Synthis - Process Modeling Software » Process Modeler Help

Running The Process Modeler via Terminal Server

Synthis Staff — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:04:51 +0000

The Process Modeler uses a built in setting to prevent multiple instances from running at the same time on the same computer. Generally when a users tries to start the program a second time, they really want to open a project in the existing Modeler or they can’t find the Modeler window or forget that it is already running. An exception to this is when you want to run the Process Modeler over Terminal Server, Citrix, or something similar. In this case, multiple users can be logged into the same computer at the same time and both want to run their own copy of the Process Modeler. You can run the Process Modeler over Terminal Server with three requirements:

Each user must have their own Windows profile. This is the standard use of thing like Windows Terminal Server with two different users logging into the Terminal Server with their own different logins. Multiple users log-in into a Terminal Server with a shared user name is not supported. The reason for this is that the Modeler saves permanent and temporary data to the users home directory. Having different Modelers access the same user directory simultaneously will have undefined, and unsupported results.
Add/change the setting “allowMultipleInstances=true” in the Modelers system.properties file located in the Modeler root installation directory.
Each user must have their own license to the Modeler. “Machine” level licensing for a Terminal Server is not supported.

That’s it! Your users should be able to simultaneously run their own copy of the Modeler.

What's New In Process Modeler 4.0

Synthis Staff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:20:19 +0000

Version 4.0

Brand new user interface with interchangeable “themes”.
Interactive “Synthis Maps” publishing template – featuring similar interactivity to Google / Yahoo Maps.
New scalar vector graphics (SVG) images that scale and render perfectly at all zoom levels.
Improved image saving technology, giving you a larger diagramming canvas to work with and better quality images.
Multiple levels of undo / redo.
Support for multiple layers within a diagram – great for managing swimlanes, standardized templates, background images, etc.
The ability to hide, lock, merge, and delete the contents of one or more diagram layers.
Automatic PDF creation from the main toolbar or the “File” menu.
An embedded database to house all of your process model data – no more messing around with .prj files!
An embedded web server to dynamically serve up all of your published documents and reports!
A more intelligent Explorer tree that automatically lists elements based on the process maps they are associated with.
New stencils and element types.
A new “Change Element Type” right-click option (ie: to convert from a ‘document’ element to a ‘controlled document’ element).
The ability to convert any pasted shape or image into a reusable element / content object.
One-click support for setting rich-text options for all on-diagram text areas, including element names.
The ability to edit element names by clicking on the text underneath the element icon on the diagram.
Control over the width at which individual element names wrap on to additional lines.
Zoom-in / zoom-out in the published HTML “Synthis Maps”.
The ability to maximize the height and width of any published “Synthis Map” to fill the entire browser window.
More flexible drag-and-drop assignment of object properties on the diagram (Ownership, Requirements, Linked Resources, etc.).
New line type (solid, dashed, etc.), line thickness, and arrow head types for links / element connectors.
Enhanced diagram printing capabilities from within the published “Synthis Maps”.
Automatic updating of all dynamic documents and reports (Synthis Maps, Process Narrative, etc.).
Copying and pasting of images from any external source onto any Synthis diagram.
The same element can now appear multiple times on the same diagram.
Control over the order in which the details of your published documentation and reports are sequenced.
Automatic importing / upgrading of existing version 3.7 process model .prj files.
A new, web-based “Check for Updates” utility to make it easy to keep your Process Modeler software up-to-date.

Still To Come

A hosted service where Process Modeler users can upload their process models and share HTML views of their published models (Synthis Maps, Process Narrative, etc.) with non-Process Modeler users.
New tree views in the Explorer panel and multiple options for sorting the contents of the Explorer tree.
The Synthis Repository connector to enable check-in / check-out and automatic revisioning of your process models.
Web-friendly connectors that will make it easier to connect to third-party systems, publish to your blog, etc.
Comprehensive tutorials and new example process models available on www.synthis.com.
Additional stencils, starting with a stencil containing all of the standard Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) shapes.
New publishing templates, including the ability to automatically publish to Microsoft Excel files.
Customized views for specific compliance and process improvement programs (GRC, SOX, ISO, BPM, Lean, Six Sigma, etc.).
A new “start wizard” containing links to help documentation, tutorials, and example process models.
Support for managing an unlimited number of nested / hierarchical diagrams in the Explorer tree.
Visual cues within the new “Layers” panel to indicate when layers are visible / hidden, locked / unlocked, etc.
One-click cloning of individual elements, groups of selected elements, or an entire diagram and all associated elements.

On The Radar

A built-in spell-checking utility.
Self-healing links / connectors to make it easier to insert new shapes or remove shapes from an existing process map.
Automatic importing / conversion and more intelligent copy / paste capabilities from third-party products like Microsoft Visio.
Support for new file formats, such as XML Process Definition Language (XPDL), Business Process Execution Language (BPEL).
Additional rich-text capabilities for editable text areas (bullets and numbering, embedded tables, embedded images, etc.).

Working with Layers

Synthis Staff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:18:37 +0000

New in our “R4″ release is the ability to create and manage multiple layers within a diagram. This layering capability is particularly useful for doing things like creating swimlane diagrams, creating multiple variations of the same process flow, and creating annotation layers that can be optionally shown and hidden.

Add Layer

To add a layer, use the “Layers -> Add Layer’ option or right-click in the ‘Layers’ window and select the ‘Add Layer’ option.

Show/Hide Layer

Each layer can be optionally hidden and made visible using the ‘Show/Hide Layer’ option.

Lock/Unlock Layer

Each layer can be optionally locked and unlocked using the ‘Lock/Unlock Layer’ option. If a layer is locked, none of the shapes or elements in that layer can be selected and moved.

Rearranging Layers

The order in which layers are listed in the ‘Layers’ window controls the “depth” of each layer on the diagram. All shapes and elements in the top layer will appear “on top of” any shapes and elements that are in layers lower down on the list.

Changing Layers

If you want to swithc from one layer to another, select the layer in which you would like to work by simply clicking on that layer in the ‘Layers’ window. If you would like to copy/paste or move shapes from one layer to another, please use one of the following procedures: COPYING SHAPES If you would like to copy shapes from one layer and paste them into another later, first select the layer that contains the shapes you would like to copy. Next, select the shapes (hold down the SHIFT key to click and select multiple shapes), then use the COPY option to copy the shapes to the clipboard. Finally, select the target layer that you would like to paste into, then click on the diagram and use the PASTE option to complete the operation. MOVING SHAPES If you would like to move shapes from one layer to another, first select the layer that contains the shapes you would like to move. Next, select the shapes (hold down the SHIFT key to click and select multiple shapes), then use the CUT option to remove the shapes from the active layer. Finally, select the target layer that you would like to paste into, then click on the diagram and use the PASTE option to complete the operation.

Removing/Deleting Shapes

To remove one or more shapes from a layer or diagram, make sure you are in the correct layer, then sdelect the sahes yopu would like to remove. Finally, hit the ‘Delete’ key or right-click on the selected shape(s) and select the ‘Delete’ option.

Delete Layer

To delete a layer, select the layer in the ‘Layersw’ window by clicking on it. You can then either select the ‘Delete Layer’ option from the mail ‘Layers’ menu or right click on the layer and select the ‘Delete Layer’ option.

Process Modeler System Requirements

Synthis Staff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:17:36 +0000

Unsupported

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Dual-Display or Multiple-Display Systems

Saving

Synthis Staff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:16:31 +0000

Save

To save changes to your process model, use the ‘File -> Save’ option or just click on the ‘Save’ button in the main toolbar.

Export

If you want export your process model to a “.prj” file to create an archive/backup copy of your process model, or to share your model with another Process modeler user, use the “File -> Export’ option. Similarly, you can use the ‘File -> Import’ option to import from any existing “.prj” file into your Process Modeler R4 database.

Save Diagram As Image File

Click on the ‘File -> Save Diagram As … -> Image File’ option.
Select where you would like to save the file.
Click the ‘Save’ button.

Save Diagram As PDF

Click on the ‘File -> Save Diagram As … -> PDF Document’ option.
Select where you would like to save the file.
Click the ‘Save’ button.

If you want to save the active diagram as a PDF, you can simply click on the ‘PDF’ button in the main toolbar (to the right of the ‘Print Preview’ and ‘Print’ toolbar buttons) to skip the first two steps above.

Publishing

Synthis Staff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:15:19 +0000

Synthis Maps

The ‘Synthis Maps’ template is our most popular template. It allows end users to view and interact with your process models without having to have any special software installed on their computer. All they need is a Web browser. The following screenshot from the ‘Financial Reporting Process’ process model shows the Synthis Maps home page:

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The Synthis Maps home page lists all active Process Maps, displays a thumbnail of each process map, and includes links for accessing detailed information about each Process Map.

If the Process Map has one or more properties (from the ‘Element Properties’ window), you can click on the turndown icon next the ‘Process Overview’ subtitle to view the ‘Element Properties’ associated with the Process Map.

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The preceding screenshot shows the ‘Comments’ for the ‘Accounting for Significant and Non-Rucurring Transactions’ Process Map, as well as a summary table listing the various ‘Risks’, ‘Control Objectives’, and ‘Control Activities’ associated with this Process Map.

Hiding “Inactive” Process Maps

Process Modeler users can optionall hide any Process Map by flagging it as ‘Inactive’. To do this:

Open the ‘Element Properties for the Process Map by double-clicking on the Process Map icon in the ‘Explorer Tree’.
Click on the drop-down list next to the “status’ label.
Select the ‘Inactive’ option.

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Changing a Process Map’s status to ‘Inactive’ will hide the Process Map and all of it’s details in the Synthis Maps (and all other published documentation), as pictured below:

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Clickable Process Maps

The easiest way to get to the clickable Synthis Maps for a Process Map is to either click on the Process Map thumbnail or click on the hyperlink above it (the Process Map name).

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The following screenshot shows the clickable Synthis Map for the ‘Accounting for Significant and Non-Rucurring Transactions’ Process Map.

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Popup Mode

To view the properties associated with an Element, simply click on the Element with your mouse. A red selection indicator will appear around the selected Element and it’s properties will be displayed in either a pop-up window or a larger window to the left of the Synthis Map.

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By default, the Synthis Maps open in ‘Pop-up Mode’, meaning that the ‘Element Properties’ for the selected Element are displayed in a pop-up window, as pictured above.

Window Mode

If you would like to view the Element details in a larger window like the one pictured below, instead of in the smaller pop-up window, click on the ‘Window Mode’ link in the top-right corner of your browser window to switch from ‘Pop-up Mode’ to ‘Window Mode’.

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The preceding screenshot shows what the Synthis Maps look like in ‘Window Mode’. The main difference between ‘Pop-up Mode’ and ‘Window Mode’ (apart from the size of the window) is that the pop-up window displays the element’s ‘Description’. If no ‘Description’ exists, the pop-up window will display the element’s ‘Comments’. In contrast, the larger ‘Window Mode’ window is configured to display the element’s ‘Comments’. If no ‘Comments’ exist, the ‘Window Mode’ window will display the element’s ‘Description’.

Maximize / Full Screen Mode

If you wan to maximize the amount of screen real estate dedicated to the Synthis Maps, you can click on the “maximize” button in the top-right corner of the diagram window to display the selected Process Map in “full-screen” mode, as pictured below.

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Process Narrative

The ‘Process Narrative’ contains all of the same rich detail as the ‘Synthis Maps’. However, the ‘Process Narrative’ template is layed out in a printer-friendly format. The following screenshot shows the Cover Page of the ‘Process Narrative’.

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The Process Narrative can be viewed locally by selecting the ‘Publish -> Process Narrative’ option. It cal also be accessed by clicking on any of the ‘Process Narrative’ hyperlinks that are embedded throughout the Synthis Maps and other HTML publishing templates.

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Single-Process Version

Each Process Narrative includes an dynamically generated Table of Contents. The Table of Contents contains hyperlinks that automatically jump the viewer to selected section within the Process Narrative document.

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Page Layout – Portrait / Landscape

By default, the Process Narrative is rendered in ‘Portrait Mode’, and all of the diagram images are dynamically scaled to fit the appropriate width.

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If you would prefer to view the Process Narrative in ‘Landscape Mode’, click on the ‘Landscape Mode’ icon in the bottom-right corner of the Cover Page, pictured above.

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As you can see from the screenshot above and the one below, the document width is switched to the appropriate “portrait” dimensions and the diagram images are automatically re-rendered at the optimal resolution for the new width.

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The following screenshot shows how all of the sections within the Process Narrative have been automatically stretched to fit the new width.

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Print Optimized / View Optimized Images

As some of you may be aware, scaled images that look good when viewed online in a Web browser do not print well and scaled images that are optimized for printing do not look good when viewed online in a Web browser.

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To help address this issue, we have added ‘Print Optimized’ and ‘View Optimized’ links above each process map image (in the title bar) that allow you to switch modes. Clicking on any of the ‘Print Optimized’ or ‘View Optimized’ links will dynamically swap out all of the images in the published Process Narrative to match your selection.

Saving As A Single Shareable File

If you are browsing your published documents locally using Internet Explorer, you can use Internet Explorer to save the HTML in the browser as a single ‘.mht’ file.

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Select the ‘File -> Save As’ option in Internet Explorer.
In the ‘Save as type’ field, select the ‘Web Archive, single file (*.mht)’ option.
Select where you would like to save the file, then click the ‘Save’ button.

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This will make it easy to email or otherwise share a static copy of your published HTML with non-Process Modeler users. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the highly interactive and dynamic nature of the ‘Synthis Maps’, the ‘Synthis Maps’ cannot be saved as a single, static ‘.mht’ file.

Ownership Document

The ‘Ownership Document’ template is configured to list all ‘Person’, ‘Group’, and ‘Role’ elements and show all of the Process Maps and Elements that they have been assigned to or associated with.

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The easiest way to view the ‘Ownership Document’ is to click on the ‘Publish -> Ownership Document’ option. However, if you click on a ‘Person’, ‘Group’, or ‘Role’ hyperlink in any of the other HTML publishing templates, the ‘Ownership Document’ will automatically open in a new browser window and you will be taken to the specific section containing the details for the selected element.

Internal Controls Matrix

The ‘Internal Controls Matrix’ template is designed to conform to the guidelines and requirements of the COSO Framework, which is primarily used by organizations who must comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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In order to fully populate the Internal Controls Matrix, you must make the following associations:

Assign one or more ‘Risk’ elements to a ‘Process Map’.
Assign one or more ‘Control Objective’ elements to each ‘Risk’.
Assign one or more ‘Control Activity’ elements to each ‘Control Objective’.
Place the appropriate ‘Control Activity’ shapes on the the appropriate ‘Process Map’.

Single Process Version

If you access the ‘Internal Controls Matrix’ by clicking on the ‘Publish -> Internal Controls Matrix’ option and you have have multiple Process Maps in your Process Model, you will see one matrix for each Process Map in the generated report.

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If you would like a “standalone” Internal Controls Matrix for a single Process Map, you can click on the ‘Individual Matrix’ link (found next to the ‘Excel Version’ link pictured below). If you click on the ‘Controls Matrix’ link in any of the other HTML templates, you will also get a “standalone” Internal Controls Matrix for a the selected Process Map.

Excel Controls Matrix

If you would like a “standalone” Internal Controls Matrix exported to a Microsoft Excel workbook, you can click on the ‘Excel Version’ link pictured below. You can also select the ‘Publish -> Excel Controls Matrix’ option to export all of your internal controls data to a single Microsoft Excel worksheet, as pictured below.

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When your Web browser first opens, you will see a Web page with the following information. Depending on your browser’s settings, you may be asked to either open or save the exported Microsoft Excel file.

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Process Mapping Basics

Synthis Staff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:13:51 +0000

The following sections walk you through the basics of creating a simple process map and publishing it to the Web:

Placing shapes on diagrams and linking them together
Capturing specific information about each shape
Generating a Web-based clickthrough of your process diagrams
Creating multi-level diagrams

When you first launch the application, a blank model will automatically be created containing a blank diagram (“Untitled Diagram 1″, found in the “Process Maps” folder in the Explorer tree) and displaying the “People”and “Process Mapping” stencils to the right of the Explorer tree.

1. Placing shapes on diagrams and linking them together

Placing shapes on diagrams

The easiest way to begin creating your first Process Map is to drag-and-drop shapes from the stencil onto the diagram, as follows:

Click on a shape in the stencil (hold down the left mouse button)
Move the mouse to the desired drop location on the diagram
Let go of the left mouse button

Linking one element to another

To draw a link from one element to another on the diagram:

Hold down the CTRL key
Click on the starting element (hold down the left mouse button)
Move the mouse until the pointer is over the target element
Let go of the left mouse button

2. Capturing specific information about each shape

Using the Element Properties editor

The easiest way to name your elements and begin capturing detailed information about each one is to locate the element on the diagram and click once on the element to select it. This opens the Element Properties editor in a convenient preview window below the main diagramming window. By default, the Element Properties editor allows you to capture following general information about each element:

Name
Description
Comments

Depending on the type of element that is selected, additional details can be captured using the Element Properties editor, using a variety of different mechanisms.

3. Generating a web-based clickthrough of your process diagrams

Publishing our unique, web-based Synthis Maps for the first time

Publishing a complete, clickable, diagram-based website of your processes takes just two mouse clicks:

Click on the “Publish” menu
Click on the “Synthis Maps” option

This will automatically open the Synthis Maps in your default Web browser.

4. Creating multi-level diagrams

Adding linked and nested process diagrams

Now that you have created and published a simple one-diagram process, the next step is learning how to link from one diagram to another. The easiest way to do this is as follows:

Drag a “Process Map” shape from the stencil onto your existing diagram
A single-click on your new Process Map element allows you to access its element properties
A double-click opens the new blank Process Map in the main diagramming window

This feature makes it very to either (a) daisy-chain from one process map to another related process map, or (b) drill-down or navigate up to more detailed or higher-level process maps.

Printing

Synthis Staff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:11:34 +0000

Print diagram from Process Modeler

Synthis Process Modeler offers a variety of printing options. By default, all diagrams are scaled to fit on a single page. However, it is possible to print wide/tall diagrams across multiple pages. Advanced printing options such as wall-chart printing are also possible, provided you are connected to a capable printer.

Print Setup

The ‘File -> Print Setup’ dialog allows you to control how your diagrams will appear on a printed page. You can specify various combinations of vertical and horizontal alignment as well as add pre-defined and custom information to the header and footer sections of the page, such as the diagram name and number of pages.

Print Preview

The ‘File -> Print Preview’ option shows you how your printed diagram will look when printed. The page margins are show in gray.

Print Diagram

The ‘File -> Print’ option allows you to print the active diagram to your default/selected printer using any print options specified in the ‘Print Setup’ dialog.

Print diagram from published Synthis Maps

Our new ‘Synthis Maps’ HTML template now includes a ‘Print’ button in the top-right corner of the diagram window that automatically scales the selected diagram to fit on a single page. Just click on this button to open your standard print dialog and print the selected diagram image.

Printing Your Published HTML Documents

Synthis Process Modeler R4 comes with various publishing templates that lend themselves to hard copy printing (Process Narrative, Ownership Document, Controls Matrix, etc.). Simply use your Web browser’s standard print function to print these documents. When printing the Process Narrative, you may want to click on the ‘Print Optimized’ link that appears above any of the process map images. This will automatically switch the image resolution so that it prints with full detail. By default, the embedded process map images are optimized for online viewing. Also, please note that you may need to adjust your Web browser’s settings to print the document as it appears on screen. For example, your browser may not be configured to print background colors and images.

Print Sequencing

Synthis Staff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:10:44 +0000

Control the order in which process maps are listed

The ‘Element Properties’ window for each ‘Model’ element and ‘Process Map’ element has a ‘Print Sequencing’ tab. Within the ‘Element Properties’ window, the ‘Print Sequencing’ tab allows you to control the order in which your Model’s process maps are listed in the ‘Explorer Tree’ and in your published documentation. ELEMENT PROPERTIES WINDOW The easiest way to view the ‘Element Properties’ for a Process Model is to double-click on the appropriate Process Model in the ‘Explorer Tree’. The following screenshot is from the ‘Synthis Warehousing Example’ process model. Pictured below is the ‘Element Properties’ window for the root ‘Business Management System’ node in the ‘Explorer Tree’.

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PRINT SEQUENCING TAB To change the sequence in which your Process Maps are listed:

Open the ‘Element Properties’ for your Model (the first entry in your ‘Explorer Tree’).
Click on the ‘Print Sequencing’ tab. This will show you a list of all of the Process Maps that exist in your selected model.
To change the sequence, click on a process map row, then click on the ‘Move Up’ or ‘Move Down’ buttons as appropriate.

By default, Process Maps are sequenced in the order in which they were created.

Control the sequence in which a process map’s elements are listed

The ‘Element Properties’ window for each ‘Process Map’ element also has a ‘Print Sequencing’ tab. Within the ‘Element Properties’ window, the ‘Print Sequencing’ tab allows you to control the order in which the Elements for a given Process Map are listed in your published documentation. ELEMENT PROPERTIES WINDOW The easiest way to view the ‘Element Properties’ for a Process Map is to double-click on the appropriate Process Map in the ‘Explorer Tree’. You can also right-click on a ‘Process Map’ element and select the ‘Edit’ option. The following screenshot is from the ‘Synthis Warehousing Example’ process model. Pictured below is the ‘Element Properties’ window for the ‘Quality Management System’ process map in the ‘Explorer Tree’.

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PRINT SEQUENCING TAB To change the sequence of the Elements (activities, decisions, etc.) for a given Process Map:

Open the ‘Element Properties’ for your Process Map.
Click in the ‘Print Sequencing’ tab (the right-most tab at the bottom of the ‘Element Properties’ window).
To change the sequence, click on a process map row, then click on the ‘Move Up’ or ‘Move Down’ buttons as appropriate.

By default, Elements are sequenced in the order in which they were added to your Process Map.

The following screenshot is also from the ‘Synthis Warehousing Example’ process model. Pictured below is the ‘Element Properties’ window for the ‘Inbound Receiving’ process map in the ‘Explorer Tree’.

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The following screenshot shows the Table of Contents of the published ‘Process Narrative’ for the ‘Inbound Receiving’ process map. Note that the sequence of the Table of Contents pictured below matches the sequence in which the Elements are listed in the ‘Print Sequencing’ tab.

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The following screenshot shows the body of the published ‘Process Narrative’ for the ‘Inbound Receiving’ process map. Note that the sequence of each sub-section pictured below matches the sequence of the preceding Table of Contents and ‘Print Sequencing’ tab.

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Process Modeler FAQs

Synthis Staff — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:03:13 +0000

Where is all of my process model data stored?

Unlike previous “file-based” versions of the Synthis Process Modeler, all of your “R4″ process model data is stored in an embedded database that comes packaged with our new “R4″ release. This means that you no longer have to worry about saving and managing individual “.prj” files. Whenever you save your changes, they are automatically saved to the Process Modeler database. When you close a model, it simply moves to the “Closed Models” folder within the Process Modeler ‘Explorer Tree’. If you want to open a closed model, find it in the ‘Explorer Tree’ and then either double-click to open it or right-click on the process model and select the ‘Open’ option within the context-sensitive right-click menu. If you want export your process model to a “.prj” file to create an archive/backup copy of your process model, or to share your model with another Process modeler user, use the “File -> Export’ option. Similarly, you can use the ‘File -> Import’ option to import from any existing “.prj” file into your Process Modeler R4 database.

How do I link to external documents / web pages?

Just like our “R3″ version, you can link to an unlimited number of external documents and web pages, or any other system or storage location that can be accessed via a URL. The main difference in our “R4″ release is that linked documents and web pages are now reusable elements that appear in the ‘Explorer Tree’, just like all of your other elements. The following element types have a “File Path / URL” field where you can either paste in a hyperlink URL or hyperlink to a document by browsing to it using a file chooser dialog:

	Document
	Controlled Document
	Standard
	Multi-Document

	Record
	Controlled Record
	Word Document
	PDF Document

	Excel Spreadsheet
	PowerPoint Presentation
	Web Page
	Hyperlink

How do I create additional “levels” so that users can drill down from a high-level diagram to more detailed diagrams?

Simply drag a new ‘Process Map’ shape from the ‘Process Mapping’ stencil onto your diagram. This will create a new ‘Process Map’ element (“Untitled Process Map 1″) in the ‘Explorer Tree’. This should also open the ‘Element Properties’ editor for your newly created process map element. To “drill down” into your newly created process map, double-click on the diagram element. This will automatically open your new blank process map in another tab in the main diagramming window and display the ‘Element Properties’ for your new process map below.

Is there a limit to the number of “drill-down” levels I can have?

No – there is no limit on the number of levels you can drill down. There a also no limit on the number of process maps you can create.

What’s the difference between ‘Owner’ and ‘Performed By’?

The ‘Performed By’ property is intended to provide one additional level of granularity when assigning People, Groups, and Roles within the Process Modeler. The majority of Process Modeler users use only the ‘Owner’ property to assign and track ownership/responsibility. In many corporate environments, the person responsible for a particular set of activities is often also the person who performs those activities. However, in certain scenarios there is a clear distinction between who is responsible for a particular activity who actually performs that activity. For example, in a manufacturing environment there are often “line supervisors” who are responsible for a set of specific activities within a process and “shop-floor employees” who are assigned to perform one or more of those activities. In this case, it may be helpful to assign the “Line Supervisor” as the “Owner” and the “Shop Floor Employees” as the “Performers” (using the ‘Performed By’ property). You will see in the published documentation that each of these properties are listed in separate sections, each with their own table and heading. One important thing to note is that you have the flexibility to assign People, Groups, and Roles at whataver level of detail you think is appropriate for your organization. Some organizations require their Process Modeler users to only assign ownership and the ‘process map’ level. Others assign ownership at the ‘activity’ level. Some organizations get very detailed and assign “Owners” at the ‘process map’ level; assign “Owners” at the ‘activity’ level; assign ‘Performed By’ at the ‘activity’ level, and track additional properties for specific element types such as the ‘Testing Owner’ for a ‘control activity’. You need to work with your team to decide what makes the most sense for your organization, and then clearly communicate your decision with your colleagues to ensure a consistent level of detail and quality throughout your organization.

When should I use the ‘Description’ property instead of the ‘Comments’ property?

The main difference between the ‘Description’ and ‘Comments’ properties is that the ‘Comments’ field is a “text area” that supports rich-text formatting (bold, italics, underline, different fonts, font sizes, etc.) and grows vertically as you type, whereas the ‘Description’ property is a one-line “text field” that only supports plain text formatting. In terms of where and how these properties are used, the ‘Description’ property should ideally be a summary of what goes in the ‘Comments’ field. However, both the ‘Description’ and ‘Comments’ are optional and both fields usually serve as “backups” for each other in the published documentation. For example, if you are looking at the published ‘Synthis Maps’ in “Pop-up Mode”, the pop-up window is configured to display the shorter ‘Description’ text. If no ‘Description’ is available, it will display the ‘Comments’. By contrast, if you switch from ‘Pop-up Mode’ to ‘Window Mode’, the window to the left of the Synthis Maps is configured to display the longer ‘Comments’ text, since it is larger than the pop-up window. If no ‘Comments’ are available, it will display the ‘Description’.

Does Synthis support swimlane diagrams?

Yes – Our new “R4″ release makes it much easier to create and manage visual swimlanes than previous versions. The easiest way to create visual swimlanes in “R4″ is to create a new layer using the “”Layers -> Add Layer” option. Next, select the rectangle tool in the main toolbar and draw a rectangle on the diagram to represent your horizontal swimlane. You can repeat this process to draw additional swimlanes, or you can select your newly created rectanlge and copy/paste to create additional rectangles of the same size. Using the ‘Fill Color’, ‘Line Color’, and ‘Line Type’ tools, you can change the color and outline of each rectangle to create swimlanes similar to the ones pictured below. If you want your process mapping elements to appear ontop of your swimlanes, simply click on the “Swimlane” layer” in the “Layers” window and drag it below the layer that contains your process map elements. Having your swimlane shapes in a different layer from your process map elements keeps you from accidentally selecting and moving the wrong shape while creating your process maps. Please note that automated support for “intelligent swimlanes” is in our product roadmap. We plan to add support for automatically drawing the swimlanes for you, automatically resizing the swimlanes (vertically and horizontally) as you add elements to your process map, and automatically assigning/managing ownership based on which swimlane an element is “assigned to”.

How can I share my process models with someone else?

There are a couple of easy ways to share your process models. If you are using the Process Modeler as a standalone desktop tool, you can use the ‘File -> Export’ option to export all of your process model data to a single “.prj” file. If you are connected to a Synthis Repository, you can upload your process model data to the Repository. Authorized users will then be able to view HTML documents that are automatically populated with your most current process model data. They will also be able to download and import your process model data into their Process Modeler.

Process Narrative – How do I change/control the order in which process maps and elements are listed?

The ‘Element Properties’ window for each ‘Model’ element and ‘Process Map’ element has a ‘Print Sequencing’ tab. The ‘Print Sequencing’ tab allows you to control (a) the order in which your Model’s process maps are listed in the ‘Explorer Tree’ and in your published documentation and (b) the order in which each Process Map’s details are listed in your published documentation. THE PRINT SEQUENCING TAB The ‘Print Sequencing’ tab is accessible via the ‘Element Properties’ tab for a ‘Model’ or ‘Process Map’. The easiest way to view the ‘Element Properties’ for a ‘Model’ or ‘Process Map’ is to double-click on the appropriate ‘Model’ or ‘Process Map’ within the ‘Explorer Tree’. You can also right-click on a ‘Process Map’ element and select the ‘Edit’ option. SEQUENCE THE PROCESS MAPS FOR A GIVEN MODEL If you want to change the sequence in which your Process Maps are listed, open the ‘Element Properties’ for your Model (the first entry in your ‘Explorer Tree’). Next, click on the ‘Print Sequencing’ tab. This will show you a list of all of the Process Maps that exist in your selected model. To change the sequence, click on a process map row, then click on the ‘Move Up’ or ‘Move Down’ buttons as appropriate. SEQUENCE THE PROCESS STEPS FOR A GIVEN PROCESS MAP If you want to change the sequence of the “process steps” (activities, decisions, etc.) for a specific Process Map, open the ‘Element Properties’ for your Process Map, then click in the ‘Print Sequencing’ tab (the right-most tab at the bottom of the ‘Element Properties’ window) and repeat the steps described above to acieve the correct sequence. By default, process steps are sequenced in the order in which they were added to your process map. Process maps are sequenced in the order in which they were created.

Can I view/print the Process Narrative in landscape format?

Yes – two icons have been added to the bottom-right corner of the ‘Process Narrative’ cover page that allow you to switch between “portrait” and “landscape” views of the document. All of the process maps are automatically re-rendered to fit the portrait/landscape dimensions at the best possible resolution. Additionally, two new links have been added above each process map image (in the title bar) that allow you to switch between “print optimized” and “view optimized” versions of the images.

How can I share my published documents with others?

Synthis Process Modeler R4 comes with an embedded web server that enables you to browse interactive HTML views of your process models locally. This is accomplished by going to the ‘Publish’ menu and selecting the appropriate HTML template from the list. A new Web browser window will automatically open and the selected template will be automatically populated with your most current process model data. These same dynamic views are automatically made available to end users when you check your process model in to your Synthis Repository or upload your process model to your free hosted Synthis.com account. If you prefer to save your process maps and published documents as static files, you have a couple of options: SAVE PUBLISHED HTML DOCUMENTS AS A SINGLE BROWSABLE ‘.MHT’ FILE If you are browsing your published documents locally using Internet Explorer, you can use Internet Explorer to save the HTML in the browser as a single ‘.mht’ file.

Select the ‘File -> Save As’ option in Internet Explorer.
In the ‘Save as type’ field, select the ‘Web Archive, single file (*.mht)’ option.
Select where you would like to save the file, then click the ‘Save’ button.

This will allow you to email and share a static copy of the published HTML with others. However, please note that due to the highly interactive and dynamic nature of the ‘Synthis Maps’, the ‘Synthis Maps’ cannot be saved as a single, static ‘.mht’ file. SAVE INDIVIDUAL PROCESS MAPS AS A PDF OR IMAGE FILE If you just want to save the active diagram as a PDF or image file, use the following steps:

Click on the ‘File -> Save Diagram As …’ option in the Process Modeler.
Select ‘Image’ File’ or ‘PDF Document’.
Select where you would like to save the file, then click the ‘Save’ button.

What is the easiest way to create reusable process templates?

The easiest way to create re-usable templates is to create the template in the Process Modeler and then use the ‘File -> Export’ option to save a copy of your process model as a ‘.prj’ file. You can then import from this ‘.prj’ file and use it as the starting point for your next process model. The ‘File -> Export’ option is also a great way to create backup and archive copies of your process models, if you’re not using a Synthis Repository (and it’s automated revisioning and version control features).

If I rename a copied element, the name of the copied element and the original element both change. Is this a bug?

This is not a bug. Copying and pasting an element creates a second instance of the same element. This ability to reuse the same object multiple times within the same process map and across other process maps is one the the key features that distinguishes a process modeling tool from simple diagramming tools like Microsoft Visio and SmartDraw. Please not that we are planning to introduce a new ‘Clone’ option that will unable you to copy one or more elements and “clone” them to create new elements that contain the same information, but are distinct objects that can be edited and maintained independently from the original elements from which they were cloned.

Can I add or rename the folders in the Explorer Tree?

In the default ‘Explorer Tree’ view, you can rename individual elements and process maps. However, the tree is automatically managed for you based on a pre-defined set of rules. The folders in this view cannot be renamed, moved, deleted, or otherwise modified. Additional tree views will be added in subsequent point releases. Some of these new tree views will allow you to organize your elements in a folder structure that you have complete control over. Other views will automatically filter and sort your elements based on different filtering and sorting rules.

Can I create my own custom elements and stencils?

With our new “R4″ release, you can now copy / paste or drag-and-drop images onto any process map diagram. These images can serve as backgrounds or decoration. Your pasted images can also be converted into reusable element objects. Using the right-click ‘Change Type’ option, you can right-click on your pasted image and convert it to any of our “out-of-the-box” element types by selecting the appropriate type from the list. If you want to create multiple custom objects from the same image, it is best to paste multiple instances of the image on the diagram, select each of the pasted images, and then use the right-click ‘Change Type’ option to convert them all at once to the desired element type.

Can I modify the ‘Element Properties’ editors?

It is quite easy to customize ‘Element Properties’ for different element types, hide/remove properties, and add new properties. Synthis can do this for you or provide training so that ytou can make your own customizations.

Can I modify the publishing templates?

Similar to the previous question, Synthis can customize existing publishing templates and create new publishing templates for you or provide training so that you can make your own customizations.

Can I change the icon for an element without changing the element type?

This has been added to our product roadmap. Currently, the easiest way to accomplish this is to paste the desired image and then use the right-click ‘Change Type’ option to assign the desired element properties to the pasted image.

Will I lose any of my data if I change the element type?

No – whenever you change element type, all of your existing element data is preserved, even if the new element type doesn’t promtpt for all of the attributes that have been associated with your existing element object.

The ‘License Activation’ dialog won’t accept my username and password

You must have purchased a permanent license from Synthis in order to use the ‘License Activation’ dialog to get rid of the free trial countdown clock. If you have trouble connecting using the ‘License Activation’ tab, please try using the instructions provided in the ‘Manual Activation’ tab. If you are unable to manually activate using the ‘Manual Activation’ tab, please don’t hesitate to contact our support department by sending an email to support@synthis.com.

What happens after my trial license expires?

After your free trial expires, you can still view and interact with your process models. However, new changes to your process models will not be saved. If you need an extension to your trial period, please feel free to request an extension by sending an email to support@synthis.com.

Can a process map be moved from one model to another?

The current “R4″ release does not support copying and pasting or otherwise moving elements from one process model to another. The ability to copy / paste, drag-and-drop, and export / import from one process model to another will be added in an upcoming point release.

Can I copy and paste from other products like Visio or SmartDraw?

Yes – Our new “R4″ release provides basic support for copying and pasting from various third-party software applications. Unfortunately, whatever you copy/paste from other diagramming tools like Visio and SmartDraw currently pastes as a single image. If you want to copy/paste individual shapes, you much sopy and paste them one at a time. Providing more advanced support for copying / pasting and exporting / importing from other diagramming and process modeling tools is in our “R4″ product roadmap.

Can I import data from an existing file or database?

The current “R4″ release supports importing from existing ‘.prj’ files. However, our product roadmap includes adding utilities to easily import data and content from a variety of data sources including Excel files, various emerging XML formats, third-party databases, and third-party content management systems.

Can I export my data?

The ‘File -> Export’ option makes it easy to export your data to a single ‘.prj’ file. The ‘prj’ file contains all of your process model data in a standard XML format. Custom export templates (similar to the HTML publishing templates) can be easily added to the Process Modeler to export your process model data in other formats. If you are using a Synthis Repository to manage your process model data, you can access and export the data directly from the Synthis Repository database.

How do I control who can view / edit my process models?

The Synthis Repository provides fine-grained access control and security for all of your process model content. At any level within the Repository, you can assign the following permissions to groups and users:

Add
View
Edit
Comment
Version
Unlock
Delete

Does Synthis provide any support for revision / version control?

The Synthis Process Modeler is used to create and edit your process models. The Synthis Repository provides built-in support for automated revisioning and version control of your process models.

Is there a built-in spell checker?

Adding a built-in spell checking utility is on our product roadmap.

Is there a ‘Save As’ option?

A ‘File – Save As’ option will be added to one of our upcoming “R4″ point releases. In the meantime, you can use the ‘File -> Export’ option to create a ‘.prj’ file containing all of your process model data. This is a great way to backup and archive your process models using the Process Modeler as a standalone tool. You can then use the ‘File -> Import’ option to create a new process model from your saved ‘.prj’ file.

Synthis - Process Modeling Software » Process Modeler Help

Running The Process Modeler via Terminal Server

What's New In Process Modeler 4.0

Version 4.0

Still To Come

On The Radar

Working with Layers

Add Layer

Show/Hide Layer

Lock/Unlock Layer

Rearranging Layers

Changing Layers

Removing/Deleting Shapes

Delete Layer

Process Modeler System Requirements

Recommended

Unsupported

Saving

Save

Export

Save Diagram As Image File

Save Diagram As PDF

Publishing

Synthis Maps

Hiding “Inactive” Process Maps

Clickable Process Maps

Popup Mode

Window Mode

Maximize / Full Screen Mode

Process Narrative

Single-Process Version

Page Layout – Portrait / Landscape

Print Optimized / View Optimized Images

Saving As A Single Shareable File

Ownership Document

Internal Controls Matrix

Single Process Version

Excel Controls Matrix

Process Mapping Basics

1. Placing shapes on diagrams and linking them together

Placing shapes on diagrams

Linking one element to another

2. Capturing specific information about each shape

Using the Element Properties editor

3. Generating a web-based clickthrough of your process diagrams

Publishing our unique, web-based Synthis Maps for the first time

4. Creating multi-level diagrams

Adding linked and nested process diagrams

Printing

Print diagram from Process Modeler

Print Setup

Print Preview

Print Diagram

Print diagram from published Synthis Maps

Printing Your Published HTML Documents

Print Sequencing

Control the order in which process maps are listed

Control the sequence in which a process map’s elements are listed

Process Modeler FAQs

Where is all of my process model data stored?

How do I link to external documents / web pages?

How do I create additional “levels” so that users can drill down from a high-level diagram to more detailed diagrams?

Is there a limit to the number of “drill-down” levels I can have?

What’s the difference between ‘Owner’ and ‘Performed By’?

When should I use the ‘Description’ property instead of the ‘Comments’ property?

Does Synthis support swimlane diagrams?

How can I share my process models with someone else?

Process Narrative – How do I change/control the order in which process maps and elements are listed?

Can I view/print the Process Narrative in landscape format?

How can I share my published documents with others?

What is the easiest way to create reusable process templates?

If I rename a copied element, the name of the copied element and the original element both change. Is this a bug?

Can I add or rename the folders in the Explorer Tree?

Can I create my own custom elements and stencils?

Can I modify the ‘Element Properties’ editors?

Can I modify the publishing templates?

Can I change the icon for an element without changing the element type?

Will I lose any of my data if I change the element type?

The ‘License Activation’ dialog won’t accept my username and password

What happens after my trial license expires?