BizAgi Process Modeler overview

General info

Name: BizAgi Process Modeler

Described version:

Publisher: BizAgi

Slogan/tool description by authors: “BizAgi Free BPMN Process Modeler is the most Friendly Tool to Diagram and Document business processes using BPMN notation.”

Short description: BizAgi Process Modeler is a free modelling component of the BizAgi BPM Suite.
It allows creating BPMN 1.1 diagrams, sharing them (XPDL and Visio import & export), and publishing documentation.

Website: www.bizagi.com/eng/products/ba-modeler (download, resource center, quick tour)

License: Freeware

Info about company: BizAgi is a UK-based BPM vendor focused on providing solutions supporting business agility. Their BPM suite supports design, integration, automation, and monitoring of (human) business processes.

Technical details

Overview: BizAgi Process Modeler is a standalone Windows software. It stores models in files (*.bpm).

Requirements: Microsoft .NET framework 2.0

Download package: 17,3 MB (program setup; .NET can also be downloaded from their site)

Functionalities and features

Modelling

BizAgi Process Modeler allows creating Business Process Diagrams as defined in BPMN 1.1 specification. No additional model types are available.

BizAgi uses Ribbon style interface. Modeling functionalities are available in the main tab, while import/export (also documentation) can be found in “Export & Import” tab. Graphical editor uses drag and drop approach. Thanks to the “pie menu” it is possible to model the process flow almost without using object palette – after selecting an object radial menu with objects (task, gateway, events) appears, allowing user to insert new object that will be connected with a previous one.

Objects contain some basic attributes (e.g. for activity this are: Name, Description, and info about performers) available in pop up windows (element properties). It is possible to add extended attributes of the objects.

Additional functionalities:
* Expanding/colapsing subprocesses
* Attaching files to objects
* Diagram validation

Import and Export options include XPDL and VSD (Visio).
Models can be published as Word documents or PDF files. It is also possible to save model graphics as JPG, PNG or BMP files.

See also:
ADONIS:Community Edition overview

 

Free BPMN (and not only) tools

Updated version of this list can now be found on page “free tools for business analysts”. You can also find there links to detailed descriptions of the tools.

Here’s a list of business process modelling tools available for free. Most of them focuses on BPMN modeling, while some also allow e.g. simulation. If I find additional tools this list will be expanded. If time allows I will also add more in-depth reviews of those tools.

BPA/BPM tools – for download

ADONIS:Community Edition (www.adonis-community.com) – business process modeling (BPMN + other model types), analysis, simulation, documentation (HTML+Word) and BPEL export.

Savvion Process Modeler (www.savvion.com) – BPMN modeling, simulation, and documentation.

Intalio|Designer (www.intalio.com) – BPMN modeling and BPEL Export. There’s also Intalio Server for executing processes defined in BPEL 2.0 and Intalio Workflow.

TIBCO Business Studio (www.tibco.com) – BPMN modeling and simulation.

Update (thanks Sandy…):
Metastorm Process Designer – Business Analyst Edition (www.metastorm.com) – BPMN modelling.

BizAgi Process Modeler (www.bizagi.com) – BPMN (ver. 1.1) modelling and process documentation.

AgilPro (available at Sourceforge) – Eclipse-based open source modelling and simulation.

Embarcadero EA/Studio Community Edition (www.embarcadero.com) – Eclipse-based BPMN modelling. Visio import.

Soyatec eBPMN (www.soyatec.com) – Eclipse-based BPMN modelling.

BPA/BPM tools – web based

Lombardi Blueprint (blueprint.lombardi.com). Process documentation (with possibility to see diagram as BPMN) tool available via browser.