appear because BPMNx has own shape script that override default rendering. You either extend BPMN with your own flavor or you modify the default shape script. The first is definitely to be preferred.

q.

[lfgcasey]

OK Well at least I'm not *that* crazy.

If we wanted to pursue a BPMN extension, would this thread list the currently accurate starting points?

[qwerty]

Yep. There you'll find a short intro into MDG creation. It has a bit of a flat learning curve with the usual pitfalls. But once you have a small setup it's quite easy to climb the next hills.

q.

[Benno Dielmann]

One other possible solution/workaround could be to add text annotations to the activities and configure them to show your custom tagged value.

Create a text annotation element and link it to the activity with a note link (e.g. create the connection with the Quick Linker and select Link in its menu. Association doesn't work). Then from the newly created connection's context menu, select "Link this Note to an element feature...". Then select "Single tag and notes" as feature type and your tagged value in the list of features.

Hoping I was able to help,

Benno