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

Add a Signal Start Event element from one of the following locations in Process Modeler:

• Explorer panel: The Explorer panel is to the left of the Process Modeler canvas. The Explorer panel contains Process model objects and PM Blocks which may be added to the Process model.

• Objects bar: The Objects bar is at the bottom of the Process Modeler canvas. This bar contains pinned Process model objects which are easily accessible to add to the Process model.

Permissions are required to do this.

Add from the Explorer panel

Follow these steps to add a Signal Start Event element from the Explorer panel to the Process model:

1. Ensure that the Explorer panel is visible. If not, click the Add icon from the Objects bar to display the Explorer panel.
2. Locate the Start Event object category from one of the following locations in the Explorer panel:

   • Pinned Objects: The Start Event object category displays from the Pinned Objects section when it is pinned. This element type is pinned by default.

   • Object Category: The Start Event object category displays from the Object Category section when it is not pinned.

3. Click the Start Event object category.

   Its icon displays adjacent to the mouse icon to indicate this element type may be placed into the Process model.

4. Click the location in the Process model to place this element. If a Pool element is in your Process model, the Start Timer Event element cannot be placed outside of the Pool element.

5. Click the Elements drop-down menu, and then select the Signal Start Event option.

   The Signal Start Event element displays.

Add from the Objects bar

Follow these steps to add a Signal Start Event element from the Objects bar to the Process model:

1. Ensure that the Start Event object category is pinned to the Objects bar. If not, pin it.
2. Click the Start Event object category's icon, and then click the Signal Start Event element. This element's icon's displays adjacent to the mouse icon to indicate this element type may be placed into the Process model.

3. Click the location in the Process model to place this element. If a Pool element is in your Process model, the Signal Start Event element cannot be placed outside of the Pool element.

After the element is placed into the Process model, you may adjust its location in the following ways:

• Move the element by dragging it to a new location.

• Select the element with other elements and/or connectors, and then move them collectively by dragging them to new locations in relation to one another.

• Align and/or distribute the element in relation to other selected elements and/or connectors.

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:

• Start Event element

• Start Timer Event element

• Message Start Event element

• Conditional Start Event element

The selected Signal Start Event element is replaced by the default settings and color of the replacing element.

Permissions are required to do this.

Follow these steps to replace a Signal Start Event element with a different Start-type event element:

1. Select the Signal Start Event element to change to another Start-type event element. Available options display above the selected element.

2. Click the Elements icon. The Elements drop-down menu displays the Start-type event elements.
3. Select the element to replace the Signal Start Event element. The Change Type screen displays to confirm replacing the currently selected element.
4. 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

See Change a Process Model Object's Color.

Copy a Signal Start Event Element

See Copy Elements and Connectors into the Clipboard.

Clone a Signal Start Event Element

See Clone Elements and Connectors Without the Clipboard.

Delete a Signal Start Event Element

See Delete Elements and Connectors.

Settings

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

• Configuration panel

  • Edit the element name

  • Select the Signal to trigger the element

  • Enter the Request variable to store the broadcasting Signal's payload

• Documentation panel (available when the Documentation package is installed)

  • Edit the element's description displayed in Process documentation

• Advanced panel

  • Edit the element's identifier value

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.

Permissions are required to do this.

Follow these steps to edit the name for a Signal Start Event element:

1. Select the Signal Start Event element 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 element's name and then press Enter.

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.

Permissions are required to do this.

Follow these steps to select the Signal that triggers the Signal Start Event element:

1. Select the Signal Start Event element from the Process model in which to select the Signal that triggers it.

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

3. Expand the Configuration panel if it is not presently expanded, and then locate the Signal setting.
4. 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.

5. 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.

Permissions are required to do this.

Follow these steps to enter the Request variable to store the broadcasting Signal's payload:

1. Select the Signal Start Event element from the Process model in which to enter the Request variable.

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

3. Expand the Configuration panel if it is not presently expanded, and then locate the Request Variable setting.
4. In the Request Variable setting, enter the name of the Request Variable to store the broadcasting Signal's payload and then press Enter.

5. 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. Select the element from the Process model in which to edit its description. Panels to configure this element display.

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

Permissions are required to do this.

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. Select the Signal Start Event element 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 element 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 Signal Start Event element's identifier to a unique value from all nodes in the Process model and then press Enter.

Related Topics

pageProcess Modeling Element DescriptionspageView Active and Inactive ProcessespageCreate a New ProcesspageWhat is a Request?