BPMN Studio

BPMN Studio - User Guide

Welcome to the ORAND BPMN Studio v5.0 - Complete Offline Edition. This fully self-contained tool includes a custom-built Token Simulation engine, breadcrumb navigation for nested processes, and multi-level PDF export capabilities. No internet connection required!

🚀 Getting Started

  • Palette: Located on the left. Contains Tasks, Gateways, Events, and Sub-processes.
  • Context Pad: Click any element on the canvas to see context options (append, delete, etc.).
  • Properties Panel: Located on the right. Click elements to view and edit their properties including name, documentation, and border color.
  • Breadcrumb Navigation: When drilling into sub-processes, a breadcrumb appears at top-left showing your location (e.g., 📍 Main Process › Sub-Process). Click any parent to navigate back.
  • Drag & Drop: You can drag .bpmn or .xml files directly onto the canvas to open them.

💾 File Operations

  • New Diagram: Creates a blank diagram with a single Start Event
  • Open File: Load a .bpmn or .xml file from your computer
  • Export XML: Save your diagram as BPMN 2.0 XML (standard format)
  • Export SVG: Save as vector graphic for documentation
  • Export PDF: Generate professional PDF with comprehensive documentation
    • From Main Process: Exports single-level diagram with full documentation
    • From Sub-Process: Exports multi-level PDF showing:
      • Page 1: Main process overview diagram
      • Page 2: Sub-process detailed diagram
      • Page 3+: Documentation for both levels with section headers
    • Elements documented in logical flow order for easy reading

🎯 Simulation Mode

Verify your process logic without external tools.

  • Activate: Click the "Start Simulation" button in the header. The palette will be disabled.
  • Trigger: Click any Start Event (green circle) to spawn a token.
  • Behavior: Tokens flow automatically along arrows. At Exclusive Gateways (X), a random path is currently chosen. At Parallel Gateways (+), tokens split and join.
  • Stop: Click "Stop Simulation" to return to editing mode.

Simulation Features

  • ✅ Token visualization with animated overlays
  • ✅ Flow highlighting during animation
  • ✅ Parallel Gateway split (1 → N tokens)
  • ✅ Parallel Gateway join (N → 1 token with synchronization)
  • ✅ Exclusive Gateway (XOR) with random path selection
  • ✅ Toast notifications for simulation events

🎨 Properties Panel

The Properties Panel on the right side allows you to customize elements:

  • Basic Properties: Available for all elements including sequence flows
    • View element type and ID
    • Edit element name
    • Add documentation notes
    • Set border color (visual categorization)
  • Gateway Properties: View direction (diverging/converging/mixed) and default flow settings
  • Color Coding: Use border colors to categorize elements:
    • Red - Critical tasks or error paths
    • Green - Success paths or completed items
    • Orange - Warning or review needed
    • Blue - Standard process flow

⚡ Keyboard Shortcuts

Selection

  • Click - Select element
  • Ctrl+A - Select all
  • Esc - Deselect

Editing

  • Del - Delete element
  • Ctrl+Z - Undo
  • Ctrl+Y - Redo

Canvas

  • Mouse wheel - Zoom
  • Space+Drag - Pan canvas
  • Ctrl+0 - Reset zoom

🔒 Security & Privacy

Status: ✅ Fully Secure & Offline
Data Storage: In-Memory (RAM) only
Network: ZERO external connections required
Processing: 100% Client-Side
Privacy: No data leaves your browser
Libraries: All included locally (no CDN)
Content Security Policy: Strict - blocks all external sources

Complete Privacy: Your BPMN diagrams are processed entirely in your browser with zero network activity. All libraries are loaded locally. No data is sent anywhere. No tracking. No analytics. Works completely offline even without internet connection.

📚 BPMN 2.0 Elements Supported

  • Events: Start, End, Intermediate (Message, Timer, etc.)
  • Tasks: Task, Service Task, User Task, Manual Task, Script Task
  • Gateways: Exclusive (XOR), Parallel (AND), Inclusive (OR), Event-Based
  • Containers: Sub-Process, Call Activity, Event Sub-Process
  • Data: Data Objects, Data Stores
  • Artifacts: Text Annotations, Groups
  • Swimlanes: Pools and Lanes

💡 Tips for Better Diagrams

  • Use meaningful names for all elements
  • Add documentation to complex elements using the Properties Panel
  • Use color coding for visual categorization (red for critical, green for success)
  • Use gateways to show decision points clearly
  • Group related tasks in sub-processes for better organization
  • Use breadcrumb navigation to drill into and explore sub-processes
  • Use swimlanes (pools/lanes) to show roles and responsibilities
  • Test your process flow with the simulation mode
  • Export multi-level PDFs when documenting complex nested processes
  • Work offline - no internet needed, ensuring complete data privacy

🏢 About ORAND BPMN Studio

- Complete Offline Edition -

This tool is part of the ORAND Micro-Tools suite - privacy-first, single-purpose applications that run entirely in your browser with zero external dependencies. All libraries are included locally for complete offline operation.

ORAND Advisors specializes in business consulting and process improvement for manufacturing and service organizations. Our tools prioritize privacy, security, and offline capability.

Key Features:

  • ✅ 100% Offline - No internet required
  • ✅ Breadcrumb Navigation - Navigate nested processes
  • ✅ Multi-Level PDF Export - Complete documentation
  • ✅ Token Simulation - Test process logic
  • ✅ Properties Panel - Full customization
  • ✅ Privacy-First - Zero data collection

📄 License & Copyright

Copyright © 2026 ORAND Advisors. All rights reserved.

This tool uses BPMN.js (bpmn.io) which is licensed under the bpmn.io license.