BPMN 2.0 Export - Model interchange between tools

[Adrian.Tinio@jpl.nasa.gov]

Hello,

We have a use case that requires exporting existing BPMN diagrams generated using Cameo Business Modeler (v17.0.5) into BPMN2.0 XML format. We then need to load these BPMN2.0 exported files to another tool (Camunda BPM Process Designer) to "prepare" the process definitions to make them executable in the Camunda BPM process engine.

I've tried simple process definition diagrams as an initial test and they seem to export out of Cameo and import into Camunda well. I then tried to do the same exercise with simple collaboration diagrams. Unfortunately, this time I was not successful.

Should I not have expected the BPMN2 exported files from Cameo to load successfully to other BPMN2 process modeling tools? Can you comment on the "interchange-ability" of the models generated by Cameo to other tools?

Sincerely,
-Adrian Tinio

[mindaugas.genutis]

Dear Adrian,

We export to the following formats for interchange with other tools:

a) BPMN2,
b) XPDL.

You may as well try XPDL.

If another tool does not import our exported files, the mistake can be on our side or on the target tool. If you could point to a concrete case where you think our output is incorrect, we'll fix it.

Yours Sincerely,

-- Mindaugas Genutis

[Adrian.Tinio@jpl.nasa.gov]

Thank you for the response Mindaugas.

We have a constraint to stick with the BPMN 2.0 standard so XPDL is out.

Here is a snapshot showing my simple collaboration diagram example. The containment tree is expanded in case that helps.

Screen Shot 2015-03-03 at 4.24.22 PM.png

The exported BPMN2.0 file is below:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<definitions xmlns="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:ns2="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DI" xmlns:ns3="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:ns4="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" id="eee_1045467100313_135436_1" name="Data" targetNamespace="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL BPMN20.xsd">
    <collaboration name="SimpleCollaboration" isClosed="false" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979">
        <participant name="Greeter" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403028906_153566_16010">
            <participantMultiplicity minimum="0" maximum="1"/>
        </participant>
    </collaboration>
    <ns6:process xmlns:ns6="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns="" definitionalCollaborationRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979" name="SimpleCollaboration_collab_companion" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979_collab_companion">
        <ns6:laneSet id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403003110_391118_15995_Ref-1_laneSet">
            <ns6:lane name="" partitionElementRef="ns6:_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403028906_153566_16010" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403003110_391118_15995">
                <ns6:flowNodeRef>_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403049224_682612_16027</ns6:flowNodeRef>
                <ns6:flowNodeRef>_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052892_456356_16045</ns6:flowNodeRef>
                <ns6:flowNodeRef>_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403057302_245255_16066</ns6:flowNodeRef>
            </ns6:lane>
        </ns6:laneSet>
        <ns6:startEvent name="" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403049224_682612_16027">
            <ns6:outgoing>ns6:_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403062919_521575_16081</ns6:outgoing>
        </ns6:startEvent>
        <ns6:task isForCompensation="false" startQuantity="1" completionQuantity="1" name="Hello world" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052892_456356_16045">
            <ns6:incoming>ns6:_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403062919_521575_16081</ns6:incoming>
            <ns6:outgoing>ns6:_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403065626_40311_16090</ns6:outgoing>
        </ns6:task>
        <ns6:endEvent name="" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403057302_245255_16066">
            <ns6:incoming>ns6:_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403065626_40311_16090</ns6:incoming>
        </ns6:endEvent>
        <ns6:sequenceFlow sourceRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403049224_682612_16027" targetRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052892_456356_16045" name="" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403062919_521575_16081"/>
        <ns6:sequenceFlow sourceRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052892_456356_16045" targetRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403057302_245255_16066" name="" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403065626_40311_16090"/>
    </ns6:process>
    <ns3:BPMNDiagram name="SimpleCollaboration" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979_diagram_0">
        <ns3:BPMNPlane bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402998671_96518_15994">
            <ns3:BPMNShape bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403003110_391118_15995" isHorizontal="true" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403003117_672529_16000">
                <ns4:Bounds x="140.0" y="154.0" width="422.0" height="200.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNShape>
            <ns3:BPMNShape bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403049224_682612_16027" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403049243_423024_16030">
                <ns4:Bounds x="196.0" y="242.0" width="25.0" height="25.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNShape>
            <ns3:BPMNShape bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052892_456356_16045" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052909_305415_16054">
                <ns4:Bounds x="266.0" y="229.0" width="120.0" height="50.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNShape>
            <ns3:BPMNShape bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403057302_245255_16066" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403057332_858895_16069">
                <ns4:Bounds x="434.0" y="242.0" width="25.0" height="25.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNShape>
            <ns3:BPMNEdge bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403062919_521575_16081" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403062120_701208_16080">
                <ns2:waypoint x="221.0" y="254.0"/>
                <ns2:waypoint x="266.0" y="254.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNEdge>
            <ns3:BPMNEdge bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403065626_40311_16090" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403064798_407856_16089">
                <ns2:waypoint x="386.0" y="254.0"/>
                <ns2:waypoint x="434.0" y="254.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNEdge>
        </ns3:BPMNPlane>
    </ns3:BPMNDiagram>
</definitions>



And here is the BPMN2 from the Camunda modeler. Another tool, Yaoqiang BPM editor, produces a similar BPMN2 as well. In fact, this Camunda generated BPMN2 file loads fine on Yaoqiang and vice-versa.

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<bpmn2:definitions xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:bpmn2="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:bpmndi="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:dc="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:di="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DI" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL BPMN20.xsd" id="_hvkegLu3EeSF-_kqMayTlA" exporter="camunda modeler" exporterVersion="2.7.0" targetNamespace="http://activiti.org/bpmn">
  <bpmn2:collaboration id="_Collaboration_15">
    <bpmn2:participant id="_Participant_15" name="Greeter" processRef="Process_1"/>
  </bpmn2:collaboration>
  <bpmn2:process id="Process_1" isExecutable="false">
    <bpmn2:laneSet id="LaneSet_1" name="Lane Set 1">
      <bpmn2:lane id="Lane_1" name="">
        <bpmn2:flowNodeRef>StartEvent_1</bpmn2:flowNodeRef>
        <bpmn2:flowNodeRef>Task_1</bpmn2:flowNodeRef>
        <bpmn2:flowNodeRef>EndEvent_1</bpmn2:flowNodeRef>
      </bpmn2:lane>
    </bpmn2:laneSet>
    <bpmn2:startEvent id="StartEvent_1">
      <bpmn2:outgoing>SequenceFlow_1</bpmn2:outgoing>
    </bpmn2:startEvent>
    <bpmn2:task id="Task_1" name="Hello World">
      <bpmn2:incoming>SequenceFlow_1</bpmn2:incoming>
      <bpmn2:outgoing>SequenceFlow_2</bpmn2:outgoing>
    </bpmn2:task>
    <bpmn2:endEvent id="EndEvent_1">
      <bpmn2:incoming>SequenceFlow_2</bpmn2:incoming>
    </bpmn2:endEvent>
    <bpmn2:sequenceFlow id="SequenceFlow_1" name="" sourceRef="StartEvent_1" targetRef="Task_1"/>
    <bpmn2:sequenceFlow id="SequenceFlow_2" name="" sourceRef="Task_1" targetRef="EndEvent_1"/>
  </bpmn2:process>
  <bpmndi:BPMNDiagram id="BPMNDiagram_1">
    <bpmndi:BPMNPlane id="BPMNPlane_1" bpmnElement="_Collaboration_15">
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="_BPMNShape_Participant_18" bpmnElement="_Participant_15" isHorizontal="true">
        <dc:Bounds height="215.0" width="540.0" x="249.0" y="274.0"/>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="_BPMNShape_StartEvent_11" bpmnElement="StartEvent_1">
        <dc:Bounds height="36.0" width="36.0" x="303.0" y="364.0"/>
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <dc:Bounds height="0.0" width="0.0" x="321.0" y="405.0"/>
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="_BPMNShape_EndEvent_12" bpmnElement="EndEvent_1">
        <dc:Bounds height="36.0" width="36.0" x="635.0" y="362.0"/>
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <dc:Bounds height="0.0" width="0.0" x="653.0" y="403.0"/>
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="_BPMNShape_Task_14" bpmnElement="Task_1">
        <dc:Bounds height="80.0" width="100.0" x="422.0" y="338.0"/>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="BPMNEdge_SequenceFlow_1" bpmnElement="SequenceFlow_1" sourceElement="_BPMNShape_StartEvent_11" targetElement="_BPMNShape_Task_14">
        <di:waypoint xsi:type="dc:Point" x="339.0" y="382.0"/>
        <di:waypoint xsi:type="dc:Point" x="380.0" y="382.0"/>
        <di:waypoint xsi:type="dc:Point" x="380.0" y="378.0"/>
        <di:waypoint xsi:type="dc:Point" x="422.0" y="378.0"/>
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <dc:Bounds height="6.0" width="6.0" x="377.0" y="380.0"/>
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="BPMNEdge_SequenceFlow_2" bpmnElement="SequenceFlow_2" sourceElement="_BPMNShape_Task_14" targetElement="_BPMNShape_EndEvent_12">
        <di:waypoint xsi:type="dc:Point" x="522.0" y="378.0"/>
        <di:waypoint xsi:type="dc:Point" x="578.0" y="378.0"/>
        <di:waypoint xsi:type="dc:Point" x="578.0" y="380.0"/>
        <di:waypoint xsi:type="dc:Point" x="635.0" y="380.0"/>
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <dc:Bounds height="6.0" width="6.0" x="575.0" y="380.0"/>
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="_BPMNShape_Lane_16" bpmnElement="Lane_1" isHorizontal="true">
        <dc:Bounds height="215.0" width="510.0" x="279.0" y="274.0"/>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
    </bpmndi:BPMNPlane>
  </bpmndi:BPMNDiagram>
</bpmn2:definitions>


Here are the differences I noticed:
1. In the semantic model, the BPMN2 from Cameo/MagicDraw does not reference the process in the collaboration participant.
Camunda

Code: Select all

<bpmn2:participant id="_Participant_15" name="Greeter" processRef="Process_1"/>

Cameo/MagicDraw

Code: Select all

<participant name="Greeter" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403028906_153566_16010">

2. In the graphical model, the Cameo/MagicDraw seems to be missing a BPMNShape element to represent the participant/pool.
Camunda

Code: Select all

<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="_BPMNShape_Participant_18" bpmnElement="_Participant_15" isHorizontal="true">
        <dc:Bounds height="215.0" width="540.0" x="249.0" y="274.0"/>
</bpmndi:BPMNShape>


Cameo/MagicDraw

Code: Select all

Missing???

Sorry for the long post. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

[mindaugas.genutis]

Adrian,

Thank you for such a thorough explanation of the problem. I also identified the two differences. I don't have the two tools you mentioned, could you perform the following experiment:

1. Add the processRef to MagicDraw output, the participant should look like this or similar if you have another output:

Code: Select all

<participant name="Greeter" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403028906_153566_16010" processRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979_collab_companion">
    <participantMultiplicity minimum="0" maximum="1"/>
</participant>


Now see if that improved the import.

2. If #1 doesn't help, try adding the participant symbol, I modified the MagicDraw output manually, please review if the IDs are the same in your output:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<definitions xmlns="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:ns2="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DI" xmlns:ns3="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:ns4="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" id="eee_1045467100313_135436_1" name="Data" targetNamespace="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL BPMN20.xsd">
    <collaboration name="SimpleCollaboration" isClosed="false" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979">
        <participant name="Greeter" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403028906_153566_16010" processRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979_collab_companion">
            <participantMultiplicity minimum="0" maximum="1"/>
        </participant>
    </collaboration>
    <ns6:process xmlns:ns6="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns="" definitionalCollaborationRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979" name="SimpleCollaboration_collab_companion" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979_collab_companion">
        <ns6:laneSet id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403003110_391118_15995_Ref-1_laneSet">
            <ns6:lane name="" partitionElementRef="ns6:_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403028906_153566_16010" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403003110_391118_15995">
                <ns6:flowNodeRef>_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403049224_682612_16027</ns6:flowNodeRef>
                <ns6:flowNodeRef>_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052892_456356_16045</ns6:flowNodeRef>
                <ns6:flowNodeRef>_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403057302_245255_16066</ns6:flowNodeRef>
            </ns6:lane>
        </ns6:laneSet>
        <ns6:startEvent name="" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403049224_682612_16027">
            <ns6:outgoing>ns6:_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403062919_521575_16081</ns6:outgoing>
        </ns6:startEvent>
        <ns6:task isForCompensation="false" startQuantity="1" completionQuantity="1" name="Hello world" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052892_456356_16045">
            <ns6:incoming>ns6:_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403062919_521575_16081</ns6:incoming>
            <ns6:outgoing>ns6:_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403065626_40311_16090</ns6:outgoing>
        </ns6:task>
        <ns6:endEvent name="" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403057302_245255_16066">
            <ns6:incoming>ns6:_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403065626_40311_16090</ns6:incoming>
        </ns6:endEvent>
        <ns6:sequenceFlow sourceRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403049224_682612_16027" targetRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052892_456356_16045" name="" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403062919_521575_16081"/>
        <ns6:sequenceFlow sourceRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052892_456356_16045" targetRef="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403057302_245255_16066" name="" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403065626_40311_16090"/>
    </ns6:process>
    <ns3:BPMNDiagram name="SimpleCollaboration" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979_diagram_0">
        <ns3:BPMNPlane bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402973678_166075_15979" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425402998671_96518_15994">
         <ns3:BPMNShape id="_BPMNShape_Participant_18" bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403028906_153566_16010" isHorizontal="true">
            <ns4:Bounds height="215.0" width="540.0" x="249.0" y="274.0"/>
         </ns3:BPMNShape>
            <ns3:BPMNShape bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403003110_391118_15995" isHorizontal="true" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403003117_672529_16000">
                <ns4:Bounds x="140.0" y="154.0" width="422.0" height="200.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNShape>
            <ns3:BPMNShape bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403049224_682612_16027" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403049243_423024_16030">
                <ns4:Bounds x="196.0" y="242.0" width="25.0" height="25.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNShape>
            <ns3:BPMNShape bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052892_456356_16045" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403052909_305415_16054">
                <ns4:Bounds x="266.0" y="229.0" width="120.0" height="50.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNShape>
            <ns3:BPMNShape bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403057302_245255_16066" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403057332_858895_16069">
                <ns4:Bounds x="434.0" y="242.0" width="25.0" height="25.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNShape>
            <ns3:BPMNEdge bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403062919_521575_16081" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403062120_701208_16080">
                <ns2:waypoint x="221.0" y="254.0"/>
                <ns2:waypoint x="266.0" y="254.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNEdge>
            <ns3:BPMNEdge bpmnElement="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403065626_40311_16090" id="_17_0_5_1_beb02fc_1425403064798_407856_16089">
                <ns2:waypoint x="386.0" y="254.0"/>
                <ns2:waypoint x="434.0" y="254.0"/>
            </ns3:BPMNEdge>
        </ns3:BPMNPlane>
    </ns3:BPMNDiagram>
</definitions>


Let's see if the two manual fixes solve the import problem. I would have a look at BPMN2 format standard to see if they support that change.

We could fix that in our LTR (Long Term Release) 18.0 or the upcoming 18.2. Do you have plans upgrading to one of these versions? We no longer release service packs for 17.0.5.

-- Mindaugas Genutis

[Adrian.Tinio@jpl.nasa.gov]

Here are the results.


1. Adding processRef to MagicDraw output

Screen Shot 2015-03-04 at 9.58.12 PM.png

The import is still not quite right. The symbol for the pool is missing.

2. Adding the participant symbol.

Screen Shot 2015-03-04 at 9.59.32 PM.png

The import is good. The size and location of the pool needs adjusting but that is a minor thing since I see you used the size and coordinates from the other tool's export.


Yes, we do have plans for upgrading to 18.x.

As I was researching this issue, I came across OMG's BPMN Model Interchange Working Group (http://www.omgwiki.org/bpmn-miwg). Does MagicDraw participate or plan on participating on this working group?

Thank you.

[mindaugas.genutis]

Adrian,

Thank you for your help. I have registered the two problems and scheduled to fix them in 18.0 sp4. I'll have to double check with the standard and check a couple more tools to see if they treat the participant the same. I'll inform you when the problem is fixed.

-- Mindaugas Genutis

[Adrian.Tinio@jpl.nasa.gov]

Thank you Mindaugas.

I would just like to reiterate my question regarding MagicDraw/Cameo's participation in the BPMN Model Interchange Working Group (MIWG). Do you know if MagicDraw/Cameo will be participating in this working group? The reason I ask is because I am a little concerned that there may be other "issues" with the export that I have not encountered. The simple example I provided here obviously does not cover other possibilities. The MIWG has test cases and reference models that tool providers such as MagicDraw/Cameo can use to check against their implementation. It would seem that doing these comparisons against the reference models can better identify a majority of the interchange type issues, if any.

[mindaugas.genutis]

Adrian,

We weren't aware of the existence of this group. I raised this question in our team and we will include coverage of these test cases in Cameo Business Modeler roadmap. Also, we'll do our best to be part of that list too.

At the moment we support only BPMN2 export. We do not have BPMN2 import and roundtrip. How critical and important for you is to have BPMN2 import/roundtrip in your process?

-- Mindaugas Genutis

[Adrian.Tinio@jpl.nasa.gov]

That is good to hear!

Having the import and roundtrip capability is definitely something that would be beneficial. I would consider it not critical for us at this point. Although I will say that the topic has been raised by our stakeholders.

Thanks again. Looking forward to the future releases of Cameo.

[mindaugas.genutis]

Thank you Adrian for a very valuable feedback!