ProcessMaker Platform Documentation
Spring 2023, ProcessMaker Platform
ProcessMaker HomeGive Us FeedbackRelease NotesDownload Open-Source Edition
Search
⌃K
Links

Signal Start Event Element

Add, copy, delete, change the color, align, and configure Signal Start Event elements in your Process model.

Don't Know What a Signal Start Event Element Is?

See Process Modeling Element Descriptions for a description of the Signal Start Event element.

Permissions Required

Your user account or group membership must have the following permissions to configure a Signal Start Event element in the Process model unless your user account has the Make this user a Super Admin setting selected:
  • Processes: Edit Processes
  • Processes: View Processes
See the Process permissions or ask your Administrator for assistance.

Add a Signal Start Event Element

Follow these steps to add a Signal Start Event element to the Process model:
  1. 1.
    ​View your Processes. The Processes page displays.
  2. 2.
    ​Create a new Process or click the Open Modeler icon
    to edit the selected Process model. Process Modeler displays.
  3. 3.
    Locate the Start Event element in the Elements and Connectors palette that is to the left of the Process Modeler canvas. If the Hide Menus button​
    is enabled, the Elements and Connectors palette displays the Start Event element's icon
    .
    ​
    ​
  4. 4.
    Drag the element into the Process model canvas where you want to place it. If a Pool element is in your Process model, the Signal Start Event element cannot be placed outside of the Pool element.
  5. 5.
    From the Elements drop-down menu, select the Start Timer Event option. The Signal Start Event element displays.
Signal Start Event element
After the element is placed into the Process model, you may adjust its location in the following ways:
Moving a Signal Start Event element has the following limitations in regards to the following Process model elements:
  • Pool element: If the Signal Start Event element is inside of a Pool element, it cannot be moved outside of the Pool element. If you attempt to do so, Process Modeler places the Signal Start Event element inside the Pool element closest to where you attempt to move it.
  • Lane element: If the Signal Start Event element is inside of a Lane element, it can be moved to another Lane element in the same Pool element. However, the Signal Start Event element cannot be moved outside of the Pool element.

Replace a Signal Start Event Element with a Different Starting Request Event Element

After a Signal Start Event element is added to a Process model, you may replace it with a different starting Request event element:
The selected Signal Start Event element is replaced by the default settings and color of the replacing element.
Follow these steps to replace a Signal Start Event element with a different starting Request event element:
  1. 1.
    ​View your Processes. The Processes page displays.
  2. 2.
    Click the Open Modeler icon
    to edit the selected Process model. Process Modeler displays.
  3. 3.
    Select the Signal Start Event element to change to another starting Request event element. Available options display above the selected element.
  4. 4.
    Click the Elements icon. The Elements drop-down menu displays the starting Request event elements.
  5. 5.
    Select the element to replace the Signal Start Event element. The Change Type screen displays to confirm replacing the currently selected element.
  6. 6.
    Click Confirm. The new element replaces the Signal Start Event element with its default settings and color.

Change a Signal Start Event Element's Color

Copy a Signal Start Event Element

Clone a Signal Start Event Element

Delete a Signal Start Event Element

Settings

The Signal Start Event element has the following panels that contain settings:

Configuration Panel Settings

Edit the Element Name

An element name is a human-readable reference for a Process element. Process Modeler automatically assigns the name of a Process element with its element type. However, an element's name can be changed.
Follow these steps to edit the name for a Signal Start Event element:
  1. 1.
    Select the Signal Start Event element from the Process model in which to edit its name. Panels to configure this element display.
  2. 2.
    Expand the Configuration panel if it is not presently expanded. The Name setting displays. This is a required setting.
  3. 3.
    In the Name setting, edit the selected element's name and then press Enter.
  4. 4.
    ​Save your Process model.

Select the Signal to Trigger the Element

A Signal Start Event element starts a Request for a Process when it triggers by receiving a specific Signal from a broadcasting element in any other Request. The element that broadcasts the Signal does not need to be in the same Process model as the Signal Start Event element to receive the broadcast. Select the Signal that triggers this element.
Follow these steps to select the Signal that triggers the Signal Start Event element:
  1. 1.
    Select the Signal Start Event element from the Process model in which to select the Signal that triggers it. Panels to configure this element display.
  2. 2.
    Expand the Configuration panel if it is not presently expanded, and then locate the Signal setting.
  3. 3.
    From the Signal drop-down menu, select the Signal that triggers this element. This setting is required. To know more about Signals, see Signal Manager.
  4. 4.
    ​Save your Process model.

Enter the Request Variable to Store the Broadcasting Signal's Payload

When the Signal Start Event element receives a broadcasting Signal for which it is listening, enter the Request variable that stores the Request data in the broadcasting Signal's payload. The Request data within the broadcasting Signal may then be used in the new Request that the Signal Start Event element starts.
Follow these steps to enter the Request variable to store the broadcasting Signal's payload:
  1. 1.
    Select the Signal Start Event element from the Process model in which to enter the Request variable. Panels to configure this element display.
  2. 2.
    Expand the Configuration panel if it is not presently expanded, and then locate the Request Variable setting.
  3. 3.
    In the Request Variable setting, enter the name of the Request Variable to store the broadcasting Signal's payload and then press Enter.
  4. 4.
    ​Save your Process model.

Documentation Panel Settings

Edit the Element's Description Displayed in Process Documentation

If the Documentation package is installed, describe the element's purpose and how it functions in the Process. This description does not affect Requests for the Process, but may be useful for Process model maintenance such as how the element is configured. Edit information by using the What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) rich text editor.
A Process's entered documentation displays by selecting the View Documentation icon for that Process.

Package Required

The Documentation package must be installed to view or edit the documentation for a Process element. Use the Documentation package to view documentation for Processes that includes an image of the Process map and entered description of its elements and connectors.
Follow these steps to edit the description for an element:
  1. 1.
    Select the element from the Process model in which to edit its description. Panels to configure this element display.
  2. 2.
    Expand the Documentation panel if it is not presently expanded. The Description setting displays.
  3. 3.
    In the Description setting, edit the information to display when viewing documentation for this element and then press Enter. Alternatively, use the What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) rich text editor to stylize your text by clicking the More icon
    .
    Follow these guidelines to use the WYSIWYG rich text editor to stylize your text:
    • Undo changes: Click on the
      icon to undo the last action.
    • Redo changes: Click on the
      icon to redo the last undone action.
    • Insert/Edit Link: Click on the
      icon to convert the selected text into a hyperlink. Follow these steps to create a hyperlink:
      1. 1.
        Select the required text from the Rich Text control.
      2. 2.
        Click on the
        icon. The Insert/Edit Link screen displays.
      3. 3.
        In the URL setting, enter the destination URL.
      4. 4.
        In the Text to display setting, edit or enter the text displayed in the Rich Text control.
      5. 5.
        In the Title setting, enter the text to display when a user hovers over the displayed text.
      6. 6.
        From Open link in… drop-down menu, select one of these options:
        • New window: Select this option to open the destination page in a new browser window.
        • Current window: Select this option to open the destination page in the current browser window.
    • Insert/Edit Image: Click on the Insert/Edit Image icon
      to insert an image. Follow these guidelines:
      1. 1.
        Click on the Insert/Edit Image icon
        .
      2. 2.
        The Insert/Edit Image screen displays:
      3. 3.
        In the Source setting, enter a URL for the image.
      4. 4.
        In the Alternative Description setting, enter the text to display if the source URL of the image is not accessible.
      5. 5.
        In the Width setting, enter the maximum width for the image.
      6. 6.
        In the Height setting, enter the maximum height for the image.
      7. 7.
        Toggle the Constrain Proportions icon
        to maintain the width-height ratio of the image to its original proportion.
      8. 8.
        Click Save.
    • Insert Page Break for PDF: Click on the Insert Page Break for PDF icon
      to insert a page break when a PDF document is created for this documentation if your browser supports this feature.
    • Format text: Follow these guidelines to format text:
      • Headings: From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Headings and then select a heading size.
      • Bold: Do one of the following:
        • From the editor toolbar, select the
          icon.
        • From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Inline and then Bold.
      • Italics: Do one of the following:
        • From the editor toolbar, select the
          icon.
        • From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Inline and then Italic.
      • Underline: From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Inline and then Underline.
      • Strikethrough: From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Inline and then Strikethrough.
      • Superscript: From the Paragraph/ Formats menu, select Inline and then Superscript.
      • Subscript: From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Inline and then Subscript.
      • Code: From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Inline and then Code.
      • Paragraph: From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Blocks and then Paragraph.
      • Blockquote: From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Blocks and then Blockquote.
      • Division: From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Blocks and then Div.
      • Preformatted: From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Blocks and then Pre.
      • Change text color: Use the Text Color drop-down to change text color. Click on the
        icon. The color palette displays. Do one of the following:
        • Select one of the color swatches from the color palette. The selected text changes to that color.
          • Click the
            icon to select a custom color from the Color Picker.
          • Click the
            icon to reset the text to its default color.
      • Align text: Follow these guidelines to align text:
        • Left align: Do one of the following:
          • From the editor toolbar, use the
            icon to left-align text.
          • From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Align and then Left.
        • Center align: Do one of the following:
          • From the editor toolbar, use the
            icon to center-align text.
          • From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Align and then Center.
        • Right align: Do one of the following:
          • From the editor toolbar, use the
            icon to right-align text.
          • From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Align and then Right.
        • Justify: Do one of the following:
          • From the editor toolbar, use the
            icon to justify text.
          • From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Align and then Justify.
      • Insert a bullet list: Use the
        icon to format text as a bulleted list.
      • Insert a numbered list: Use the
        icon to format text as a numbered list.
      • Indent text: Click on the
        icon to increase text indenting.
      • Outdent text: Click on the
        icon to decrease text indenting.

Advanced Panel Settings

Edit the Node's Identifier Value

Process Modeler automatically assigns a unique value to each Process node added to a Process model. However, a node's identifier value can be changed if it is unique to all other nodes in the Process model, including the Process model's identifier value.
All identifier values for all nodes in the Process model must be unique.
Follow these steps to edit the identifier value for a Signal Start Event element:
  1. 1.
    Select the Signal Start Event element from the Process model in which to edit its identifier value. Panels to configure this element display.
  2. 2.
    Expand the Advanced panel if it is not presently expanded. The Node Identifier setting displays. This is a required setting.
  3. 3.
    In the Node Identifier setting, edit the Signal Start Event element's identifier to a unique value from all nodes in the Process model and then press Enter.
Last modified 1mo ago