How to Export or Print a Business Process Diagram

[rowan_bradley]

This is probably a very stupid question. I have just installed Activiti, to help me with documenting some process maps. Just now all I need is a tool to help me capture the processes in BPMN 2.0 style diagrams, which I then want to print out, or convert to PDF files to discuss with the process owners and participants. I don't, just now, need to execute these models, or convert them to workflows or anything, although we may well want to move in this direction later.

I'm beginning to capture some of these processes in Activiti Modeller, but I can't see how to output the diagrams in a format that I can send to the process owners, and discuss with them as I refine the diagrams and make sure they represent what actually happens.

How do I do this?

Or should I be using a different tool? Visio or whatever?

Thanks - Rowan

[jbarrez]

Can't you just install the Modeler on a server and point them to the right url?

Alternative, the Modeler can generate a png (altough its still a hidden feature at the moment), by using an url like http://localhost:8080/activiti-modeler/p/model/root-directory;sampleProcess.oryx.xml/png

[rowan_bradley]

Can't you just install the Modeler on a server and point them to the right url?

If only it were so simple! Currently I'm using Modeler to model some processes for a client company. I currently have no access to their IT systems, so I can't just install a server there, or install something that IT have never heard of on one of their existing servers. Next possibility is to install it on a public server, and let them access it across the web. I suppose this is possible, but currently I don't have admin access to any public servers. All I can do on my shared web server is to add things to directories below my home directory. I can also create MySQL databases. If I want to run some program, the only way I have to do it is to run a CRON job, or call it from a web page using PHP or Python or Perl. The server does run Apache. Is it possible to install and run Activiti with such limited access? If so, is the process documented somewhere?

Or I could install it on a server of my own. I do have one (which is in use for something else), but this is more complication and learning which I would like to avoid just for the moment.

Alternative, the Modeler can generate a png by using an url like http://localhost:8080/activiti-modeler/p/model/root-directory;sampleProcess.oryx.xml/png

This might be good enough for now. Can you give a bit more information about the URL I have to use? I tried using http://localhost:8080/activiti-modeler/p/editor?id=C%3A%3BUsers%3BRowan2%3BDownloads%3Bactiviti-5.2%... which is just the URL that goes to my process diagram in Modeler with /png added on the end, but it just stays busy forever. Is this what you meant?

Thanks - Rowan

[rowan_bradley]

Re the URL - I've sussed it thanks. This will be a good solution for now. Thanks for your help.

Rowan

[jbarrez]

Great to hear? What URL did you need to use to make it work?

I'll be looking into providing the 'export to png' as a function in the Modeler, since this is pretty cumbersome.

[rowan_bradley]

What URL did you need to use to make it work?

I used:
http://localhost:8080/activiti-modeler/p/model/C%3A%3BUsers%3BRowan2%3BDownloads%3Bactiviti-5.2%3Bwo...

To describe it, this is http://localhost:8080/activiti-modeler/p/model/ followed by the URL-encoded absolute path to the the signavio.xml file in my Windows system, followed by /png

I'll be looking into providing the 'export to png' as a function in the Modeler, since this is pretty cumbersome.

Yes, this would be good. For me, it would also be useful to have an "export to PDF" function (preferably exporting the vector shapes rather than a bitmap, to keep the file small).

Rowan

[tiesebarrell]

You could also try to import the diagrams into Activiti Designer, and let it generate an image for you. Note: not all of the constructs in Modeler are supported in Designer and the diagram will, naturally look different to the one in Modeler.