Event sub-process element

Level: beginner

Use the Event sub-process element (Fig. 1) when you need to perform a sequence of tasks whenever a specific event occurs. Event sub-processes can be performed several times during business process execution and can be used for implementing cyclic or repeated activities.

Fig. 1 Event sub-process element with a Message start event and a process task placed inside it

For example, during a sale process, a customer can modify the list of ordered products at any stage of the negotiations, any number of times. In this case, your sales process can include an event sub-process for updating the list of ordered products.

In Creatio, an event sub-process is not a typical process element. Please take the following into account when creating event sub-processes:

• Unlike regular business process elements, the event sub-process is displayed as a separate diagram area. It is not supposed to connect with the rest of the diagram via flows.
• Any regular elements placed on the event sub-process (e.g., activities, gateways, events and sequence flows) are considered elements of that sub-process and will be executed only if the event sub-process is triggered.
• In Creatio, the event sub-process must always start with a Message start event. The diagram of the event sub-process will be executed once for each execution of the corresponding Throw message event in a process instance.
• The Terminate end event in an event sub-process flow will terminate the entire process. Normally, event sub-processes do not have the Terminate event, unless the function of the event sub-process includes terminating the entire process (e.g., the event sub-process handles the cancellation of a sale, etc.).

Event sub-process operation

Activation

The Event sub-process element executes each time the Message start event is triggered by the corresponding Throw message event (Fig. 2). Same event sub-process can be activated several times in a single process instance.

Execution

When the corresponding message is thrown by the process Throw message event, the Message start event activates its outgoing flow and enables the execution of the other actions in the event sub-process flow. The event sub-process actions are executed as regular elements of the current business process and do not interrupt its execution. Pending user actions of both the event sub-process and the regular process can be performed in any order by the users. Unlike regular Sub-processes, event sub-processes do not create a separate process instance in the Process Log section. The event sub-process tasks are displayed in the Process elements detail of the process log as regular business process tasks, in the order of their execution.

Fig. 2 Execution diagram of a business process using the Event sub-process element, which was triggered twice during the instance shown

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See also

Use sub-processes

Sub-process element