Converting from Referencing Views and Definitions

Convert a referencing view into a definition or create a new diagram for a definition.

You can convert a referencing view of a process or collaboration into a definition. This may be a good idea e.g. if you drag a process which has already been modeled into a collaboration's participant and want to continue modeling it there.

A distinction is made between the following two cases:

The referencing view is complete
The referencing view can be set as a definition. The existing definition normally becomes a referencing view.
The referencing view is incomplete or has contradictions
The definition can be moved where the referencing view is. The existing definition becomes a complete referencing view.

A definition can become a referencing view by moving the definition in a new diagram.

Note

If it is a process definition and the definition was previously in the special BPMN process diagram, then the BPMN process diagram is set to read-only mode and its process display is shown as synchronized, i.e. it is always kept up-to-date and correct.

Converting a Complete Referencing View into a Definition

How to proceed

Open the context menu of the process or collaboration in the respective referencing view.
If you want to convert a process view, select the Process View>Set as Definition command. If you want to convert a collaboration view, select the Collaboration View>Set as Definition command.

The referencing view becomes a definition. The existing definition becomes a referencing view. Layout which differs from the previous referencing view remains unchanged and is adopted for the definition.

Converting an Incomplete or Conflicting Referencing View into a Definition

How to proceed

Open the context menu of the process or collaboration in the respective referencing view.
If you want to convert a process view, select the Process View>Move Process Definition to here command. If you want to convert a collaboration view, select the Collaboration View>Move Collaboration Definition to here command.

The referencing view is replaced by the previous definition. Changes in the layout of the referencing view will be lost. The existing definition becomes a complete referencing view.

Moving a Definition into a New Diagram

How to proceed

Open the context menu of the process or collaboration in the respective referencing view.
Select the Refactor>Move Definition to a Dedicated Diagram command. You can also access the command via the ribbon by selecting Design>Model Elements>Refactor>Move Definition to a Dedicated Diagram

A new diagram is created or a BPMN process diagram that already exists is available for a process respectively. The definition is moved into this diagram. The existing definition becomes a referencing view.