Create your first process

This is the first of three simple steps in creating a process app.

1. Open Alfresco Process Services from one of the following options:
   • Local installation

     - address - http://localhost:8080/activiti-app/#/

     - sign in - admin@app.activiti.com/

     - password - admin

   • Cloud trial - https://activiti.alfresco.com/activiti-app/#/ (use your online trial sign in details)

   

2. Select App Designer on your dashboard.
3. Select Create Process.
4. Give the process model a name (for example “Expense approval”) and a description, then select the BPMN Editor as the Editor type.
5. Select Create new model.
   Note: If this is the first time you’ve used Alfresco Process Services then some help tips may be displayed. You can click Next to watch them or press Esc. to close them.
6. The start event is displayed on the canvas as a circle. Double-click on it and type a name, for example “Submit expense”, then click on the canvas.
7. Click the circle again and drag and drop the User task icon to the right.

   

   This adds a user task after the start event.

8. Double-click on the user task and type a name, for example “Review”, then click on the canvas.

   

9. Click the user task again and drag and drop the end event icon (circle) to the right.
10. Double-click on the end event and type a name, for example “End process”, then click on the canvas.

    

    The process model now has three stages.

11. Click Validate the model on the toolbar.

    This checks models (processes, web forms, decision tables, data models, and stencils) for errors. If there are errors then a message shows you details on how to resolve them.

    Once it’s validated, you can add forms to the process using the Forms editor. This example needs two forms to be added:

    • One for the requester to submit the expense (start event)
    • One for the manager to review the expense request (user task).
    You can create forms:

    • Directly from the Process editor (embedded in the BPMN model)
    • Separately from the process model and then reference them in the design by adding a key

    In this example they’ll be created directly from the Process editor.
12. Click the start event and then click Referenced form in the properties panel.

    

13. Click New form in the Form reference window.
14. Give the form a name (for example “Submit expense”) and a description, the click Create form.

    This opens the Form editor.

15. Drag stencils onto the Design canvas in this order:
    • Text
    • Amount
    • Date
    • Attach File
16. Hover over the Text stencil and click the Edit icon, then type "Text" as the Label and click Close.

    Repeat this step for the other stencils you added, and type the following labels:

    • Amount
    • Date
    • Attachment

    

17. Click Save then Save and close editor.
18. In the Process editor click the review expense user task and then click Referenced form in the properties panel.
19. Give the form a name (for example “Expense review”) and a description, the click Create form.
20. Drag stencils onto the Design canvas in this order:
    • Text
    • Amount
    • Date
    • Attach File
21. Hover over the Text stencil and click the Edit icon, then type "Text" as the Label and click Close.

    Repeat this step for the other stencils you added, and type the following labels:

    • Amount
    • Date
    • Attachment
    
22. Click the Outcomes tab to add a custom outcome so that the reviewer can approve or reject the expense.
23. Select Use custom outcomes for this form and in the Possible outcomes add two outcomes:
    • Approve
    • Reject
    
24. Click Save then Save and close editor.
25. In the Process editor click Save then Save.