illustration of bpmn loop types

© 2014 Max Tay, MaxConsilium Pty Ltd

Illustration of BPMN Loop TypesStandard Loop

Multi Instance – Parallel

Multi Instance – SequentialMax Tay, OCEB® Business Advanced, CBPP®


BPMN LoopsLoop is a characteristics,

LoopCharacteristics, that can be applied to any activity.

There are three types of loop in BPMN:◦ Standard loop◦ Multi instance parallel◦ Multi instance sequential


Attributes of Standard LoopAttribute Description

loopCondition: boolean A flag to control the loop where the activity will loop as long as the flag is true.

testBefore: boolean A flag to control whether the loop condition is evaluated at the beginning or at the end of the iteration.

loopMaximum: number(optional)

A numeric cap can be optionally specified.


Standard Loop

Call subprocess

Sub process

Do task

testBefore: false


Standard Loop

Call subprocess

Sub process

Do task

Iteration #1

testBefore: false


Standard Loop

Call subprocess

Sub process

Do task

Loop conditionis true

Iteration #1

testBefore: false


Standard Loop

Call subprocess

Sub process

Do task

Iteration #2

testBefore: false


Standard Loop

Call subprocess

Sub process

Do task

Iteration #2

testBefore: false

Loop conditionis true


Standard Loop

Call subprocess

Sub process

Do task

Iteration #3

testBefore: false


Standard Loop

Call subprocess

Sub process

Do task

Iteration #3

testBefore: false

Loop conditionis false


Attributes of Multi InstanceAttribute Description

isSequential: boolean A flag to control sequential or in parallel instances.

loopCardinality: number

This controls the number of instances that will be created.

loopDataInputRef:data input

Specifies the collection of data, which will be used by the multi instances. Also controls the number of instances that will be created – one instance per item.

loopDataOutputRef:data output

Specifies the collection of data, which will be produced by the multi instances.

inputDataItem: data input

Represents data for each instance of the collection stored in the loopDataInput. Number of item depends on number of instance.

outputDataItem: data output

Represent sdata for each instance of the collection stored in the loopDataOutput. Number of item depends on number of instance.

Note: This is not a complete list of all the attributes for multi instance.


Attributes of Multi Instance (cont’)Attribute Description

behavior: none / one / all / complex

Specifies when events is thrown from an instance that is about to complete.• None – the event defined in the

noneBehaviorEventRef will be thrown for each instance completed.

• One – the event defined in the oneBehaviorEventRef will be thrown upon the first instance completed.

• All – no event is thrown, a token is produced after completion of all instances.

• Complex – the complexBehaviorDefinition is checked to determine if and which events to throw.

noneBehaviorEventRef:event

The event that is thrown when the behavior is set to None and an instance has completed.

oneBehaviorEventRef:event

The event that is thrown when the behavior is set to One and an instance has completed.

complexBehaviorDefinition: Controls when and which events are thrown where behavior is set to Complex.

completionCondition: expression

Defines a boolean expression that when evaluated to true, cancels the remaining instances and produces a token.



Call subprocess

Subprocess

Do task

isSequential: falseloopCardinality: 4behavior: all



Call subprocess

Subprocess


Do task

Do task

Do task

Do task



Call subprocess

Subprocess


Do task

Do task

Do task

Do task

Waiting for all instances to complete



Call subprocess

Subprocess


Do task

Do task

Do task

Do task

All instances completed


Multi Instance – Sequential

Call subprocess

Subprocess

Do task

isSequential: trueloopCardinality: 4behavior: all



Call subprocess

Subprocess


Do task

Do task

Do task

Do task



Call subprocess

Subprocess


Do task

Do task

Do task

Do task

Waiting for all instances to complete



Call subprocess

Subprocess


Do task

Do task

Do task

Do task



Call subprocess

Subprocess


Do task

Do task

Do task

Do task

All instances completed


End

illustration of bpmn loop types

Technology

maxconsilium pty ltditeration

maxconsilium pty ltdbehavior

falseloopconditionis

number of instances

number of item

collection of data

parallel instances

loop condition