Modeling
Editor features for building BPMN models in ProcessMind: the modeling canvas, element settings, AI generation, import and export, versioning, and auto layout.
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Auto-Layout Engine
The auto-layout engine arranges the elements and connections of your BPMN diagram automatically, producing a clean, readable layout in either vertical or horizontal notation. It runs behind the scenes whenever a model is generated or mined, and you can trigger it yourself to tidy up a hand-drawn diagram.
Understanding the Two Notations
The layout engine supports two directions:
- Horizontal notation: The process flows from left to right, with start events on the left and end events on the right. This is the classic process diagram style and works well for most models.
- Vertical notation: The process flows from top to bottom, which suits tall processes, portrait printing, or models with many parallel branches.
You can switch between the two at any time without redrawing anything manually: the engine repositions the whole model.
Running Auto-Layout
To arrange a model automatically:
- Open the process menu on the design canvas.
- Choose Auto Layout Model.
- Pick the layout direction (vertical or horizontal) and confirm: the engine repositions elements and re-routes connections.
The engine also runs automatically when a model is generated with AI or mined from data, so those models arrive already laid out. After you edit a model by hand, run auto-layout again to keep it clean.
Auto-Layout for a Single Connection
You don’t always need to re-layout the whole model. From a connection’s menu, choose Auto layout to straighten and re-route that edge. This is handy after you move an element and a connection becomes tangled.
When to Use Auto-Layout
Use the auto-layout engine when you:
- Just generated a model with AI and want to switch its direction.
- Imported a BPMN file whose layout is messy: see importing BPMN.
- Moved many elements by hand and want a clean arrangement again.
- Preparing for export: a tidy layout makes exported images look professional.
Related topics
- Constructing a BPMN Diagram: build models by hand, then clean them up with layout.
- AI Process Generation: AI-generated models arrive pre-laid-out.
- Exporting Processes: get a clean diagram out of ProcessMind.