Flowstate Walkthrough
We have created this short series of videos to help you to understand, and get the most out of Flowstate.
You can return to this walkthrough at any time from the help menu.
Getting started with Flowstate
Transcript: Once you have logged into Flowstate, you are taken to your Dashboard. This displays as a table any models you have previously created with Flowstate. Each column can be filtered and/or sorted, and there is a search bar for quickly finding models. To create a new model, simply select the “New” button
The Flowstate Designer Workbench
Transcript: All process design takes place in the Designer Workbench. This can roughly be divided into three main sections. On the left is the Lifecycle Designer panel. This is the main interface where you define your process.
In the centre is the Infinite Canvas, where Flowstate automatically draws the process model in real time, as it’s being defined in the lifecycle designer.
On the right is the Properties Panel, where the user can enrich their process with metadata at every stage, can apply display options for the process design in the infinite canvas, and can specify and publish the process design and related documentation.
Specific commands for working in the designer workbench can be found in the help menu from the designer workbench.
Creating a basic process in Flowstate
Flowstate working using the concept of “Object-Centric” design, which may be quite different to how you have created processes in the past.
Traditionally, you would list all tasks you want people or machines to perform in a process, then sequence them in a workflow diagram such as BPMN.
In object-centric design, you define the objects being processed, like applications and claims. We call these Entities, and during the life of a process they may assume various States such as RECEIVED, REVIEWED or APPROVED.
Based on this information Flowstate auto-generates a correct and compliant business process model. No drawing required.
Define your Process Entities
Transcript: A process Entity can be considered as a logical grouping of data within a process. They are the key "things" created, changed and produced by a process, and are usually described using nouns, or noun phrases.
Examples include things like: an application form, database records or an insurance claim.
Enter these in the Lifecycle Designer. Entities can be added, deleted, renamed or moved at any time.
Define Entity States for each Process Entity
Transcript: Each Entity will have a finite number of States that describe their condition or status.
List these in the Lifecycle Designer for each Entity. Entity States can be added, deleted, renamed and moved at any time.
Flowstate lists each entity state in two columns. The left column is considered the current state, and the right column the next state of the entity, so state transitions flow from left to right.
Define allowable State Transitions
Transcript: The next step is to specify all the allowable Transitions between current and next entity states. We do this by dragging a state from the left column to a state in the right column. Flowstate will automatically link the states with a transition line.
Flowstate supports one to one, many to one, or one to many transition patterns. Note that states can also transition between entities. Transitions can be deleted at any time as needed.
As these transitions are being defined, Flowstate automatically generates the process model on the infinite canvas, complete with tasks and gateways as needed.
Specify Gateways
Transcript: The automatically created Gateways in the process model can be specified as "Exclusive-OR", or "Parallel-AND" gates.
You can change these by selecting them on the canvas, and using the properties panel dropdown to specify their type.
Enriching your Process Data
Transcript: Flowstate allows you to add documentary information as Metadata to any process component via the properties panel. Select a component in the Lifecycle Designer or in the Canvas to add metadata to this component.
You can enrich your data for any of the following components within a process:
Process Model, Process Entities, Entity States, State Transitions, Process gateways, and Process Tasks.
The more information you enrich your process with, the better, as this information is captured and used to create detailed process documentation.
Display your Process Diagram
Transcript: Flowstate allows you to change how your process diagrams are Displayed at any time, by using the Properties Panel, Publish tab. You can experiment with different types of Diagram display, line choices, horizontal and vertical spacing and other display settings from there.
Publish your Process Diagrams & Documentation
Transcript: Once you have completed creating and enriching your process model to your satisfaction, you are ready to Publish the process diagram and the associated documentation. You do this from the Properties Panel, Publish Tab.
Flowstate allows you to select the diagram output in several different graphics formats to suit your needs.
The process documentation is a comprehensive record of your process diagram and data within it, to be used as an enduring corporate asset.
You can get help at any time by using our help menu from the designer workbench. If you have a question or issue that isn’t answered by this, feel free to contact us anytime.
You can also access this getting started guide from the help menu.