Show TOC

Procedure documentationModeling Referenced Sub-Processes Locate this document in the navigation structure

 

The referenced sub-process is a type of activity in the process you model. You use referenced sub-processes to reference another independent process by the parent process you model. You can reference processes contained in the same development component (DC) as the parent processes or in a different DC. When you reference a process in a different DC, you have to define the necessary DC dependencies. For more information, see Defining Development Component Dependencies.

The referenced sub-process has a start and end event containing the same event trigger and this trigger must have a synchronous operation. When you create a sub-process, you can create a start and end event for that sub-process from a selected trigger.

When you model referenced sub-processes, you can choose between a top-down and a bottom-up approach. The difference between the approaches is in the sequence you execute the steps to model the referenced sub-process. Depending on the approach you choose, you proceed in one of the following ways:

  • Top-down approach

    1. You create a referenced sub-process activity in the parent process you are modeling.

    2. You model a new process containing events, activities, connections, and so on.

    3. You assign the modeled new process to the referenced sub-process activity you created in the parent process.

  • Bottom-up approach

    1. You model a new process containing events, activities, connections and so on, apart from the parent process you are modeling.

    2. You create a referenced sub-process activity in the parent process you are modeling.

    3. You assign the modeled new process to the referenced sub-process activity you created in the parent process.

As a result, the sub-process activity references the process you have modeled and assigned to it.

When you model referenced sub-processes, you can define data mappings for the referenced sub-process to show how it uses data for input and output and communicates with the parent process. For more information, see Defining Data Mappings.

Prerequisites

  • You have opened the Process Development perspective in the SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio and have expanded your project in the Project Explorer view.

  • You have created a process to use as a parent process. For more information, see Creating a Process.

Procedure

Creating a Sub-Process Activity in the Parent Process

When you use the top-down approach, you start with this procedure first.

  1. Expand Process Modeling, then expand Processes.

  2. In the context menu of process that you are using as a parent process, choose Open.

  3. Expand Flow Objects from Palette.

  4. Choose Referenced Sub-Process from the dropdown menu, containing all the activities, and click the modeling surface.

    The referenced sub-process activity appears in the place you clicked.

  5. Choose General in the Properties view and specify a name of the referenced sub-process in the Name field.

  6. (Optional) Specify a description of the referenced sub-process in the Documentation field.

Modeling a Process for the Sub-Process Activity

When you use the bottom-up approach, you start with this procedure first.

  1. Expand Process Modeling.

  2. In the context menu of Processes, choose New Process....

  3. In the dialog that appears, specify a name for the process and optionally a description.

  4. (Optional) Create a new pool if you model a sub-process with more than one participant. Each pool represents a participant in the process in the sense of a business entity.

    1. Select the Create new pool with the following name and lanes checkbox.

    2. Specify the name of the pool and the names of the lanes in the pool.

      In this way you create a new active pool. Active and passive pools in the model communicate through message flows.

  5. From the Project dropdown menu, select an existing project to create the process in or choose the New... pushbutton to create a new project. Choose the Next pushbutton.

  6. Select an event trigger to create a start and end event with the same trigger assigned.

    This option is active by default and theDefaultService_Empty is selected. You can select another event trigger from the dropdown menu. The process you assign to a referenced sub-process activity type requires the start and end event to have the same event trigger and this trigger must have a synchronous operation.

  7. Choose the Finish pushbutton.

    Your process for the referenced sub-process activity is created and you can model events, activities, and so on.

Assigning a Process to the Sub-Process Activity

Regardless of the approach you have chosen, you execute this procedure last.

  1. Expand Process Modeling, then expand Processes.

  2. In the context menu of process that you are using as a parent process, choose Open.

  3. In the modeling surface, choose a referenced sub-process activity.

  4. Open the Process tab page in the Properties view.

  5. In the Process field, select the process you want to assign from the dropdown menu or select Browse... to search for a process.

    Note Note

    You can also select New... and create a new process which is automatically assigned to the referenced sub-process activity.

    Alternatively, you can drag a process from the Processes node in Project Explorer view to the modeling surface. A referenced sub-process activity is created with the process assigned to it.

    End of the note.

You have assigned a process to the referenced sub-process activity. You can open the assigned process by opening the Process tab page in the Properties view of the referenced sub-process activity and clicking the Process link.