How to work with the Activiti Modeler

[matias]

This is the way I'm working with Activiti,

1. I'm designing my processes in Activiti Modeler.
2. It generates my .bpmn20.xml files with the process definition.
3. Then I customize the .bpmn20.xml by adding activiti:formKey and some other extensions.

However, after that, I cannot go back to Activiti Modeler and go on editing my process because after saving it I will lose the custom changes I made to the .bpmn20.xml file in step 3.

Is that the right way to work? Can I import a .bpmn20.xml file into Activiti Modeler?

Thanks.

[bernd_ruecker]

Hi Matias.

We are currently working on that limitation. In the next version we will be able to edit these properties in the Modeler directly. But we are currently discussing a complete smooth Toolchain with Modeler, XML and Designer brought together by Cycle. Stay tuned, we try to make progress there asap.

Cheers
Bernd

[mturatti]

I vote for it. With other tools I was used to do a little work in the UI, then going back to the xml code for detailing, and back again to the graphical notation for adding other activities to the process, ad infinitum.

Another thing I'd like to see is any kind of automatic displacement / resizing of processess, so that one shouldn't have to adjust the visual layout by hand only.

I'm very impressed for the good level reached by the tool in such a short amount of time, congratulations!

Regards

[robokaso]

Are there any updates on the status on this issue? I just downloaded activiti 5.3 and ran into the same problem. I don't see how to use the modeler in a sane way as long as it keeps overwriting the manual additions that I simply have to make by hand (activiti:formKey is still not supported as far as I can see).

[walterjs]

This is the reason I am still using the designer. It has all the constructs that I require at the moment and don't require me to do manual edits in the XML.