Boundary Message Event

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A Boundary Message Event object represents alternate workflow routing when its associating object or connector receives a specific message as designated by the message's name. The associating object/connector must have triggered at the moment it receives the message. The Boundary Message Event object may associate with any of the following objects or connectors:

The Boundary Message Event object associates with an object or connector by attaching to it to that object or connector. Below a Boundary Message Event object associates with a Sub Process object.

Boundary Message Event object associates with a Sub Process object

During an in-progress Request, the Boundary Message Event object may trigger in the following circumstances:

  1. The Boundary Message Event object associates with an object or connector.

  2. The Boundary Message Event object receives a specified message, designated by the message's unique name, prior to the associating object/connector triggering or completing.

  3. The Boundary Message Event object triggers. Either of the following may occur depending on if the Boundary Message Event object is configured to be "interrupting" or "non-interrupting":

    • Interrupting: If the Boundary Message Event object is configured to be interrupting, its associating object/connector never triggers in that Request. Workflow routes through the Boundary Message Event object.

    • Non-interrupting: If the Boundary Message Event object is configured to be non-interrupting, the associating object/connector may potentially trigger in that Request if workflow routes to it. However, the Boundary Message Event object triggers when it receives its message, which may be temporally a different time than when the associating object/connector may trigger. If the associating object/connector triggers and completes, workflow routes through it. Both workflows may possible occur.

Use an outgoing Sequence Flow object to indicate workflow routing from the Boundary Message Event object if it triggers.

Use a Boundary Message Event object to design business solutions that adjust workflow routing from the best-case scenario. Consider these examples:

  • Boundary Message Event object receives message from another Pool object: Use an Intermediate Message Throw Event object that is in one Pool object to send a message to a Boundary Message Event object in a second Pool object. Each Pool object contains independent workflow: each is a separate Request. The Boundary Message Event object receives Request data from the Intermediate Message Throw Event object's Request. The Boundary Message Event object's Request resumes with Request data from the other Request.

  • Two objects listen for different messages: Associate a Boundary Message Event object with an Intermediate Message Catch Event object. Each of these objects listen for a different message, thereby providing two workflow routing options from this junction in the Process model.

An object or connector associated with a Boundary Message Event object may also associate with the following objects in the same object/connector:

Configure whether a Boundary Message Event object interrupts the best-case scenario workflow:

  • Interrupting workflow: When workflow routes through the Boundary Message Event object, workflow is interrupted and does not route through the best-case scenario. As highlighted in the example below, workflow routes through the Boundary Message Event object if that object receives a message from the child Request.

  • Non-interrupting workflow: Workflow routes both through the Boundary Message Event object and the best-case scenario, thereby creating parallel workflow in that Request. As highlighted in the example below, workflow routes through the Boundary Message Event object if that object receives a message from the child Request; however, after the child Request completes and workflow resumes in the parent Request, the Sub Process object completes and routes through the best-case scenario.

Processes that use Boundary Message Event objects can be complex. Therefore, use it to test workflow variations while designing such Processes.

Add a Boundary Message Event to the Process Model

Permissions

  • Processes: Edit Processes

  • Processes: View Processes

See the Process permissions or ask your Administrator for assistance.

Your user account or group membership must have the following permissions to configure a Boundary Message Event object 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.

Follow these steps to add a Boundary Message Event object to the Process model:

  1. View your Processes. The Processes page displays.

  2. Create a new Process or click the Open Modeler icon to edit the selected Process model. Process Modeler displays.

  3. Add the following Process model object or connector to your Process model in which to associate with the Boundary Error Event object:

    1. Form Task

    2. Manual Task

    3. Script Task

    4. Sub Process

    5. Actions By Email connector

    6. Data Connector connector

    7. DocuSign connector

    8. IDP connector

    9. PDF Generator connector

    10. Send Email connector

  4. From the Boundary Events drop-down menu, select the Boundary Message Event option.

    The Boundary Message Event object displays on the top of its associating object/connector.

Settings

The Boundary Message Event object has the following panels that contain settings:

Configuration Panel Settings

The Boundary Message Event object has the following settings in the Properties panel:

Edit the Object Name

An object name is a human-readable reference for a Process object. Process Modeler automatically assigns the name of a Process object with its object type. However, an object's name can be changed.

Follow these steps to edit the name for a Boundary Message Event object:

  1. Select the Boundary Message Event object from the Process model in which to edit its name.

  2. Ensure that the Configuration panel displays. If not, show it. The Name setting displays. This is a required setting.

  3. In the Name setting, edit the selected object's name and then press Enter.

Indicate to Interrupt the Best-Case Scenario Workflow

Indicate whether the Boundary Message Event object interrupts the best-case scenario workflow:

  • Interrupting workflow: When workflow routes through the Boundary Message Event object, workflow is interrupted and does not route through the best-case scenario. As highlighted in the example below, workflow routes through the Boundary Message Event object if that object receives a message from the child Request.

  • Non-interrupting workflow: Workflow routes both through the Boundary Message Event object and the best-case scenario, thereby creating parallel workflow in that Request. As highlighted in the example below, workflow routes through the Boundary Message Event object if that object receives a message from the child Request; however, after the child Request completes and workflow resumes in the parent Request, the Sub Process object completes and routes through the best-case scenario.

Follow these steps to indicate if this Boundary Message Event object interrupts the best-case scenario workflow when it triggers:

  1. Select the Boundary Message Event object from the Process model in which to indicate if it interrupts the best-case scenario workflow.

  2. Ensure that the Configuration panel displays. If not, show it. Panels to configure this object display.

  3. Expand the Configuration panel if it is not presently expanded, and then locate the Interrupting setting.

  4. From the Interrupting checkbox, indicate whether this Boundary Message Event object interrupts the best-case scenario workflow when it triggers. When the Interrupting checkbox is selected, which is the default setting, this object interrupts the best-case scenario workflow.

Documentation Panel Settings

Describe the object'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 object 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.

Edit the Object's Description Displayed in Process Documentation

Follow these steps to edit the description for an object:

  1. Select the object from the Process model in which to edit its description.

  2. Ensure that the Configuration panel displays. If not, show it. Panels to configure this object display.

  3. Expand the Documentation panel if it is not presently expanded. The Description setting displays.

  4. In the Description setting, edit the information to display when viewing documentation for this object 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 theicon to undo the last action.

    • Redo changes: Click on theicon to redo the last undone action.

    • Insert/Edit Link: Click on theicon to convert the selected text into a hyperlink. Follow these steps to create a hyperlink:

      1. Select the required text from the Rich Text control.

      2. Click on theicon. The Insert/Edit Link screen displays.

      3. In the URL setting, enter the destination URL.

      4. In the Text to display setting, edit or enter the text displayed in the Rich Text control.

      5. In the Title setting, enter the text to display when a user hovers over the displayed text.

      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 iconto insert an image. Follow these guidelines:

      1. Click on the Insert/Edit Image icon.

      2. The Insert/Edit Image screen displays:

      3. In the Source setting, enter a URL for the image.

      4. In the Alternative Description setting, enter the text to display if the source URL of the image is not accessible.

      5. In the Width setting, enter the maximum width for the image.

      6. In the Height setting, enter the maximum height for the image.

      7. Toggle the Constrain Proportions iconto maintain the width-height ratio of the image to its original proportion.

      8. Click Save.

    • Insert Page Break for PDF: Click on the Insert Page Break for PDF iconto 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 theicon.

        • From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Inline and then Bold.

      • Italics: Do one of the following:

        • From the editor toolbar, select theicon.

        • 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 theicon. 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 theicon to select a custom color from the Color Picker.

          • Click theicon 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 theicon 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 theicon 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 theicon 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 theicon to justify text.

          • From the Paragraph/Formats menu, select Align and then Justify.

      • Insert a bullet list: Use theicon to format text as a bulleted list.

      • Insert a numbered list:  Use theicon to format text as a numbered list.

      • Indent text: Click on theicon to increase text indenting.

      • Outdent text: Click on theicon 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 Boundary Message Event object:

  1. Select the Boundary Message Event object from the Process model in which to edit its identifier value.

  2. Ensure that the Configuration panel displays. If not, show it. Panels to configure this object display.

  3. Expand the Advanced panel if it is not presently expanded. The Node Identifier setting displays. This is a required setting.

  4. In the Node Identifier setting, edit the Boundary Message Event object's identifier to a unique value from all nodes in the Process model and then press Enter.