Getting Started with Innovator for Business Analysts

How to proceed

1. Activate the Start tab in the ribbon.

   

   This tab contains the New group.

2. Activate the  New Element button from the New group.

   A menu with templates for new elements appears.

3. Select the Process template from the process sub group in the menu.

   A process diagram is created and opened in the document area. If Innovator initially asks you to select an owner for the process, then you should select the Processes and Collaborations package (folder).

   The process diagram has a frame for the process and the steps involved in it. Rename the process by selecting the name field and entering a new name.

How to proceed

1. Activate the Design tab from the Diagram Tools context group in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

   This tab contains the Create Diagram Content group.

2. Select the  Event icon from the gallery.
3. Drag the icon with the left mouse button pressed to the area within the process.

4. Let go of the mouse where you want to position the start event.

   The event is created without a name to start with. You can change the name straight away.

How to proceed

1. Select the event you just created.

   There are two connection icons to the right of the event in the carousel: the sequence flow and the data association.

2. Select the sequence flow, hold the left mouse button pressed and drag the sequence flow to the point at which you want to create a task.

3. Release the mouse button.

   A list of elements that you can create as the sequence flow's target appears.

4. Select the task from the list.

   A new task including a sequence flow between the start event and the task is created. You can change the name of the task straight away.

How to proceed

1. Select the task you just created.

   As before, there are two connection icons to the right of the task in the carousel: the sequence flow and the data association.

2. Select the sequence flow, and hold down the left mouse button and the [Ctrl] key at the same time; drag the sequence flow over the right or bottom edge of the process frame. You will see that the process automatically adjusts in size and the process then grows to fit where you want it.

3. Release the mouse button.

   A list of elements that you can create as the sequence flow's target appears.

4. Select the task from the list.

   A new task including a sequence flow between the start event and the task is created. You can change the name of the task straight away.

How to proceed

1. To make room for the new element, move the mouse pointer to the position above or below the sequence flow where you want to insert the gateway; press and hold down the right mouse button and move the mouse to the right.

   All elements to the right of the mouse pointer are moved.

2. Activate the Design tab from the Diagram Tools context group in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

   This tab contains the Create Diagram Content group.

3. Select the  Gateway icon from the gallery.

4. With the left mouse button pressed, drag the icon to the sequence flow in which you want to insert the gateway; release the mouse button when the sequence flow is highlighted.

   The sequence flow is split and the gateway is set between both sequence flows. You can now create further sequence flows with subsequent elements on the gateway.

How to proceed

1. You can normally use an element's context menu to quickly jump between the available element types; for a gateway e.g. between an exclusive OR and an AND, i.e. a join fork state.

2. Opening the Gateway's Context Menu

   The mini toolbar is situated above the context menu with all permitted gateway types:

   

3. Select the icon which represents an exclusive gateway.

   Your gateway immediately becomes an exclusive gateway.

How to proceed

1. Activate the Design tab from the Diagram Tools context group in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

   This tab contains the Create Diagram Content group.

2. Select the  Timer (event definition) icon from the gallery.

3. With the left mouse button pressed, drag the icon to the start event you just created; release the mouse button when the start event is highlighted.

   The event has an event definition that can be used throughout the model. You can change the name of the event definition straight away. You have now created a timer event definition, i.e. you have modeled that your process starts as soon as the timer event begins.

How to proceed

1. Activate the Design tab from the Diagram Tools context group if this is not the active tab.

   This tab contains the Create Diagram Content group.

2. Select the  Horizontal Process icon from the gallery.

3. With the left mouse button pressed, drag the icon to the task you just created; release the mouse button when the task is highlighted.

   A new process is created. The task becomes the call activity of the newly-created process. A on the task shows that a process is stored.

4. Open the Go to submenu in the task's context menu to jump to the newly created process. The last entry in the menu shows the diagram you can define the process in. Select the bottom-most entry.

   The diagram for the newly-created process is opened. The process diagram has a frame for the process and the steps involved in it.

How to proceed

1. Activate the Design tab from the Diagram Tools context group in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

   This tab contains the Create Diagram Content group.

2. Select the  Lane icon from the gallery.

3. With the left mouse button pressed, drag the icon onto the area within the process and release the mouse button.

   A first lane is created directly below the process. We will now create a second lane as you will often want to be able to split a process' tasks into various areas.

4. Drag another Lane from the gallery into the process or via the existing lane, keeping the left mouse button pressed.

   You will see three arrows that enable you to insert the new lane corresponding to the arrow direction. You can superordinate the lane or insert it above or below the existing lane.

5. Hold the left mouse button down and go with your mouse pointer to the arrow pointing up and release the mouse button.

   The new lane is inserted directly above the lane that was just created. If you did not select any of the arrows, then the new lane is added below the highlighted lane and there is a hierarchy between the lanes.

How to proceed

1. Activate the Start tab in the ribbon.

   

   This tab contains the New Diagram group.

2. Activate the  New Diagram button from the New group.

   The gallery with templates for new diagrams appears.

3. Select the Organizational Chart template from the gallery.

   An organizational chart is created and opened in the document area. You can use this diagram for creating organizational units, positions and employees and link them with each other.

   Tip:

   You can create various types of diagrams in Innovator models in this way. The types of diagram templates available in the gallery primarily depend on the model template used and the user role selected in a model.

How to proceed

1. Activate the Design tab from the Diagram Tools context group in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

   This tab contains the Create Diagram Content group.

2. Select the  Organizational Unit icon from the gallery.
3. Drag the icon with the left mouse button pressed to the area within the diagram.

4. Let go of the mouse where you want to position the element.

   The organizational unit is created. You can change the name straight away.

How to proceed

1. Select the organizational unit just created. You should now see a connection icon for a hierarchical subordination to the right.
2. Select the subordination, hold the left mouse button pressed and drag the subordinate relationship to where you want to create the position.

3. Release the mouse button.

   A list of elements that you can create as the hierarchical subordination's target appears.

4. Select the  Position from the list.

   A new position is created below the organizational unit. You can now change the name of the position.

How to proceed

1. (Optional) Select one or more model elements in the diagram that you want to edit their specification with the left mouse button.

   If you have not selected a diagram element, Innovator assumes that the diagram itself should be given a specification.

2. Activate the Design tab from the Diagram Tools context group in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

   This tab contains the Editing group, which contains the  Specification Text (F3) icon. If this icon is inactive, then you have selected an element that textual specifications cannot be created for.

3. Click on the Specification Text (F3) icon.

   A new window opens for each selected element in the right-hand half of the document area; it shows all available specification texts for this element.

4. Enter the text in the respective text definition.

   The name of the text definition to be edited is shown in red if your changes have been made.

5. Format the text using the Text tab or the context menu.
6. Save the text with  Text>Specification>Save (Ctrl+S).

   The name of the edited text definition is shown in black again if the save was successful.

7. Close the window with the specifications once you have finished editing.

How to proceed

1. (Optional) Select one or more diagram elements that you want to comment on with the left mouse button.

2. Activate the Design tab from the Diagram Tools context group in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

   This tab contains the Create Diagram Content group.

3. Click on the  Comment icon.

   If you selected parts of the diagram in part 1, a comment is created for all selected diagram elements. It initially contains a default text, is positioned in the middle and linked with all selected diagram elements by a dotted line. The comment is placed left above this element if only one diagram element was selected.

   You can immediately overwrite the comment's default text with your own comment.

4. If you missed out step 1, move the mouse in the direction of the element you want to comment on.

   The comment icon is "attached" to your mouse pointer and follows the movement of the mouse.

5. Click with the left mouse button on the diagram element you want to comment on.

   The comment is created for the diagram element you clicked on. It initially contains a default text, is positioned top-left above this element and is linked with this by a dotted line. You can immediately overwrite the comment's text with your own text.

Another way to proceed using the context menu:

1. Select one or more diagram elements that you want to make a comment on and right-click to open the context menu for this selection.

2. Click on  New Comment.

   A comment is created for all selected diagram elements. It initially contains a default text, is positioned in the middle and linked with all selected diagram elements by a dotted line. The comment is placed left above this element if only one diagram element was selected.

   You can immediately overwrite the comment's default text with your own comment.