Use a dedicated process to catch the event initiated by external participant

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====== Use a dedicated process to catch the event initiated by external participant ======

{{tag>process collaboration}}

When an event initiated by external participant occurs (e.g. ordered goods are delivered by supplier), it isn't tied to the context (specific purchase order) yet.
It means it's impossible to process such event withing a running instance of a process (we have more than one purchase order awaiting delivery).
Therefore it should be processed by a dedicated event process (not to be confused with event subprocess).

===== ✔ How to =====

<bpmnio type="bpmn">
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<definitions xmlns="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:bpmndi="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:omgdc="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:di="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DI" id="sid-38422fae-e03e-43a3-bef4-bd33b32041b2" targetNamespace="http://bpmn.io/bpmn" exporter="http://bpmn.io" exporterVersion="0.10.1">
  <collaboration id="Collaboration_0g7t6mq">
    <participant id="Participant_144acff" name="Procure to pay" processRef="Process_1" />
    <participant id="Participant_04mf8ql" name="Goods acceptance" processRef="Process_0ath8fq" />
    <messageFlow id="Flow_06phhio" sourceRef="Event_12lad3v" targetRef="Event_1nu1su1" />
  </collaboration>
  <process id="Process_1" isExecutable="false">
    <task id="Activity_0xko542" name="...">
      <incoming>Flow_0fqr94i</incoming>
      <outgoing>Flow_1qzqmrm</outgoing>
      <dataOutputAssociation id="DataOutputAssociation_1sbeyu0">
        <targetRef>DataStoreReference_0ptgekw</targetRef>
      </dataOutputAssociation>
    </task>
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_0fqr94i" sourceRef="Event_1ng94pf" targetRef="Activity_0xko542" />
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_1qzqmrm" sourceRef="Activity_0xko542" targetRef="Event_1nu1su1" />
    <intermediateCatchEvent id="Event_1nu1su1" name="Goods accepted">
      <incoming>Flow_1qzqmrm</incoming>
      <outgoing>Flow_0mvecfq</outgoing>
      <messageEventDefinition id="MessageEventDefinition_1lzzfm9" />
    </intermediateCatchEvent>
    <startEvent id="Event_1ng94pf">
      <outgoing>Flow_0fqr94i</outgoing>
    </startEvent>
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_0mvecfq" sourceRef="Event_1nu1su1" targetRef="Activity_1ashtyk" />
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_1uu5pmf" sourceRef="Activity_1ashtyk" targetRef="Event_1kmjuhs" />
    <dataStoreReference id="DataStoreReference_0ptgekw" name="Purchase orders" />
    <task id="Activity_1ashtyk" name="...">
      <incoming>Flow_0mvecfq</incoming>
      <outgoing>Flow_1uu5pmf</outgoing>
    </task>
    <endEvent id="Event_1kmjuhs">
      <incoming>Flow_1uu5pmf</incoming>
    </endEvent>
  </process>
  <process id="Process_0ath8fq">
    <startEvent id="Event_0djxenp" name="Goods arrived">
      <outgoing>Flow_0za1h4b</outgoing>
    </startEvent>
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_0za1h4b" sourceRef="Event_0djxenp" targetRef="Activity_16ezjxr" />
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_12cq0dp" sourceRef="Activity_16ezjxr" targetRef="Gateway_1gih9c0" />
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_1or7fxn" name="no" sourceRef="Gateway_1m9hhay" targetRef="Event_1lai5qt" />
    <task id="Activity_1eay84c" name="Check quality and quantity">
      <incoming>Flow_0g7l5fa</incoming>
      <outgoing>Flow_0xz7y35</outgoing>
    </task>
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_0g7l5fa" name="yes" sourceRef="Gateway_1gih9c0" targetRef="Activity_1eay84c" />
    <exclusiveGateway id="Gateway_1m9hhay" name="OK?">
      <incoming>Flow_0xz7y35</incoming>
      <outgoing>Flow_1or7fxn</outgoing>
      <outgoing>Flow_1l6vlkb</outgoing>
    </exclusiveGateway>
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_0xz7y35" sourceRef="Activity_1eay84c" targetRef="Gateway_1m9hhay" />
    <endEvent id="Event_1lai5qt" name="Goods not accepted">
      <incoming>Flow_1or7fxn</incoming>
    </endEvent>
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_14lwxg3" name="no" sourceRef="Gateway_1gih9c0" targetRef="Event_1xx98wd" />
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_1l6vlkb" name="yes" sourceRef="Gateway_1m9hhay" targetRef="Event_12lad3v" />
    <endEvent id="Event_12lad3v" name="Gooods accepted">
      <incoming>Flow_1l6vlkb</incoming>
      <messageEventDefinition id="MessageEventDefinition_0ypnf1d" />
    </endEvent>
    <task id="Activity_16ezjxr" name="Identify purchase">
      <incoming>Flow_0za1h4b</incoming>
      <outgoing>Flow_12cq0dp</outgoing>
      <property id="Property_1tojodc" name="__targetRef_placeholder" />
      <dataInputAssociation id="DataInputAssociation_0rbyde0">
        <sourceRef>DataStoreReference_0ptgekw</sourceRef>
        <targetRef>Property_1tojodc</targetRef>
      </dataInputAssociation>
    </task>
    <exclusiveGateway id="Gateway_1gih9c0" name="Valid order found?">
      <incoming>Flow_12cq0dp</incoming>
      <outgoing>Flow_0g7l5fa</outgoing>
      <outgoing>Flow_14lwxg3</outgoing>
    </exclusiveGateway>
    <endEvent id="Event_1xx98wd" name="Wrong delivery">
      <incoming>Flow_14lwxg3</incoming>
    </endEvent>
  </process>
  <bpmndi:BPMNDiagram id="BPMNDiagram_1">
    <bpmndi:BPMNPlane id="BPMNPlane_1" bpmnElement="Collaboration_0g7t6mq">
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Participant_144acff_di" bpmnElement="Participant_144acff" isHorizontal="true">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="30" y="130" width="570" height="160" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Activity_0xko542_di" bpmnElement="Activity_0xko542">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="170" y="170" width="100" height="80" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_0r0qs2b_di" bpmnElement="Event_1nu1su1">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="312" y="192" width="36" height="36" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="289" y="168" width="81" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_1ng94pf_di" bpmnElement="Event_1ng94pf">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="92" y="192" width="36" height="36" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Activity_1ashtyk_di" bpmnElement="Activity_1ashtyk">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="390" y="170" width="100" height="80" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_1kmjuhs_di" bpmnElement="Event_1kmjuhs">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="532" y="192" width="36" height="36" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_0fqr94i_di" bpmnElement="Flow_0fqr94i">
        <di:waypoint x="128" y="210" />
        <di:waypoint x="170" y="210" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_1qzqmrm_di" bpmnElement="Flow_1qzqmrm">
        <di:waypoint x="270" y="210" />
        <di:waypoint x="312" y="210" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_0mvecfq_di" bpmnElement="Flow_0mvecfq">
        <di:waypoint x="348" y="210" />
        <di:waypoint x="390" y="210" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_1uu5pmf_di" bpmnElement="Flow_1uu5pmf">
        <di:waypoint x="490" y="210" />
        <di:waypoint x="532" y="210" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Participant_04mf8ql_di" bpmnElement="Participant_04mf8ql" isHorizontal="true">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="30" y="430" width="714" height="240" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_0djxenp_di" bpmnElement="Event_0djxenp">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="92" y="482" width="36" height="36" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="75" y="525" width="70" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Activity_1eay84c_di" bpmnElement="Activity_1eay84c">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="420" y="460" width="100" height="80" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Gateway_1m9hhay_di" bpmnElement="Gateway_1m9hhay" isMarkerVisible="true">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="565" y="475" width="50" height="50" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="578" y="451" width="23" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_1lai5qt_di" bpmnElement="Event_1lai5qt">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="572" y="572" width="36" height="36" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="564" y="615" width="52" height="27" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_1ipj0il_di" bpmnElement="Event_12lad3v">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="662" y="482" width="36" height="36" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="637" y="525" width="87" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Activity_16ezjxr_di" bpmnElement="Activity_16ezjxr">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="170" y="460" width="100" height="80" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Gateway_1gih9c0_di" bpmnElement="Gateway_1gih9c0" isMarkerVisible="true">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="305" y="475" width="50" height="50" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="285" y="451" width="89" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_1xx98wd_di" bpmnElement="Event_1xx98wd">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="312" y="572" width="36" height="36" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="294" y="615" width="73" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_0za1h4b_di" bpmnElement="Flow_0za1h4b">
        <di:waypoint x="128" y="500" />
        <di:waypoint x="170" y="500" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_12cq0dp_di" bpmnElement="Flow_12cq0dp">
        <di:waypoint x="270" y="500" />
        <di:waypoint x="305" y="500" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_1or7fxn_di" bpmnElement="Flow_1or7fxn">
        <di:waypoint x="590" y="525" />
        <di:waypoint x="590" y="572" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="599" y="546" width="13" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_0g7l5fa_di" bpmnElement="Flow_0g7l5fa">
        <di:waypoint x="355" y="500" />
        <di:waypoint x="420" y="500" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="379" y="482" width="17" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_0xz7y35_di" bpmnElement="Flow_0xz7y35">
        <di:waypoint x="520" y="500" />
        <di:waypoint x="565" y="500" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_14lwxg3_di" bpmnElement="Flow_14lwxg3">
        <di:waypoint x="330" y="525" />
        <di:waypoint x="330" y="572" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="339" y="546" width="13" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_1l6vlkb_di" bpmnElement="Flow_1l6vlkb">
        <di:waypoint x="615" y="500" />
        <di:waypoint x="662" y="500" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="630" y="482" width="17" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="DataStoreReference_0ptgekw_di" bpmnElement="DataStoreReference_0ptgekw">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="195" y="345" width="50" height="50" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="103" y="363" width="82" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="DataInputAssociation_0rbyde0_di" bpmnElement="DataInputAssociation_0rbyde0">
        <di:waypoint x="220" y="395" />
        <di:waypoint x="220" y="460" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_06phhio_di" bpmnElement="Flow_06phhio">
        <di:waypoint x="680" y="482" />
        <di:waypoint x="680" y="355" />
        <di:waypoint x="330" y="355" />
        <di:waypoint x="330" y="228" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="DataOutputAssociation_1sbeyu0_di" bpmnElement="DataOutputAssociation_1sbeyu0">
        <di:waypoint x="220" y="250" />
        <di:waypoint x="220" y="345" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
    </bpmndi:BPMNPlane>
  </bpmndi:BPMNDiagram>
</definitions>
</bpmnio>

===== ✘ How NOT to =====

<bpmnio type="bpmn">
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<definitions xmlns="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:bpmndi="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:omgdc="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:di="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DI" id="sid-38422fae-e03e-43a3-bef4-bd33b32041b2" targetNamespace="http://bpmn.io/bpmn" exporter="http://bpmn.io" exporterVersion="0.10.1">
  <collaboration id="Collaboration_0g7t6mq">
    <participant id="Participant_144acff" name="Procure to pay" processRef="Process_1" />
    <participant id="Participant_0pa16ys" name="Supplier" />
    <messageFlow id="Flow_0sp4o62" name="Purchased goods" sourceRef="Participant_0pa16ys" targetRef="Event_1nu1su1" />
  </collaboration>
  <process id="Process_1" isExecutable="false">
    <task id="Activity_0xko542" name="...">
      <incoming>Flow_0fqr94i</incoming>
      <outgoing>Flow_1qzqmrm</outgoing>
    </task>
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_0fqr94i" sourceRef="Event_1ng94pf" targetRef="Activity_0xko542" />
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_1qzqmrm" sourceRef="Activity_0xko542" targetRef="Event_1nu1su1" />
    <intermediateCatchEvent id="Event_1nu1su1" name="Goods delivered">
      <incoming>Flow_1qzqmrm</incoming>
      <outgoing>Flow_0mvecfq</outgoing>
      <messageEventDefinition id="MessageEventDefinition_1lzzfm9" />
    </intermediateCatchEvent>
    <startEvent id="Event_1ng94pf">
      <outgoing>Flow_0fqr94i</outgoing>
    </startEvent>
    <task id="Activity_0b0ddht" name="Accept goods">
      <incoming>Flow_0mvecfq</incoming>
      <outgoing>Flow_0o10xoz</outgoing>
    </task>
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_0mvecfq" sourceRef="Event_1nu1su1" targetRef="Activity_0b0ddht" />
    <task id="Activity_1ashtyk" name="...">
      <incoming>Flow_0o10xoz</incoming>
      <outgoing>Flow_1uu5pmf</outgoing>
    </task>
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_0o10xoz" sourceRef="Activity_0b0ddht" targetRef="Activity_1ashtyk" />
    <endEvent id="Event_1kmjuhs">
      <incoming>Flow_1uu5pmf</incoming>
    </endEvent>
    <sequenceFlow id="Flow_1uu5pmf" sourceRef="Activity_1ashtyk" targetRef="Event_1kmjuhs" />
  </process>
  <bpmndi:BPMNDiagram id="BPMNDiagram_1">
    <bpmndi:BPMNPlane id="BPMNPlane_1" bpmnElement="Collaboration_0g7t6mq">
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Participant_144acff_di" bpmnElement="Participant_144acff" isHorizontal="true">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="30" y="130" width="700" height="160" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Activity_0xko542_di" bpmnElement="Activity_0xko542">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="170" y="170" width="100" height="80" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_0r0qs2b_di" bpmnElement="Event_1nu1su1">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="312" y="192" width="36" height="36" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="290" y="235" width="81" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_1ng94pf_di" bpmnElement="Event_1ng94pf">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="92" y="192" width="36" height="36" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Activity_0b0ddht_di" bpmnElement="Activity_0b0ddht">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="380" y="170" width="100" height="80" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Activity_1ashtyk_di" bpmnElement="Activity_1ashtyk">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="530" y="170" width="100" height="80" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_1kmjuhs_di" bpmnElement="Event_1kmjuhs">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="662" y="192" width="36" height="36" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_0fqr94i_di" bpmnElement="Flow_0fqr94i">
        <di:waypoint x="128" y="210" />
        <di:waypoint x="170" y="210" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_1qzqmrm_di" bpmnElement="Flow_1qzqmrm">
        <di:waypoint x="270" y="210" />
        <di:waypoint x="312" y="210" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_0mvecfq_di" bpmnElement="Flow_0mvecfq">
        <di:waypoint x="348" y="210" />
        <di:waypoint x="380" y="210" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_0o10xoz_di" bpmnElement="Flow_0o10xoz">
        <di:waypoint x="480" y="210" />
        <di:waypoint x="530" y="210" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_1uu5pmf_di" bpmnElement="Flow_1uu5pmf">
        <di:waypoint x="630" y="210" />
        <di:waypoint x="662" y="210" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Participant_0xjrlh6_di" bpmnElement="Participant_0pa16ys" isHorizontal="true">
        <omgdc:Bounds x="180" y="-10" width="300" height="60" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_0sp4o62_di" bpmnElement="Flow_0sp4o62">
        <di:waypoint x="330" y="50" />
        <di:waypoint x="330" y="192" />
        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
          <omgdc:Bounds x="286" y="103" width="87" height="14" />
        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
    </bpmndi:BPMNPlane>
  </bpmndi:BPMNDiagram>
</definitions>
</bpmnio>

===== Notes =====

  * Please pay attention to the "Identify purchase" task at the [[#how to]] diagram. This task does exist in reality: when goods from a supplier arrives at our warehouse, the first thing our supervisor does is check the accompanying documents to find out whether we ordered this (it may have been delivered by mistake). But there is no room for this task at the [[#how not to]] diagram!
  * Another advantage of the [[#how to]] diagram is that it covers the possibility for goods not to be accepted (for example, due to quality and/or quantity issues) on the first attempt, but be accepted upon re-delivery. In this case, there will simply be two instances of the goods acceptance process for one instance of the purchasing process.
  * The examples presented omit the timer (the process waits for delivery indefinitely) and other details.
  * The [[#how to]] diagram depicts two expanded processes. When modeling real (not educational) processes, it is recommended to expand each process [[single_process|on a separate diagram]].
  * Better use [[conditional_evingent_collaboration|conditional event]] instead of messages to model collaboration.

===== Exceptions =====

The event process may be redundand if the process model is executable and the external participant is not a human being but a robot (automated system, web portal).
In this case the message flow would model a web service call.
===== See also =====

  * [[single_process]]
  * [[conditional_event_collaboration]]

===== Author(s) =====

 --- //[[user:bell|Anatoly Belaychuk]] 2024-08-28 15:35//