A BPMN diagram can display subprocesses with different symbol properties. They are as follows:

• An expanded SubProcess can contain inner shapes.
• A collapsed SubProcess cannot display inner shapes. A plus sign (+) marker will be displayed for a collapsed subprocess.

If the Is Triggered By Event property of a SubProcess is set to true, it will call an Event SubProcess and will be drawn with a dashed border.

There are two specific types of SubProcesses:

• Transaction SubProcess. It is represented with double borders.
• AdHoc SubProcess. It is represented with an AdHoc marker on its shape.

To create a SubProcess

1. Open a BPMN Process diagram.
2. On the diagram pallet, click the arrow next to the SubProcess and select the needed type of SubProcess.

To expand a SubProcess, do one of the following

• Right-click a SubProcess shape and from the shortcut menu select Symbol(s) Properties. Then, in the Symbol Properties dialog, click to clear the Suppress Content.
• Right-click a SubProcess shape and in the shortcut menu click to clear Suppress Content.

To collapse SubProcess, do one of the following

• Right-click a SubProcess shape and then on the shortcut menu click to select Suppress Content.
• Right-click a SubProcess shape and from the shortcut menu select Symbol(s) Properties. Then in the Symbol Properties dialog click to select the Suppress Content.

To mark a created SubProcess as an event SubProcess, do one of the following

• Right-click the SubProcess and on the shortcut menu click to select Triggered By Event.
• Open the SubProcess Specification window. Select the Triggered By Event check box.

To convert a SubProcess to a Transaction SubProcess or AdHoc SubProcess

• Right-click the SubProcess and from the shortcut menu select Refactor > Convert To > More Specific > AdHoc SubProcess or Transaction SubProcess.

To convert a Transaction SubProcess or AdHoc SubProcess to a SubProcess

• Right-click the Ad Hoc SubProcess or Transaction SubProcess and from shortcut menu select Refactor > Convert To > More General> SubProcess.

To display a Start Event icon on a Event SubProcess

1. Create an expanded Event SubProcess.
2. Create a Start Event to the Event SubProcess.
3. Right-click the SubProcess and click to select the Suppress Content check box.

Related element

• SubProcesses

Related Diagrams

• BPMN Process Diagram
• BPMN Collaboration Diagram

Related procedures

• Creating a Diagram
• Creating and Using Tasks
• Using Activities
• Creating and Using an Event
• Creating and Using a Sequence Flow
• Creating and Using Data Items
• Navigation Between BPMN Diagrams