Business Process Diagram Family

Business process family: tasks, gateways, events, pools and lanes

Overview
Node Types
Connection Points
Connection Conventions
Usage Example

Overview

Base Control: BusinessControl : MaterialControl
Namespace: Beep.Skia.Business

The BusinessControl is the root control for this diagram family. It inherits MaterialControl and provides shared port management, styling, and template methods for all nodes in the family.

This family contains 23 node types.

Node Types

Node Class	Shape	Description
`StartEvent`	Circle (thin)	Process start trigger.
`EndEvent`	Circle (thick)	Process end/termination.
`TaskNode`	Rounded rectangle	Generic task/activity.
`BusinessTask`	Rounded rectangle + icon	Business task with role assignment.
`ActionNode`	Rounded rectangle	Manual/user action step.
`Decision`	Diamond	Exclusive gateway (XOR) decision point.
`Gateway`	Diamond with icon	Generic gateway (AND/OR/XOR).
`SubProcess`	Rounded rectangle + expand icon	Expandable sub-process with child diagram.
`EventNode`	Circle (intermediate)	Intermediate event (timer, message, error, signal).
`Annotation`	Open bracket with text	Text annotation for any element.
`Database`	Cylinder	Database data store.
`DataStore`	Open-ended rectangle	Data repository (XML, file, document store).
`DataObject`	Document with folded corner	Data object passed between activities.
`Document`	Document icon	Document/report artifact.
`ExternalData`	Cloud/database	External data source connection.
`Department`	Swimlane	Organizational department/unit swimlane.
`Person`	Person icon	Individual actor/role.
`Role`	Tag/label	Role definition for task assignment.
`Group`	Border/container	Group of related activities.
`BusinessSystem`	Server/system box	IT system/service performing automated tasks.
`RuleEngine`	Hexagon/gear	Business rules engine node.
`RuleFlow`	Arrow with condition	Conditional flow governed by business rules.
`ConditionBuilder`	Expression builder	Visual condition/expression builder.

StartEvent

Process start trigger.

Shape	Circle (thin)
Input Ports	0
Output Ports	1

EndEvent

Process end/termination.

Shape	Circle (thick)
Input Ports	1+
Output Ports	0

TaskNode

Generic task/activity.

Shape	Rounded rectangle
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

BusinessTask

Business task with role assignment.

Shape	Rounded rectangle + icon
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

ActionNode

Manual/user action step.

Shape	Rounded rectangle
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

Decision

Exclusive gateway (XOR) decision point.

Shape	Diamond
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	2+

Gateway

Generic gateway (AND/OR/XOR).

Shape	Diamond with icon
Input Ports	1+
Output Ports	1+

SubProcess

Expandable sub-process with child diagram.

Shape	Rounded rectangle + expand icon
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

EventNode

Intermediate event (timer, message, error, signal).

Shape	Circle (intermediate)
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

Annotation

Text annotation for any element.

Shape	Open bracket with text
Input Ports	0
Output Ports	0

Database

Database data store.

Shape	Cylinder
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

DataStore

Data repository (XML, file, document store).

Shape	Open-ended rectangle
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

DataObject

Data object passed between activities.

Shape	Document with folded corner
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

Document

Document/report artifact.

Shape	Document icon
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

ExternalData

External data source connection.

Shape	Cloud/database
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

Department

Organizational department/unit swimlane.

Shape	Swimlane
Input Ports	0
Output Ports	0

Person

Individual actor/role.

Shape	Person icon
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

Role

Role definition for task assignment.

Shape	Tag/label
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

Group

Group of related activities.

Shape	Border/container
Input Ports	0
Output Ports	0

BusinessSystem

IT system/service performing automated tasks.

Shape	Server/system box
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

RuleEngine

Business rules engine node.

Shape	Hexagon/gear
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

RuleFlow

Conditional flow governed by business rules.

Shape	Arrow with condition
Input Ports	0
Output Ports	0

ConditionBuilder

Visual condition/expression builder.

Shape	Expression builder
Input Ports	1
Output Ports	1

Connection Points

Every node in this family exposes connection points (ports) for linking to other nodes. Port positions are computed lazily by LayoutPorts(), which runs when MarkPortsDirty() flags the layout as stale after a move or resize.

Node Class	Input Ports	Output Ports	Extra
`StartEvent`	0	1	—
`EndEvent`	1+	0	—
`TaskNode`	1	1	—
`BusinessTask`	1	1	—
`ActionNode`	1	1	—
`Decision`	1	2+	—
`Gateway`	1+	1+	—
`SubProcess`	1	1	—
`EventNode`	1	1	—
`Annotation`	0	0	—
`Database`	1	1	—
`DataStore`	1	1	—
`DataObject`	1	1	—
`Document`	1	1	—
`ExternalData`	1	1	—
`Department`	0	0	—
`Person`	1	1	—
`Role`	1	1	—
`Group`	0	0	—
`BusinessSystem`	1	1	—
`RuleEngine`	1	1	—
`RuleFlow`	0	0	—
`ConditionBuilder`	1	1	—

Connection Conventions

When building diagrams with this family, follow these conventions:

Start events have no inputs; end events have no outputs
Gateways route flow based on conditions
Swimlanes (Department) partition the diagram horizontally
Data objects connect to activities via dashed association lines

Usage Example

Complete example showing creation, node placement, and connection:

C# Example

var biz = new BusinessControl
{
    X = 50, Y = 50,
    Width = 700, Height = 500
};
drawingManager.AddComponent(biz);

var start = new StartEvent { X = 80, Y = 200, EventName = "Order Received" };
var task = new BusinessTask { X = 220, Y = 200, TaskName = "Validate Order" };
var decision = new Decision { X = 380, Y = 200, DecisionName = "Valid?" };
var sys = new BusinessSystem { X = 200, Y = 350, SystemName = "ERP" };
var end = new EndEvent { X = 550, Y = 200, EventName = "Order Processed" };

drawingManager.AddComponent(start);
drawingManager.AddComponent(task);
drawingManager.AddComponent(decision);
drawingManager.AddComponent(sys);
drawingManager.AddComponent(end);

drawingManager.ConnectComponents(start.OutPoints[0], task.InPoints[0]);
drawingManager.ConnectComponents(task.OutPoints[0], decision.InPoints[0]);
drawingManager.ConnectComponents(decision.OutPoints[1], sys.InPoints[0]);

BPMN Import and Export

The family round-trips BPMN 2.0 XML so diagrams can be exchanged with process-modeling tools:

Member	Type	Description
`BpmnExporter.Export(components, lines, processName)`	`string`	Serializes the diagram to BPMN XML.
`BpmnImporter.Parse(xml)`	`BpmnImportResult`	Parses XML without touching the canvas.
`BpmnImporter.LoadInto(manager, xml)`	`BpmnImportResult`	Parses and materializes the process on a canvas.
`BpmnImportResult.ProcessName`	`string`	Name of the imported process.
`BpmnImportResult.Components` / `Flows`	lists	Created nodes and sequence flows.
`BpmnImportResult.Warnings`	`List<string>`	Non-fatal issues encountered while parsing.

// Export the current diagram
var exporter = new BpmnExporter();
string xml = exporter.Export(drawingManager.GetComponents(), drawingManager.GetLines(), "Order Process");
File.WriteAllText("process.bpmn", xml);

// Import into a fresh canvas
var importer = new BpmnImporter();
var result = importer.LoadInto(drawingManager, File.ReadAllText("process.bpmn"));
foreach (var warning in result.Warnings)
    Console.WriteLine($"warning: {warning}");

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